A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 371

Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good-371

84 Crossing the River to Watch the Tigers (7)

Last season’s World Series champions, the Boston Red Sox.

And the Texas Rangers, who topped the American League in win percentage this season.

The showdown between the two teams for a spot in the Championship Series concluded with a victory for the Texas Rangers.

The result came after a fierce battle that went to the fifth game. The final series record was 3 wins and 2 losses.

“Looking back, I think the Boston Red Sox made a big mistake.”

This was the analysis of a commentator who appeared on a game review program the day after the Division Series results were in.

“I’m not talking about short-term tactical aspects. There was a problem with the overall direction of the club.”

He was a commentator who had played for Boston for a long time during his active career.

Perhaps that’s why his voice was so agitated at this point.

“Building a team around veteran players in their mid-30s? That’s ridiculous. It might have been okay at the beginning of the season, but after the middle, injuries piled up.”

Veteran players are bound to be weak in stamina, and players with low stamina are vulnerable to injuries.

It was said that it was perhaps natural for the Boston Red Sox to become an ‘injury ward’ this postseason.

“Boston needs to consider everything from scratch! Start by replacing the manager who only coddles veterans, and if necessary, make massive changes to the front office as well…….”

The commentator’s remarks were getting more and more intense, and the host of the game review program sensed the need to change the subject.

“Yes, that’s right, but…….”

The host had a subtle expression.

“Although the postseason ended disappointingly, it’s not like Boston didn’t gain anything, right? For example…….”

“Are you talking about Ryu?”

Ha, haha, hahahaha.

When Ryu Jang-ho’s name was mentioned, the commentator’s face, which had been frowning, brightened up like the spring sunshine.

“That’s right. The rediscovery of Ryu was a great gain. In addition to his excellent contact skills, he now has explosive power! It was a performance that showed why he was called a ‘genius hitter’ in Korea.”

The commentator nodded vigorously.

“Diagnosing and treating his injury early…… Perhaps that will be the best thing the Boston front office has done this season.”

It was argued that the Boston Red Sox should build their team around Ryu Jang-ho next season.

Along with praise for his outstanding offensive and defensive skills, and his ability to concentrate on the game to the point of forgetting his pain.

It wasn’t just this one person. Around the same time that baseball fans who watched this postseason were showering Ryu Jang-ho with praise.

“Huh?”

The Boston ‘rising star,’ who was resting at a hospital designated by the club, was receiving an unexpected guest.

“No way, how did you get here, *hyung* [older brother/male friend]…….”

One spoon of joy and one spoon of doubt.

Ji-seop was smiling at Ryu Jang-ho, who was looking at him with exactly that expression, as a matter of course.

“How are you feeling?”

Ji-seop said, putting down the fruit basket he had brought as a gift.

“But you look good.”

* * *

Ji-seop was able to visit Boston that day thanks to the consideration of Brian Sphan, the general manager.

The Tampa Bay front office was busy preparing for the Championship Series, but the general manager gave Ji-seop a day off.

“Go visit Ryu. You’ve been together since you were in Korea, haven’t you?”

Of course, it was hard to see this as a 100% favor. There must have been a calculation to send Ji-seop to get information about the Texas Rangers.

But so what? Ji-seop was just happy to see Ryu Jang-ho again after a long time.

Ryu Jang-ho had now become a well-known player in the Boston Red Sox, no, in the entire Major League.

“To be honest, I was surprised too.”

Ji-seop took an orange from the fruit basket and continued.

“I thought it would take you about 2-3 years, even for you, to fully adapt to the Major League stage.”

But in just one season, he had firmly established himself as a key player for a prestigious Major League club.

It was amazing, surprising, and a little envious.

Ji-seop peeled the orange and praised the guy’s performance this season, but Ryu Jang-ho’s expression wasn’t so bright.

“Well, I think it was a pretty good season for me too, but…….”

The guy said, taking a piece of orange that Ji-seop handed him.

“But I’m still a little disappointed.”

“Disappointed? About what?”

Ji-seop asked, putting the rest of the orange in his mouth, and Ryu Jang-ho replied with a bitter smile.

“That I didn’t get to go to the Championship Series.”

The guy put a piece of his orange in his mouth.

“I wanted to go up against the Tampa Bay Rays in the postseason.”

“Hehe, well…… Our team has a lot of good pitchers.”

Ji-seop crossed his arms and nodded.

“You’ve met Victor Johnson a few times, but you haven’t seen Brett Evans, have you? And there hasn’t been a match against Vincent Hiyama since he was traded to our side.”

“Yes, of course, there’s that too, but…….”

It was at this moment that a strange light appeared in Ryu Jang-ho’s eyes.

“It’s not just because of those pitchers…… I just wanted to beat the team that *hyung* leads.”

“……Me?”

Ji-seop blinked blankly, and Ryu Jang-ho continued with an even more ambitious look.

“Yes, I suddenly became very curious. If my home run ends Tampa Bay’s fall, what kind of reaction would *hyung* show?”

Would he pat me on the shoulder with an awkward smile, or would he be completely sulky and not answer my calls for a month?

“That’s why I was going to go all out for this Championship Series…… It’s a shame to think about that. It’s too bad.”

“What?”

Ji-seop chuckled.

“Hey, look at this ungrateful guy? I raised a tiger cub? I raised a tiger cub!”

“Of course, wouldn’t the tiger (虎) character be in my name for nothing?”

“Oh, you’re smiling? You’re smiling and fighting back? Wow, that’s why they say you shouldn’t take in animals with black hair…….”

Ji-seop was making a fuss with a very upset expression.

Ryu Jang-ho stared at him for a moment, then opened his mouth with a faint smile.

“It doesn’t matter what you say, *hyung*. I’m going to go all the way next year. Whether it’s Tampa Bay or the Yankees, I’m going to destroy them all.”

It didn’t sound like a joke.

He must have been pretty upset that the fall ended like this.

But just one thing.

“So, *hyung*…….”

This year,

Please win the championship.

The guy said to Ji-seop.

“I heard that the Cannons were eliminated from the playoffs yesterday. I’m like this, and Chang-deok *hyung* is also eliminated…… You’re the only one left.”

He continued.

“One of us has to win the championship, or this winter will be too depressing, right?”

“Ah, is that how it is?”

It was a bit roundabout, but that’s what the guy wanted to say.

Go all the way. Don’t back down or anything. And be sure to win the championship trophy.

‘Wow, his words are getting pretty good in just a few months?’

Ryu Jang-ho was improving little by little, not only in baseball skills but also in the area of conversation.

What kind of change will he surprise me with next time we meet?

With such expectations in mind, Ji-seop was nodding lightly to Ryu Jang-ho.

“Okay, I’ll definitely win the championship this year.”

And then one more word.

“But that doesn’t mean I’m going to hand over next year’s championship to you guys.”

* * *

It was about an hour later that Ji-seop left Ryu Jang-ho’s hospital room.

He had originally planned to cut it short in 30 minutes and return, but the conversation was longer than expected.

It had been so long since they had seen each other’s faces, so there were many stories to tell.

“Ah, really? Chun Jin-woo has decided to retire?”

“Yes, the club is still trying to stop him…… But he seems to have made up his mind. He said that it’s time for the Cannons and himself to try to change. Ah, and…….”

“And what else?”

“I think I’m going to get married this winter.”

“……Married?! No, why is that story coming out now? You should have told me that first!”

From the story that the veteran catcher of the KH Cannons had decided to retire to the story that Ryu Jang-ho had ended his sluggish romance and finally decided to get married.

It was good to hear the stories of people he had forgotten for a while, but as he left the hospital room, Ji-seop suddenly realized that he had forgotten one important thing.

‘Ah, that’s right. The Texas Rangers…….’

The fact that he hadn’t asked Ryu Jang-ho for information about the Texas Rangers, the opponent he would face in the Championship Series.

Should I go back up to the hospital room and ask, or would it be enough to ask over the phone on the way to the airport? While he was hesitating, thinking about that.

“……Kim?”

A voice coming from the vending machine over there.

It was none other than Jessica Ross, the main director of the Boston Red Sox Baseball R&D team.

“This is a strange place to meet? I thought you’d be busy preparing for the Championship Series by now…… Ah.”

Jessica, who was picking up an energy drink, nodded as if she knew what was going on.

“You came to see Ryu? To visit him and get information about Texas…… All in one?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

One of the two was slightly problematic, but Ji-seop didn’t bother to say it out loud.

Instead, he offered some consolation for the Division Series results.

“I’m sorry about the Division Series. I personally wanted Boston to come up.”

“That’s right, isn’t it? It would have been more helpful to Tampa Bay’s ticket sales if we had come up instead of the Texas Rangers.”

Jessica Ross, who was smiling bitterly, opened the energy drink can with a ‘click’.

She gulped down the drink as if she was burning inside, and then opened her mouth with a short sigh.

“But I have to thank Kim.”

“Me?”

“Of course, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have even known that Ryu was injured. I was so surprised when the results of the detailed examination came out…… I felt like I was possessed by a ghost.”

“Haha, it’s not like it’s a ghost.”

Ji-seop waved his hand as if it was nothing, but in fact, he was cheering inside.

‘Okay, that’s good.’

It seemed that a way to get the information he couldn’t get from Ryu Jang-ho had opened up.

Wouldn’t it be possible to get it from this person in front of him, Jessica Ross?

Jessica Ross is from the Baseball R&D team, so maybe I could hear more useful stories than asking Ryu Jang-ho.

‘Hmm, what should I say to start…….’

Just as Ji-seop was watching the other person’s mood and looking for the right timing to strike.

Unexpectedly, the Boston Red Sox club employee asked Ji-seop a question first.

“Kim, can I ask you something?”

“Yes?”

“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time, but I can’t find the answer on my own.”

She continued.

“If you tell me honestly, I’ll share the information I have. I have information about the Texas Rangers and the Philadelphia Phillies.”

“……That’s tempting.”

All of them are clubs that have been achieving considerable results in this postseason.

Ji-seop, who was interested, asked with shining eyes.

“What are you curious about? I don’t think I have anything to say, but…….”

“How to gain the trust of players.”

Jessica Ross said.

“How can you gain the trust of players? Like you gained the trust of Ryu?”