A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 384

Baseball Team New Recruit Is Too Good – Episode 384

Baseball Team New Recruit Is Too Good 384

86 Powerful, Truly Powerful (7)

Three days later.

Almost midnight.

Intense batting sounds echoed through the indoor training facility at Tropicana Field.

Thwack!

Thwack!

Thwaaack!

Vincent Hyama was powerfully hitting the balls launched from the pitching machine, set at 100 miles per hour.

The ‘championship troubleshooter’ of the Tampa Bay Rays had been sweating profusely for nearly an hour.

After hitting all the balls in one cart, and as the balls in the second cart were running low,

The trainer, who had been feeding balls into the pitching machine, peeked his head out from behind the protective screen.

“Hey, Vincent!”

Drrrrr, drrrrr.

The trainer had to shout loudly over the noisy mechanical sounds of the pitching machine.

“Wouldn’t it be better to stop and rest? We have to gather at the airport by 10 a.m. tomorrow.”

“Just a little more, please.”

Vincent said, tapping his spikes with the end of his bat.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep if I go home like this. Just 20 more… no, 30 more, please.”

As Vincent took his batting stance again, a firm voice came from behind him.

“No, that’s enough.”

It was the Tampa Bay Rays’ batting coach,

Sam Harrison.

“Vincent, listen to the trainer. I think you’re overdoing it right now. There’s no point in pushing yourself too hard.”

“But, Coach…”

Vincent tried to argue, but Sam Harrison cut him off sharply.

“No buts! Put down the bat and come out here! And how many times have I told you already?”

The batting coach glared.

“Today’s loss isn’t your fault alone! How long are you going to keep that in mind?”

“Even if you say that…”

Vincent looked dejected.

“I haven’t gotten a hit in three games. I haven’t gotten a hit since we came back home. Meanwhile, the team…”

The team was 2 wins and 3 losses.

That was the Tampa Bay Rays’ World Series record as of that day.

They had managed a decent showing at Citizens Bank Park with 1 win and 1 loss, but they had suffered two consecutive losses at Tropicana Field after winning the first game.

With everything possibly ending in the sixth game of the series in two days,

Vincent Hyama, who had been brought in as a ‘championship troubleshooter,’ seemed to be feeling considerable pressure.

“That’s enough! Not getting hits isn’t just you! Alex strikes out repeatedly with runners in scoring position, and Julio hit into two double plays in today’s game alone!”

The batting coach, unable to watch any longer, entered the batting cage, grabbed Vincent’s arm, and pulled him out.

“As I said before, you’re thinking too much right now. Your head is full of *jap saenggak* [Korean for 잡생각, meaning ‘ 잡(jap) miscellaneous, 생(saeng) thoughts, meaning cluttered thoughts’]. That’s why you can’t concentrate on the battle with the pitcher.”

“…….”

“The best thing to do in times like this is to take a hot shower and get a good night’s sleep. That’s the only answer! Sleep helps our brain organize *jap saenggak*, doesn’t it?”

The batting coach emphasized the importance of rest with a serious expression.

But inside, he was just as frustrated.

‘I’m talking nonsense. It’s almost impossible for Vincent to clear his head right now…’

He knew it too.

Vincent Hyama had been showing tremendous hitting ability up until the Championship Series.

Why had he suddenly fallen into a slump in the World Series?

‘It must be because of the pitching form adjustment.’

The batting coach clicked his tongue.

‘He plays games during the day and adjusts his pitching form at night… He doesn’t have time to rest. He doesn’t have time to breathe.’

He felt a pang of regret.

If he had known this would happen, he should have stopped the two-way play during the World Series.

He should have had him focus on either pitching or hitting.

The batting coach looked at Vincent, who had reluctantly started cleaning up, with pitiful eyes.

‘By the way… Is there no one left on the pitching side? I should have them give him a few words of advice before he leaves.’

The batting coach craned his neck and looked toward the entrance of the indoor training facility.

Just as he was about to take out his phone to contact someone, he heard someone’s voice from behind him.

“Ah… Coach! You haven’t left work yet?”

At first, he wondered who it was.

The voice was unfamiliar.

It sounded like a voice that had been altered, or like someone who had been smoking for about 40 years.

The batting coach blinked and then smiled brightly.

“Oh, Kim! Was that you?”

It wasn’t just Jiseop alone.

Pitching coach Thomas Culkin, Rebecca Carney, the assistant general manager of the Baseball R&D team, and two members from the Future Strategy Planning division were also there.

The batting coach greeted them all lightly and then nudged Jiseop’s arm.

“But you… why does your voice sound like that? It’s completely hoarse. Did you catch the flu while I wasn’t looking?”

“No, ahem! I’ve been using my voice too much for the past few days…”

Ahem! Ahem! Ahemmm!

Jiseop cleared his throat loudly several times, then frowned slightly due to the stinging in his throat and looked around.

“Coach, where is Vincent Hyama? I heard he was still here…”

“Yes, I’m here.”

It was Vincent Hyama himself who answered instead of the batting coach.

“Everyone… what’s going on?”

“Ah, Vincent.”

The moment Jiseop saw Vincent Hyama’s face, he felt sorry for him.

His face had become rough in the few days he hadn’t seen him while trying to persuade the team.

His eyes, which were always sparkling, looked tired, and his chin, which was always cleanly shaven, had a dark stubble.

He could tell how much stress he was under without even looking into his eyes.

‘He’s been having a hard time.’

That’s why Jiseop had no choice but to hesitate a little.

There will be no pitching form adjustment. Whether the opponent has figured out your pitching habits or not, you will throw your own ball.

Although it was an answer derived after much deliberation and persuasion, it would be quite a burden for the player himself.

‘But… this is the only way.’

Jiseop had put everything into this.

He had used all the trust and reputation he had built up to get the approval of the team, including CEO Brian Spahn.

Can he lead the Tampa Bay Rays to their first-ever championship? Can he fly higher than he is now?

Now is the time to entrust all of that to this friend’s right hand.

“Hey, Vincent.”

A little tension. A little fear.

And even a little anticipation.

Jiseop was taking a step toward Vincent Hyama with a truly complex heart.

But as always, the story flowing from his mouth was as smooth as if it had been oiled.

“You told me, didn’t you? That you wanted to earn a retired number from the Tampa Bay Rays with just half a year of activity.”

“Yes? Well, I did, but…”

Vincent Hyama was slightly embarrassed.

He had never told anyone except Jiseop.

Seeing the young player looking quite embarrassed in that short moment, Jiseop was opening his mouth confidently.

“I have a way.”

And then, one more word.

“A way for you to be remembered forever in the hearts of everyone who loves the Tampa Bay Rays.”

“A way to be remembered forever?”

Even amidst the pressure, Vincent’s eyes sparkled.

“What… is it?”

* * *

Exactly two days later.

At Citizens Bank Park, the home stadium of the Philadelphia Phillies, the crowd erupted in a frenzy of cheers.

-Atlanta came!

-They got their asses kicked and left!

-The Dodgers came too!

-They also got their asses kicked and left!

-Hey, buddy, what about the Tampa Bay Rays?

-They’re gonna get their asses kicked too!!!

The Philadelphia Phillies, who had secured three wins, were facing the sixth game of the World Series.

Their passionate fans were already creating an atmosphere as if they had won the championship.

It wasn’t unreasonable. The Philadelphia Phillies had a 70% home win rate in the postseason.

Moreover, the starting pitcher for the day was Vincent Hyama, who had been thoroughly beaten in the second game.

“Hey, did you see the post that came up on the channel yesterday? Our Phillies front office caught Vincent Hyama’s weakness?”

“I saw it! They had figured out all of his pitching habits? Haha, he was supposed to be a genius, but he was nothing special?”

“No, our front office is amazing! The other teams just got ripped apart by Vincent?”

“Well, that’s true! Our Phillies’ new general manager is pretty smart! Hahahaha!”

The fans of the Philadelphia Phillies, who were famous for attacking the team like they would kill them even for the smallest mistake.

But on this day, they were praising their front office with joyful expressions.

Their happy laughter seemed to be heard beyond the ground and into the team’s office, right at that moment.

“Yes, let’s do that.”

The very person who was emerging as the hero of the Phillies fans on this day, General Manager Benjamin Oznovich, was discussing the schedule after the game.

“Please pay special attention to safety. Once the fireworks start, our fans will almost lose their minds.”

“I understand, General Manager. I will instruct the team security guards to pay attention again and again. Then, I’ll be on my way…”

“Okay, thank you for your hard work today.”

General Manager Benjamin Oznovich finished the interview with the team staff and returned to his desk.

As he sighed deeply and rubbed his face, his right-hand man, Assistant General Manager Aaron Vinson, approached.

“Boss, would you like a cup of tea?”

He shook the teapot.

“The tea that the team owner sent was excellent. It tasted like the championship was coming.”

“Really? That wouldn’t be bad.”

As Oznovich held out his teacup, Vinson tilted the teapot.

“Boss, what are you going to do now?”

“Hmm?”

“Didn’t you say that once you lead Philadelphia to the championship, you would go back to Tampa Bay and lead them to their first championship?”

The assistant general manager continued.

“But now that you have the World Series championship in sight… what should we do? Should I start looking for a house in Tampa Bay?”

“No, please hold on.”

Oznovich chuckled.

“I’ve only spent the first year of my four-year contract? How can I move teams in just one year? Besides, since the team I’m facing in the World Series is Tampa Bay, they’ll be wary of me for a while.”

“Ah, that’s true too?”

The assistant general manager nodded and then smiled.

“Still… I’m kind of proud.”

“Of what?”

“When I asked you last time, you told me not to even dream about it? That you had no intention of taking me to Tampa Bay at all.”

The assistant general manager shrugged.

“But you’re not saying that today, so… doesn’t that mean you recognize me a little bit? Aaron Vinson, Oznovich’s right-hand man!”

“Hmph, ridiculous.”

Oznovich snorted.

“It’s true that I’m thinking of taking you with me even if I move teams, but it’s not because you’re good. Just keep that in mind.”

“Yes? Then what is it?”

At the assistant general manager’s question, Oznovich narrowed his eyes.

“It’s because the person I originally intended to make assistant general manager… has been showing a slightly disappointing performance.”

“The person you intended to make assistant general manager? Who is it? R. J. Higgins? The Tropicana Bulldozer?”

The assistant general manager asked persistently, but Oznovich quietly brought his lips to the teacup.

‘…Kim, I’m a little disappointed.’

That was his inner thought.

‘I thought he would create an interesting game… but it seems like the game will end with just figuring out Vincent Hyama’s pitching habits.’

He also had some general information about what kind of response the Tampa Bay Rays were preparing.

‘Pitching form adjustment… Didn’t he know that was nonsense? Especially in the World Series, where the players are already under so much pressure.’

Oznovich was thinking that when he returned to Tampa Bay someday, he would have to fix those confident front office people first.

That’s what Tampa Bay needs to change. The front office is too strong. The voices of the field are being ignored too much.

‘Yeah, it might be okay to entrust that Kim guy with the reform work. Persuading CEO Brian Spahn in his first year with the company is definitely a great thing…’

Oznovich was recalling his long-held dream and tasting the fragrant tea.

But right then, Aaron Vinson, who was receiving a call from the field staff, shouted loudly.

“No, is that really true? Are you sure? Ah, just a moment!”

“Boss!!”

Assistant General Manager Aaron Vinson called Oznovich.

“I just received a call from a staff member who was in the visiting team’s bullpen.”

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

“No, that’s… Vincent! Vincent Hyama.”

The next moment, Oznovich’s thick eyebrows twitched greatly.

“It seems like there’s no pitching form adjustment?”

And then, one more word.

“He said he couldn’t find any difference from his usual bullpen pitching.”