A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 393

The Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good – Episode 393

The Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good, Episode 393

88. Season of Harvest (1)

About ten minutes later.

Jisub was down on the field at Citizens Bank Park.

It was to attend the World Series victory ceremony that would begin shortly.

“Okay, hurry! Please hurry!”

“The commercial break is almost over!”

Broadcast staff carrying large cameras were running around busily.

League office staff were probably the ones bringing out the trophies and medals.

As the Tampa Bay players changed into their championship t-shirts and began to appear one by one—

“Hey, Kim!”

A man waved his hand at Jisub.

It was the manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, Mike Clemblas.

“Haha, you’re here! I’ve been looking all over for you, Kim.”

“Ah, were you looking for me?”

Jisub quickly pulled his phone out of his jacket pocket.

It was Jisub’s habit to keep track of the manager’s instructions, but it seemed he didn’t need to this time.

Manager Clemblas smiled mysteriously and placed his hand over Jisub’s phone.

“No, Kim. I wasn’t looking for you because I had any special instructions…”

The manager’s eyes narrowed.

“I just wanted to meet you as soon as possible to thank you.”

“Thank me?”

“Yes. Once the awards ceremony starts, there will be a hectic schedule. For both me and you, Kim.”

With that, Manager Clemblas took off his championship hat.

And covering his chest with the hat, he bowed lightly to Jisub.

“Thank you, Kim.”

Manager Mike Clemblas, who was known for his strict personality.

Perhaps that’s why there was a sense of formality in his expression of gratitude.

“This season, your presence was crucial to me. I don’t know what would have happened without you.”

“Oh, please don’t mention it…”

Jisub quickly bowed, but Manager Clemblas slowly shook his head.

“No, it’s true. Kim, without you, there would be no Brett Evans or Vincent Hiyama. Victor Johnson Jr. would still be in the minors, and Alex Montero’s slump would have lasted longer.”

Manager Clemblas went on to list Jisub’s contributions this season.

However, what seemed most impressive in his memory was something else.

“But personally… I can’t help but mention how you helped improve my relationship with the coaching staff.”

“Ah, are you talking about that?”

It was now a vague memory for Jisub, but it seemed vivid for Manager Clemblas.

“I used to be quite awkward with the coaches. After all, they were all veterans older than me. But after Kim regularly arranged meetings… yes, it’s completely different. It feels like we’re perfectly in sync. Thanks to that, we were able to get through this World Series safely.”

And it’s not confirmed yet, but.

Manager Clemblas continued with a subtle expression.

“Around the week after next, Coach Thomas Culkin suggested we go on a championship fishing trip to the Caribbean.”

“Oh, a fishing trip?”

“Yes, renting a big, fancy yacht to catch fish for a couple of days, eat good food, and catch up…”

What do you think?

Manager Clemblas asked.

“If you don’t have any other plans, come with us. These things are more fun when there are more people. I think the coaches would be happy to have you, Kim.”

“Ah, me?”

It was a good offer.

Manager Mike Clemblas, young, capable, and charismatic.

His only flaw was that his perfectionist tendencies made it difficult for colleagues to approach him.

That manager was now going on a championship fishing trip with the coaches.

It was a great story in terms of expecting better teamwork next season.

But it was also a proposal that Jisub couldn’t easily accept.

‘…Spending two days with my boss? On the vast Caribbean Sea, no less?’

Ugh, that’s a bit too much.

The thought alone made him break out in a cold sweat.

Jisub quickly looked around to change the subject, and fortunately, a suitable excuse came into view.

“Ah, Manager!”

What Jisub pointed to was the entrance connected to the home team’s dugout.

A group of people dressed in suits were appearing from there.

“The reporters are coming out. It seems the Willie Mays Award [World Series MVP award] voting is over?”

“Oh, is that so.”

Manager Clemblas had no choice but to put the fishing trip story aside for a moment.

It meant that the Willie Mays Award winner, the MVP of this World Series, had been decided.

“Who do you think will win, Manager?”

At Jisub’s question, Manager Clemblas lightly scratched his chin.

“Well, based on performance alone, Brett Evans has more than enough qualifications to be MVP…”

Two games pitched, two wins, zero losses, an ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of pitching performance] of 1.93, and 11 strikeouts.

Brett Evans had shown the best performance as a starting pitcher.

“But you can’t ignore the impact in MVP voting, can you? In that regard, the most likely candidate is…”

Manager Clemblas, who was about to mention someone, smiled mysteriously and looked at Jisub.

“A player with star quality is different. Look, he’s appearing just as we’re talking about him.”

“Haha, that’s true.”

It was Vincent Hiyama.

The championship contractor that the Tampa Bay Rays had ambitiously recruited. And in many ways, the man who was the protagonist of this World Series.

He was slowly appearing on the field, receiving the warm cheers of Tampa Bay fans.

Vincent! Vincent! Vincent! Vincent!

“Thank you, thank you!”

Vincent Hiyama threw pre-prepared t-shirts and hats into the stands, returning the cheers of the fans.

So far, he looked like a player who was about to win the MVP, but at this point, Jisub couldn’t help but tilt his head slightly.

‘Am I imagining things? That guy…’

Why,

does he look so unhappy?

* * *

Why does he have that expression?

His lips are definitely turned up, but his eyes aren’t smiling at all.

He seems very happy, but on the other hand, he also looks very depressed.

Throughout the World Series awards ceremony, Vincent Hiyama’s expression was exactly like that.

-It was a really fierce competition! After a grueling battle that went to the seventh game, the team that reached the top of Major League Baseball is… the Tampa Bay Rays!!!

Even when the president of the league office presented the Tampa Bay team with the huge championship trophy.

“One, two, hoo-ah!”

“One, two, heave-ho!!”

Even when the players held up the trophy they received and showed off the ceremony in front of the fans.

-Finally, we will announce the MVP of this World Series! After a truly fierce competition, the honor of the Willie Mays Award goes to… Vincent Hiyama!!!

And above all, when he won the World Series MVP, the Willie Mays Award.

“Thank you. I never thought I would receive such an award…”

Vincent Hiyama, holding one of the greatest honors a Major League Baseball player can receive, but somehow unable to smile brightly.

It was a brief moment, but at this time, Jisub couldn’t help but have all sorts of thoughts.

Did he hear something bad from his agent? Did something happen to him personally? Or—

‘Does he… feel something wrong with his body?’

This was the part that Jisub was most worried about.

He had thrown over 130 pitches in the previous day’s game. Moreover, he had consistently started as the second batter in all games except the seventh game.

Even though he was about to become a free agent and leave the team, getting injured was something that should never happen.

I wish the ceremony would end soon. Then I can talk to him. Just as he was looking at the stage with a nervous heart.

“Kim, congratulations on the victory.”

A voice from behind.

Jisub couldn’t help but say, “Ah.”

“Mr. Lopez, it’s been a while.”

“Yes, how have you been?”

Looking at the middle-aged man smiling brightly at him, Jisub could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

His name was Simon Lopez. The president of the agency company, Lopez Corporation.

And he was also Vincent Hiyama’s personal agent.

‘The agent’s expression isn’t bad… does that mean there’s nothing wrong with Vincent?’

But this was something that needed to be clarified.

Jisub asked the agent, who was offering his congratulations.

“Thank you. But…”

“Yes?”

“How is Vincent’s condition? Did he say anything about being in pain?”

“Vincent? Well, I just met him a little while ago… he didn’t say anything like that?”

“Is that so?”

Jisub stroked his chin and glanced at Vincent on the stage.

“He doesn’t seem to be in good spirits. He doesn’t seem happy even after receiving the MVP trophy.”

“Hmm, now that you mention it, it does seem a bit like that…”

Agent Lopez nodded and looked at Vincent, following Jisub’s gaze.

It was at this moment that a strange story came out of his mouth.

“Haha, I have a rough idea why that friend is making that expression today.”

“You know the reason?”

“Yes, didn’t I just tell you? I met Vincent briefly after the game earlier.”

He gave a faint smile.

“As soon as Vincent saw me, he suddenly made this request.”

‘Please recruit Kim.’

‘I need him.’

Vincent said that.

“He said that with Kim’s help, he can easily adapt to any team, and that he was able to step up in this World Series with Kim’s help… Ugh, a friend who usually doesn’t talk much was begging so much.”

Mr. Lopez smiled bitterly.

“I’ve already made several offers to Kim, and each time Kim politely declined… He only calmed down after I said that.”

“Ah.”

“He seemed to understand and back down in front of me… but now it seems like he still has regrets in his heart.”

“…So that’s how it is.”

Jisub felt a bit complicated.

Vincent Hiyama was by far the best player in Major League Baseball. He was very happy that such a player recognized him.

He was also grateful that his regret at not being able to recruit him was greater than the joy of winning the World Series MVP.

But still, he’s the World Series MVP, an honor that’s hard to come by several times in his career.

He also felt a little sorry that he couldn’t be as happy as he could be.

As he was listening to Vincent’s acceptance speech with various thoughts in his mind.

“Ah, right! Since we’re on the topic, here’s a suggestion…”

Mr. Simon Lopez spoke again.

“Kim, could you spare a day? For Vincent Hiyama and our Lopez Corporation.”

“Time?”

Jisub looked at Mr. Lopez.

“What’s going on?”

“Yes, it’s nothing much… Our company has a tradition of giving nice watches to those who have helped our players a lot.”

“A watch?”

“Yes, a wristwatch.”

Mr. Lopez nodded.

“I could send you something appropriate, but I thought it would be better to have a meal and catch up while choosing one…”

Jisub chuckled inwardly.

There were so many people asking to have a meal and catch up today.

“Thank you for your kind words… but I’ll just accept your thoughts this time.”

Jisub waved his hand.

“I’d feel burdened to receive such a big gift for such a small thing, and I don’t wear watches in the first place…”

“Hey, don’t say that! This is a matter of our Vincent’s honor. We should definitely give you a watch.”

Mr. Lopez was quite firm.

“And since you’ve won the championship, there will soon be places where you’ll need to dress up nicely, right?”

“Dress up? Ah, are you talking about the awards ceremony at the end of the year?”

“Yes, of course, there are such events… but there’s a separate moment when the baseball team’s front office has to be the most formal.”

The moment the Major League Baseball front office considers the most glorious.

The moment the Major League Baseball front office dreams of as a lifelong wish.

“When you meet the President.”

He smiled gently.

“The White House visit of the World Series winning team.”