A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 381

Rookie of the Baseball Team Is Too Good – Episode 381

Rookie of the Baseball Team Is Too Good 381

86 Powerful, Truly Powerful (4)

Jiseop wore a dazed expression as he exited Brian Sphan’s, the general manager’s, office.

His heart was pounding.

If a hotel employee hadn’t been passing by, he might have pinched his cheek to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.

‘Once this season is over… he’s going to offer me the assistant general manager position?’

Of course, Jiseop was well aware.

Despite the powerful image the title conveyed, being an assistant general manager in Tampa Bay wasn’t that significant.

Compared to a team like the Yankees, it was probably equivalent to a senior director. He couldn’t expect a huge salary increase or improved benefits.

Nevertheless, Jiseop felt a sense of fulfillment welling up from deep within.

‘…So, this day has come for me too.’

He felt like he was standing shoulder to shoulder with the genius general managers of Major League Baseball, who had achieved incredible records such as becoming a general manager within three years of joining a company or taking control of the front office before the age of thirty.

Even when he saw it in newspapers or on the news, he would only think, ‘Wow, that’s amazing.’ He never dared to dream of entering such a realm.

He wanted to call immediately. His parents in Korea, Sahalin Park in Yeongsan, and everyone who had believed in him and supported him so far.

He wanted to boast that he had made it, that he had been recognized in Major League Baseball. But-

‘Now… is not the time yet.’

Jiseop took a short breath to steady his wavering heart.

Yes, it wasn’t time yet. It wasn’t time to be happy, and it wasn’t time to be excited.

What was so great about the title of assistant general manager? The important thing was to become a person who deserved that position and to make all members of the Tampa Bay Rays recognize ‘Assistant General Manager Kim Jiseop.’

To do that,

There was a lot to do from now on.

* * *

Wow!!!

Wow!!!

Several hours later.

Jiseop was inside Citizens Bank Park, where Game 2 of the World Series was in full swing.

To be precise, he was in a small office space located on the first basement floor of the stadium, just behind the visiting team’s clubhouse.

It was a cramped space of about 6 pyeong (approximately 213 square feet), filled with large monitors, laptops, printers, and radios.

This was the workspace of the Third Scouting Team. They were responsible for printing out the data needed during the game and sending it to the clubhouse.

-A high fly ball! The left fielder moves slowly… and catches it! That’s the third out. We’ll be back after a short break.

As the TV broadcast switched to commercials, the Tampa Bay front office staff gathered in this small office all sighed and leaned back.

Of course, they still had to print out the data from the previous inning and display the data for the next inning on the screen.

But they could afford to relax a little more than when the game was in progress. Everyone was opening bags of snacks and putting pieces of chocolate in their mouths to replenish their energy.

Neil Freed, the director of the Third Scouting Team, turned his gaze to Jiseop.

“The early flow isn’t bad, is it?”

He winked.

“I was worried because Davidson is starting for the Phillies today… but fortunately, our hitters are responding calmly and well.”

Only 2 hits through the top of the 3rd inning. It was hard to call it an active batting performance.

However, they hardly swung at the breaking balls, and they increased the opposing pitcher’s pitch count.

Neil Freed seemed encouraged by this.

“Davidson is a pitcher with excellent stuff, but he’s weak in stamina. His batting average against increases significantly after 70 pitches. So, probably in the next inning…”

We will score the first point.

We will be able to take the lead.

Freed originally intended to say that, but he ended up smiling without finishing his sentence.

“Ah, right. Look at me, losing my mind.”

He scratched the back of his head.

“Kim wouldn’t be listening to this kind of talk today, would he? His head must be full of worries about Vincent Hiyama.”

“Hehe, I won’t deny it.”

Jiseop smiled, revealing his white teeth.

“I’m still watching the movements of the fielders, but I’m more concerned about Vincent today. Especially since a Baltimore team employee has moved to Philadelphia.”

“Hey, Kim! You don’t have to worry that much.”

Freed reached for a glass jar filled with candy and said,

“The trend has changed, hasn’t it? It’s not like the old days anymore. The information that one team employee can get their hands on is very limited.”

He was saying that the transfer of the Baltimore employee wouldn’t affect the overall situation.

“Besides, that Vincent… he’s no ordinary guy, is he? Even if he had some weaknesses in Baltimore, he would have made up for them by now. He’s that kind of guy, you know?”

Freed took a candy from the jar and handed it to Jiseop.

“So, don’t worry about it.”

“Haha, I understand.”

As he accepted the cherry-flavored candy from him, Jiseop turned his gaze to the large TV installed on the office wall.

The inning change was over, and the Philadelphia Phillies’ bottom of the 3rd inning was starting.

At bat was the Phillies’ number 7 hitter. Vincent Hiyama was on the mound to face him.

“I’m more worried about the umpire today. He hasn’t been calling the low outside pitches since a while ago… Look at that! No, how is that a ball?!”

Is he blind?

They should introduce robot umpires!

Freed slammed his fist on the desk and got angry, but Jiseop didn’t bother to agree with his complaints.

There was no use complaining about the umpires’ ball calls. Rather, Jiseop was paying attention to Vincent Hiyama’s calm expression.

‘Hmm, he definitely looks good.’

Vincent Hiyama didn’t even twitch an eyebrow, even though he allowed a runner for the first time in the game due to a questionable ball call.

He simply looked back at the infielders and signaled for a double play. Then, he returned to the mound and quietly focused on the signs from the catcher.

His gaze was so calm that it felt almost chilly, and Jiseop nodded without realizing it.

‘Yeah, he’s not the best pitcher in Major League Baseball for nothing.’

He was throwing four-seam fastballs at nearly 100 miles per hour that day as well.

The power of his new breaking ball, the knuckle curve, was also beyond what Jiseop had expected.

Most of all, no hitter had properly hit Vincent’s pitches so far.

Jiseop was inwardly relieved and was peeling the wrapper off the candy he had received a little while ago-

But,

Right then.

Wow!!!

A tremendous roar suddenly erupted from the field.

Jiseop, startled, looked up and couldn’t help but doubt his eyes.

“?!!”

The ball hit by the Philadelphia hitter was flying towards the outfield in a huge arc.

At first, the Tampa Bay outfielders all started running, but soon stopped.

With all the fielders standing still, the batted ball hit the upper part of the outfield stands of Citizens Bank Park.

-It’s gone! It’s over!

Perhaps the announcer hadn’t expected this situation to unfold either.

Slightly flustered, he quickly regained his composure and conveyed the situation in a loud voice.

-It’s a home run! A two-run home run to take the lead!

The announcer shouted.

-Harold Garcia, who only had 1 home run this season, hits Vincent Hiyama’s first pitch over the fence! A miraculous home run, and the score is now 2-0!!

* * *

As expected,

At this time, Citizens Bank Park was in a frenzy.

Wow!!!

Wow!!!

From far away on the field.

And from the TV speakers nearby.

The Philadelphia Phillies fans’ enthusiastic cheers poured in like a tidal wave.

“…”

“…”

The Tampa Bay Rays Third Scouting Team fell into a heavy silence.

It wasn’t just because they had given up a home run. It wasn’t like Vincent never gave up home runs.

They were shocked when the information about the previous pitch appeared on the monitor after the opposing hitter returned to home plate.

[What, it wasn’t a mistake?]

That was Freed’s thought.

[I thought it was a pitch that was left in the middle… but that’s not it? It was a perfectly located pitch inside?]

[The velocity was 101 miles per hour, and the spin rate was 2,582… and he turned that into a home run? A slap hitter who only has 1 home run this season?!]

The fact that a pitch that was perfect in velocity, stuff, and control was hit hard.

Then this meant that it wasn’t just a simple home run. It meant that there was something they didn’t know underlying it.

A creepy feeling ran down their spines. Freed and the other members of the Third Scouting Team couldn’t even breathe properly-

“Mr. Freed, look at that! What did I tell you? I said I felt something was off, didn’t I?”

Someone’s voice poked into their ears.

Freed could immediately identify the owner of the voice.

“…Kim?”

He turned his head.

“That’s right. Kim is right. It feels like the Philadelphia guys have prepared something thoroughly… um?”

And the next moment, a strange expression appeared on Freed’s face as he continued to speak in a serious tone.

“No, Kim. What are you doing now?”

“Yes? Well, as you can see… I’m picking out a candy? I felt like I needed some sugar after seeing the home run.”

That’s right. In that very moment when everyone was shocked by the sudden home run,

Jiseop picked up the glass jar on the desk and was struggling to take out a candy.

“I was going to eat another cherry-flavored one… Ah, this one is buried underneath and it’s not coming out easily.”

“Ch, cherry-flavored candy?”

‘I have a lot to say, but I won’t.’

When Jiseop mentioned cherry-flavored candy, Freed’s expression was exactly like that.

Was it just Freed? The other employees huddled together in the small office had similar expressions.

[What is this guy? Does he not understand what the situation is?]

[You can just grab any flavor of candy. Vincent is getting hammered right now.]

[Does he not know how we got Vincent? We gave up our team’s top prospect, Christopher Ben! If Vincent collapses here…]

People were looking at Jiseop with such dissatisfied eyes.

But only for a moment, a slight change began to occur in their minds.

[Wait a minute, come to think of it, the person who brought Vincent was… Kim?]

[If Vincent fails, Kim is the one who will get the most criticism, right?]

[When you think about it, Kim is the one who should be the most worried right now? The fact that Kim is looking for cherry-flavored candy means…]

The situation might not be as serious as expected.

The team’s executives may have already prepared a solution.

As that thought spread, the Third Scouting Team quickly began to recover its original atmosphere.

“Mr. Freed, then I will print out the home run data that just came out.”

“Ah, let me know when it’s printed! I’ll deliver it to the dugout.”

“Mr. Freed, do you have any additional comments? I’ll put them in the remarks column if you do…”

Putting aside the shock of giving up a home run, the fellow employees were focusing on what they had to do first.

He didn’t show it, but Jiseop was inwardly relieved at this time.

‘Whew, did the plan work?’

The reason Jiseop mentioned cherry-flavored candy was entirely due to the instructions of General Manager Brian Sphan.

He ordered Jiseop to pay attention to his facial expressions in the future because the morale of his fellow employees could be influenced by Jiseop.

Looking at the atmosphere of the Third Scouting Team, Jiseop’s ‘cherry-flavored candy plan’ seemed to have worked properly.

‘Hehe, to think that people’s moods would change based on my expression…’

Jiseop was just amazed.

To think that so many people would judge the situation based on his expression.

To think that they would be relieved and regain their composure after seeing him looking for cherry-flavored candy.

Jiseop didn’t feel bad, but at the same time, he felt a bit of pressure.

‘If people react to my expression like this, then I have to show them something…’

The task at hand was clear.

The weakness of Vincent Hiyama has been exposed. Now, how to solve this.

‘He was perfect until the 2nd inning. But as soon as the first runner got on base in the bottom of the 3rd inning, he got hit hard.’

Then.

‘Vincent Hiyama’s set position motion… was there something wrong with that?’

World Series championship.

Promotion to assistant general manager.

Jiseop’s worries began in order to seize both with his own hands.