A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 392

Baseball Team Newbie Is Too Good-392

Baseball Team Newbie Is Too Good 392

87 The Highest Place (5)

To be honest,

Ji-seop was also nervous inside.

‘Are they all…… doing well?’

Even while working out in the training room, even while talking with General Manager Benjamin Oznovich, that thought was always in a corner of his mind.

It couldn’t be helped. No matter how favorable the situation, you have to open the lid to know [you have to see the outcome to be sure]. Even if 100 people predict a win, baseball sometimes has games that break those 100 people’s predictions.

“Thank you for your hard work. Please get in quickly.”

“Yes, thank you.”

However, when he got into the luxury limousine sent by Chief Director Brian Span,

And when he sat in the luxurious seat and received the cell phone he had submitted a few hours ago,

Ji-seop could feel a large boulder that had been suppressing his heart disappear cleanly.

“Kim, what is this…….”

That was David Wilson’s reaction, who was looking at his phone a moment before Ji-seop.

“We completely crushed them?”

It was true.

The long-awaited World Series Game 7.

The Tampa Bay Rays had dominated the Philadelphia Phillies in almost every area.

Tak!

Taaaaak!

According to the record Ji-seop checked, the Tampa Bay lineup seemed to have been on fire from the top of the first inning.

Starting with an easy cycle of hitters from the 1st inning. A whopping 11 hitters entered the plate and scored 6 points.

-Ah, this hit is huge! It’s very big! Deep into the outfield, deep into the outfield…… eventually it goes over the fence! It’s a two-run home run here, a wedge shot coming out of the Tampa Bay Rays!!

In the top of the 2nd inning, Alex Montero, who started as the 4th batter and starting catcher that day, hit a two-run home run.

A home run with tremendous distance that made the pitcher bow his head the moment it was hit. The score quickly became 8-0.

-It’s, it’s okay! We don’t know yet! The game has just begun, right?

-Th, that’s right! Vincent was great yesterday, but our lineup is not easy either!

They were Phillies fans who would have cursed without hesitation at any other time, but at this time, they were patting each other on the back and clenching their fists.

Perhaps it was only natural. Victory was right in front of them. This was the time to send support rather than curse.

But there was one man who shattered even that faint hope.

Shuuuu- Paang!

Shuuuu- Paaaang!

It was Brett Evans, the starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays that day, ‘Professor’.

The very player who had already achieved 250 career wins, received several Cy Young Awards [awarded annually to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball], and was likely to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The veteran pitcher, who had been sharpening his sword in the independent league only for the World Series championship ring, showed his achievements without regret that day.

-Strikeout! It’s a strikeout! Brett’s curveball is completely freezing the Phillies lineup!

-This is really amazing! Brett is throwing only 17 curveballs right now. 17 consecutive curveballs! It’s a really great guts. It’s pitching that only Brett can do!

World Series Game 7. Most pitchers would have felt their knees buckle just imagining it, but Brett Evans, who had experienced all kinds of hardships, didn’t seem to have any of that.

Every time he struck out with a daring pitch that caught the opponent off guard, Phillies fans began to leave one by one.

“…….”

Eventually, when Brett Evans left the mound with a great record of 7 innings, 2 runs, and 11 strikeouts.

The bullpen pitchers who followed him overcame their past slump and did their part.

So, in the top of the 9th inning, when Ji-seop and his party arrived at the stadium and hurriedly ran up to the stands-

Clang Clang Clang Clang!

In the stands of Citizens Bank Park, only the sound of the Tampa Bay Rays’ symbol, the cowbell, was echoing loudly.

“Wow…….”

John LaMar, who was gaping at the jarring sound.

The guy tapped Ji-seop on the shoulder and asked.

“Kim, was today…… our home game?”

“Hehe, I don’t know.”

Ji-seop also smiled faintly.

“I’m confused too.”

Whether this is Citizens Bank Park.

Or Tropicana Field.

* * *

About 5 minutes later.

Ji-seop and the people in the Future Strategy Planning Division were walking quickly toward the VIP seats located in the middle of the infield stands.

Originally, they were planning to watch the last inning in the office of the 3rd Power Analysis Team behind the clubhouse. Most of the front office staff were gathered there.

But when Ji-seop and his party stepped into the office, their colleagues were startled and said this.

-No, Kim! What are you doing here?!

-Yes? Wasn’t the front office supposed to wait here?

-We are, but the Future Strategy Planning Division isn’t! You have to go to the VIP seats! VIP seats!

It was said that Chief Director Brian Span’s instructions had been given.

When the Future Strategy Planning Division arrives, send them to the VIP seats immediately.

Thanks to that, Ji-seop was able to enjoy the luxury of watching the last inning with the top executives of the Tampa Bay Rays.

“Oh, Kim! Have you come?”

When Ji-seop and his party appeared in the VIP seats, the faces of the people who were waiting were filled with bright smiles.

“Thank you for your hard work. Oh, that Black Team…… it’s a very blood-sucking role [a demanding and exhausting job]!”

Come on, this way.

The person guiding Ji-seop to his seat was R. J. Higgins, Vice President of Marketing.

“Thank you for yesterday. If it wasn’t for Kim…… oh, I almost wrote my resignation letter?”

It’s inside.

Rebecca Carney, Vice President of Baseball R&D Team, bowed her head with a slightly embarrassed expression to Ji-seop.

“Oh, Future Strategy Planning Division!”

“The main characters of today have arrived?”

In addition, the Tampa Bay Rays’ general manager, president of baseball operations, and even the directors of the club’s board.

After shaking hands one by one with the big shots who he couldn’t even make eye contact with properly in the past.

“……You’ve come.”

The person Ji-seop faced was Brian Span, Chief Director of the Tampa Bay Rays.

“Please sit down. You’ve worked really hard until the end of this World Series.”

Then, the chief director pointed to the empty seat next to him.

Ji-seop bowed his head, saying, ‘Thank you,’ but he couldn’t easily sit down.

“……Who is it?”

“Well, who is it?”

There were a lot of photographers gathered around the empty seat that the chief director pointed to.

People standing there with two or three cameras each. People trying to capture the moment of the first championship in the club’s history, Chief Director Brian Span.

It wasn’t easy to approach a place where so many people were watching.

“Haha, it’s okay.”

Perhaps he noticed Ji-seop’s feelings.

Chief Director Brian Span patted Ji-seop lightly on the shoulder.

“Kim, you are the employee who has made the biggest contribution to our Tampa Bay Rays this season. There is no disagreement about that. If you don’t get attention, who else can get attention?”

“Th, thank you for saying that, but…….”

Whether it was during his active career or after joining the front office.

Ji-seop didn’t have much experience receiving the spotlight.

When he was scratching the back of his head with an awkward expression, unexpected people approached him from both sides.

“Hey, Kim! What are you talking about? You should get used to standing in front of reporters now.”

John LaMar grabbed Ji-seop’s left arm.

“That’s right. You should get used to it. Once you become the deputy general manager, you will have more contact with the media, right?”

David Wilson grabbed Ji-seop’s right arm tightly.

“Okay, I’m going! Isn’t it okay if I go? Oh, everyone is so strong…….”

Ji-seop sat next to the chief director with a bitter smile, but it seemed that his right and left arms still had work to do.

“Wow, it doesn’t look bad when you see it like this, does it? Don’t you think so…… Kim · Deputy · General · Manager?”

John LaMar emphasizing the words ‘Kim Deputy General Manager’ very much.

Just when he was wondering why he was doing this when it hadn’t even been announced externally, David Wilson opened his mouth.

“How is it, Kim! Is there a stadium like this in Korea? Korea probably isn’t this big, right?”

This time, David Wilson put extra emphasis on the word ‘Korea’.

Ji-seop wondered why these two friends were doing this, but he soon realized the reason.

“Ah, is that Kim? He looks very young, but he’s already become the deputy general manager?”

“Korea? Did you just say Korea? Ah, right! I heard there’s a front office employee who came from Korea to Tampa Bay…….”

The reporters started writing something based on John LaMar and David Wilson’s stories.

Perhaps the two of them deliberately raised their voices to give information to those reporters.

Today is the World Series. The day when reporters from all over the United States flock.

Did they want to clearly inform those reporters of Ji-seop’s name and origin?

“They’re good colleagues.”

Brian Span, Chief Director, said to Ji-seop as John LaMar and David Wilson winked at Ji-seop and sat down.

“I’ll arrange a place for you, so have a drink with the three of you after the series is over. To do bigger things next year…… Kim, you will definitely need the help of those two.”

A drink was a matter of course.

How could he not have a drink with those two after coming all the way here with such hard work? It would be right to drink all night, not just one drink.

It was appreciated that he arranged the place, but at this time, Ji-seop couldn’t help but tilt his head slightly.

“Thank you, President. But…… did you say big things? Next year?”

“That’s right. Bigger things are waiting for us.”

The chief director’s tone was calm.

“First of all, we need to reorganize our forces, right? Vincent will declare FA [free agency] as soon as today is over. There’s also the problem of mobilizing spectators, which was relatively insufficient this season. And above all…….”

The new stadium construction issue.

Chief Director Brian Span said.

“Once the championship is confirmed, negotiations with the St. Petersburg city government will probably begin soon. I’m thinking of involving the Future Strategy Planning Division in that as well.”

“Ci, city government negotiations?!”

“Of course, of course. Did you think I would give you the title of deputy general manager for nothing?”

When a meaningful smile appeared on the chief director’s face, a shout of ‘Wow!’ erupted.

It seemed that the Tampa Bay Rays’ closer had caught the second out count in the bottom of the 9th inning.

Then,

Now, all that’s left until the championship is,

Just one out count.

* * *

One More Out!

As the second out count went up in the bottom of the 9th inning, the atmosphere at Citizens Bank Park was getting even more heated.

One more out, one more out. We want one more out count. We want just one out count.

At that moment, when the voices of Tampa Bay fans were echoing loudly, Ji-seop was inwardly tongue-tied.

‘Brian Span……. He’s not an ordinary person after all.’

The Tampa Bay Rays’ first championship in the club’s history was right in front of them.

It was the moment when the goal that Brian Span, who was a young man in his 20s, had devoted half of his life to until he became a middle-aged man in his 50s, was achieved.

At that emotional moment, at that moment when it wouldn’t have been strange to shed a tear, he was thinking about next season with a calm expression.

‘That’s right. The person who leads the entire club must always be one step ahead.’

Ji-seop suddenly had that thought.

‘Can I…… become like that?’

Always cool-headed and calm.

Can I become a person who thinks about the future even in a situation where everyone is caught up in excitement? Can I become such a leader?

‘Hehe, I’m not even good at standing in front of reporters…….’

Perhaps because Chief Director Brian Span’s appearance was so impressive, Ji-seop seemed to be lost in thought for a while, keeping his mouth shut.

“…….”

However, the Tampa Bay closer induced a weak ground ball to shortstop against the Phillies hitter.

Paang! Whoosh-

The shortstop, who dashed forward boldly, lightly picked up the ball and quickly threw it to 1st base.

Out! Aaaout!!!

The moment the final out count of the game was declared with the first base umpire’s shout, Ji-seop’s eyes changed.

Waaaa!!!

A shout that seemed to cover the sky was erupting.

The Tampa Bay Rays’ World Series championship. The first World Series championship ever created.

The spectators who witnessed the scene in front of them jumped up from their seats and poured out hot shouts.

“We did it! We did it!”

“It’s the championship! It’s the championship!”

The Tampa Bay players ran onto the ground and hugged each other.

“Kim, it’s the championship!!”

“We did it!!!”

The people in the Future Strategy Planning Division shook Ji-seop’s body like crazy and made a fuss.

That sight of everyone who came to the stadium rejoicing. The moment that dream that they had longed for for a long time was realized.

In Ji-seop’s heart, who was staring blankly at everything, a flame was already starting to burn.

‘Yes, I can do it.’

I can do anything.

‘I’ve won the Major League championship, what can’t I do?’

Just as a new determination was taking root in Ji-seop’s heart, someone’s hand suddenly came into his view.

“Kim?”

It was Chief Director Brian Span.

Originally, it was a situation where congratulatory remarks for the championship should have been exchanged, but perhaps he had grasped to some extent the thoughts that had arisen in Ji-seop’s heart.

“How is it…… are you ready?”

“Yes?”

“I mean, are you ready to be the deputy general manager? Are you ready to take on bigger things?”

“Ah, if it’s that…….”

The moment he reached the highest place in Major League this season.

The moment he achieved the championship that so many people had longed for.

Ji-seop was making that tremendous energy his new opportunity.

“Yes, I’m ready.”

Click, click, click.

While receiving countless camera flashes from reporters, Ji-seop firmly grabbed Chief Director Brian Span’s hand.

“I’ll do my best…….”