A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 367

Baseball Team New Recruit Is Too Good – Episode 367

Baseball Team New Recruit Is Too Good Episode 367

84 Watching a Tiger Across the River (3)

Were other expressions necessary?

He was, in a word, a ‘hero of chaos.’

The story of Ryu Jang-ho, the Boston Red Sox’s unwavering leadoff hitter.

Go! Go! Ryu!

Go! Go! Ryu!

Go! Go! Ryu!

Ahead of the best-of-three Wild Card Series, not many people predicted the Boston Red Sox would win.

They had performed excellently throughout the regular season, but too many injuries occurred towards the end of the season.

The team’s key hitters were out, starting pitchers were falling, and replacement players from the minor leagues were hastily called up to the major leagues.

The assessment was that the Boston manager’s style of favoring veterans had finally caused an issue.

Even Yankees’ special advisor Nicholas was encouraged by this situation and sent Ji-seop a ‘challenge’.

Thwack!

Thwack!

Thwaaaack!

In the Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees, Ryu Jang-ho filled the void left by his teammates with incredible performance.

In the first game, he had 2 hits in 3 at-bats, including a bases-clearing double, with 1 home run and 4 RBIs [Runs Batted In, a baseball statistic].

In the second game, he had 3 hits in 3 at-bats, including a leadoff home run in the first inning, with 2 home runs and 5 RBIs.

In addition, he made spectacular diving catches whenever the team was in danger-

“I was shocked. I was really shocked.”

It was perhaps natural that such stories came out of the Tampa Bay front office the day after the Wild Card Series ended with Boston’s victory.

“The balls that guy hit just kept going and going… Wow, I really felt a cold sweat running down my spine.”

What would have happened if they hadn’t focused on marking Ryu?

What would have happened if they had watched this game without any preparation?

Mike from the Baseball R&D team was shuddering as if recalling the thrill of that time.

“Kim, thank you so much.”

Mike said.

“If Kim hadn’t brought the photos of Ryu’s practice bat, and if we had gone to see the Wild Card Series without any countermeasures… This place would be a battlefield by now. A battlefield where a nuclear bomb named ‘Ryu’ had been dropped.”

He continued to explain that they had gathered a lot of useful data thanks to focusing on Ryu Jang-ho in advance.

He also added that Rebecca Carney, the deputy head of the Baseball R&D team, had expressed special thanks to Ji-seop.

Praise and gratitude are always welcome, but in fact, this was something that had happened even during his KH Cannons days.

Ji-seop, on the contrary, was asking about future countermeasures with a calm expression.

“So… there are no concerns?”

Ji-seop’s gaze was directed towards the large monitor on one side of the office wall.

The monitor showed Ryu Jang-ho’s swing trajectory frame by frame.

“To be honest, I was also surprised yesterday. It’s only been a little over a month, but it seems like his batting style has changed a lot.”

“That’s right. It’s no exaggeration to say it’s completely changed. He was definitely a style that focused only on contact, but now he’s swinging as if he’s going to smash the ball.”

Click, click.

Mike scrolled the mouse wheel.

“It’s certain that he’s going in the direction of increasing his slugging power… The problem is where this change came from. Where is the starting point?”

“…Starting point?”

Although he had some experience as a player, Ji-seop was, after all, a pitcher.

He had only learned about batting from what he had seen and heard, so Ji-seop had no choice but to wait for Mike’s explanation.

“That’s right. There are quite a few different paths to increasing slugging power. Well, it’s complicated to explain it in detail here…”

Then, Mike, who was stroking his chin, snapped his fingers.

“It would be simpler to say it like this. Whose idea did this change start with? If we can find out just that, the attack is only a matter of time.”

He continued.

“There are quite a few well-known batting theorists in Boston. There’s batting coach Quinlan, and Mr. Morales, who is in charge of the instructor position.”

Ji-seop had heard of their reputations at least once.

“Ryu probably sought advice from one of them and tried to make a change. Their philosophies are common knowledge in the industry, so if we can accurately identify the person who advised Ryu…”

“Analysis is possible? It’s not impossible to find out the strategy?”

To Ji-seop’s question, Mike answered briefly, ‘That’s right,’ but then shrugged his shoulders with a bitter smile.

“Even if I say this, it’s not an easy task. The Boston Red Sox aren’t stupid either, so they’ve probably put proper information security in place by now.”

“Ah, I see. I understand.”

As Ji-seop slowly nodded and took a step back, Mike looked at him with a puzzled look.

“Kim, why do you have that expression on your face?”

What is it? What on earth is it?

Mike was rolling his eyes and scrutinizing Ji-seop’s face.

“Is it just my imagination? I thought you just had a very confident expression on your face?”

“R, really?”

This guy,

He’s like a ghost.

Ji-seop was quietly laughing inside.

* * *

Who is the batting theory expert who advised Ryu Jang-ho?

If they only knew his identity, the Tampa Bay Rays could attack Ryu Jang-ho.

When Ji-seop heard Mike’s story, he was cheering inwardly.

The reason was simple: Ji-seop already had a route to obtain information.

The MBA program at Fort Myers University. It was a place where everyone who was anyone in Major League Baseball gathered.

As it happened, there was also a bi-weekly attendance class scheduled for that evening.

“Oh, Freddie! Did you watch yesterday’s game? Wow, this postseason is no joke from the start, is it?”

“Oh, don’t even mention it! I was so nervous from the first inning to the ninth inning… I felt like my soul was being sucked out. I’m mentally blank!”

“Haha, what are you going to do if you’re already like that? It’s only the Wild Card Series!”

Many students had gathered in the Fort Myers University lecture hall early that day.

Ji-seop thought there would be quite a few absentees during the postseason, but the attendance rate felt better than usual.

Ji-seop later learned that it was more important to understand the movements of other teams during this period, which is why the attendance rate was higher.

‘Okay, in this atmosphere… I should assume Jessica will be attending too.’

Ji-seop’s target that day was only one person.

Jessica Ross, the main director of the Boston Red Sox Baseball R&D team.

The main purpose of the day was to bring up the story of Ryu Jang-ho to her and get information, but there was also an event that he couldn’t miss before that.

“Hey, Nicholas! Cheer up! Oh, well, in baseball, you win some and you lose some!”

“That’s right. If that’s the case, should we just die since we didn’t even make it to the postseason? Don’t you think so, Kim?”

That’s right. Nicholas Weiner II of the New York Yankees.

Seeing this noble special advisor’s rotten face was the unmissable event of the day.

It wasn’t just any team, but the Boston Red Sox, a team that the Yankees could consider their mortal enemy, had dealt them a blow.

For the people of the AL East [American League East division of Major League Baseball], they couldn’t resist teasing Nicholas.

“Still, how fortunate is it that the postseason regulations have changed? Thanks to that, the Yankees, who were third in the division, got to smell the autumn air, didn’t they? Here, have a drink.”

Pour, pour.

George from the Toronto Blue Jays chuckled as he poured coffee into a disposable paper cup.

“Hey, is that all? Thanks to not signing Vincent Hiyama, you didn’t have much pressure even if you were eliminated here, did you? Here, have a drink in my cup too!”

Gurgle, gurgle.

Ronnie from the Baltimore Orioles stretched his lips long as he poured a lot of sports drinks.

“…Ahem, ahem!”

Nicholas Weiner couldn’t hide his discomfort as he looked at his colleagues who were gently scratching at his nerves.

In Korea, it was polite to treat people from other teams with respect, so this alone was quite an unfamiliar sight to Ji-seop.

But even if it was just Toronto or Baltimore, there was someone who specialized in dissing the Yankees.

“What, Nicholas! How did you find your way here?”

It was Jessica Ross, the main character of the day, who came in fluttering her coat tails.

“The name of the front gate here is Winner’s Gate, right? Then shouldn’t Yankees people not be able to pass through it?”

“…Sit down, Jessica.”

Barely suppressing the bubbling anger inside, Nicholas retorted gruffly.

“Sit down. So you can listen to the class.”

* * *

To put it bluntly,

Ji-seop was able to achieve his goal more easily than he thought that day.

He had been wondering how to bring up Ryu Jang-ho’s story, how to bring it up without it being awkward. That was also true.

But what do you know. As soon as Jessica, who had landed a blow on Nicholas, sat down, other classmates rushed to ask.

“Hey, Jessica! What happened? Ryu! I’m talking about Boston’s Ryu!”

“Yeah, I was wondering too. The Ryu I remember was like Ichiro [Ichiro Suzuki, a famous Japanese baseball player], just hitting singles… He was completely different in this series, wasn’t he?”

Ryu Jang-ho’s incredible performance seemed to have attracted a lot of attention even from teams that had been eliminated from the postseason.

Not only the people of the AL East, but also the people from other divisions at the next desk glanced at Jessica.

“Hey, can I easily tell you that? Trade secret! Trade secret!”

Of course, Jessica lightly brushed it off with these words, but that alone was enough for Ji-seop.

The moment ‘Ryu Jang-ho’ came to her mind, Ji-seop could clearly hear it.

Who is the batting theory expert who advised Ryu Jang-ho? Who is the person who changed Ryu Jang-ho’s batting style?

‘…An instructor.’

Batting instructor Mr. Morales.

A batting theorist who is said to be guiding players by bringing a new concept called ‘ground reaction force’ to Major League Baseball.

With this, he had obtained a hint to attack Ryu Jang-ho. Ji-seop was quietly laughing inside as he took out his cell phone and sent a message.

“Kim! Kim? Are you listening to me?”

A voice suddenly calling out to him.

When Ji-seop looked up, what came into his view was none other than Jessica Ross herself.

“Yes?”

Did the thief feel guilty?

Ji-seop was slightly embarrassed at this time.

“Why are you doing that? Did you say anything to me?”

“Oh my, how many times have I asked you already? How did you see this series, what were Kim’s impressions?”

“This series… Ah, are you talking about the Wild Card Series? Between Boston and the Yankees?”

“Yes.”

As Jessica nodded, a bitter smile spread across Ji-seop’s lips.

“Why are you asking me that? If you want impressions of the series, wouldn’t it be better to ask the reporters over there?”

“Hey, can I do that? I have a favor to ask too.”

Ryu.

She mentioned Ryu Jang-ho.

“Ryu said he wanted to hear your impressions.”

How did you see this series.

What do you think of the game.

And-

“He also wants to know what you think of his changed appearance.”