A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 419

The New Recruit of the Baseball Team is Too Good 419

The New Recruit of the Baseball Team is Too Good 419

92 Welcome to Sunshine City (3)

Looking back, there’s something people in Major League Baseball often say:

“Yankees players are definitely different.”

“They have something special about them.”

Whenever Ji-seop heard these words, he’d tilt his head, doubtful.

“Every team has its own flavor. But what’s so special about the Yankees?”

He hadn’t felt anything extraordinary from the Yankees players he’d met, so he started taking it with a grain of salt.

‘Hmm?’

The moment Ji-seop faced Richard Stelmajek, the ‘successor to Derek Jeter,’ again that day, his perspective shifted slightly.

‘They are… different?’

First, the first impression was striking.

It was a very polished feeling.

Most people here have dark stubble even after shaving, but Richard Stelmajek was clean-shaven.

His uniform was carefully ironed, crisp, and the metal buckle of his belt was shiny.

It felt like meeting an elite office worker from Wall Street rather than a player running around on the field, breathing in dirt.

And Richard Stelmajek’s first action reinforced that feeling.

“Thank you for taking the time to come. I am Richard Stelmajek, participating in today’s showcase.”

He took off his hat as he stepped onto the field and greeted politely.

This was truly impressive. Usually, Major League players just shout ‘Hey!’ and raise their hands.

Perhaps that’s why the Major League scouts at Steinbrenner Field that day reacted so favorably.

“Richard, cheer up!”

“Yes, we’ll be watching you closely!”

“To be honest, you’re not at the point where you should end your Major League career yet!”

The scouts, indifferent moments before, now offered sincere support.

Some seemed to be thinking about the troublemakers on their own teams.

[Hmm, he’s indeed the friend who was considered Derek Jeter’s successor! He has dignity and discipline.]

[Our team needs a player like that. We have bench-clearing brawls all the time.]

The atmosphere was positive.

A player who was Derek Jeter’s successor, nurtured by the New York Yankees.

If he had a certain level of skill, he could prove valuable to any team.

Steinbrenner Field buzzed with anticipation, but—

Tak!

Tak!

Taaaaak!

Soon after Richard Stelmajek entered the batting cage and started swinging, Ji-seop noticed the scouts’ expressions subtly hardening.

“Sigh…”

“Hmm?”

“Oh, dear…”

Some bit their lower lips, some frowned and twirled their pencils, and some lightly rubbed their faces.

Though Ji-seop wasn’t a hitting expert, he could easily guess why they reacted this way.

‘…He’s ordinary.’

That’s right.

Richard Stelmajek’s play was unremarkable.

* * *

That day, employees from the Tampa Bay Rays, including the Future Strategy Planning Department, had come to Steinbrenner Field.

Scouts from the baseball operations department, specifically those focused on the professional level, were also there to see Richard Stelmajek.

They found the Future Strategy Planning Department and greeted them, allowing Ji-seop to hear the professional scouts’ opinions.

“Ah, Richard, you mean?”

The Tampa Bay scout said,

“He didn’t seem to have any particular weaknesses. That’s for sure. He’ll be guaranteed a 40-man roster wherever he goes. Getting into the 26-man roster won’t be difficult either.”

“Is that so?”

A slightly different answer than expected.

Ji-seop stroked his chin.

“From what I saw, the scouts’ atmosphere wasn’t very good? I saw some people sighing and smacking their lips.”

“Ah, that’s only natural.”

The scout reacted nonchalantly.

“A player who is ordinary without any shortcomings… A so-called ‘small hexagon type’ player, right? There are many players like that on every team.”

“…”

“It’s better to have a player with something outstanding, even if they have obvious shortcomings. We professional-level scouts are looking for such players.”

Overwhelming speed makes a valuable pinch runner.

Exceptional defense makes a player a valuable defensive replacement.

However, Richard Stelmajek’s performance that day didn’t showcase any outstanding aspects.

“I agree.”

Charles Flex, who had been quiet, joined the conversation.

“I’m sorry to say this after asking you to come… but it’s very different from what I expected. He seems intimidated and plays rigidly.”

What should I say?

He scratched his cheek and snapped his fingers.

“I think there’s an expression for this? What was it… a player who looks good in the Yankees’ away uniform?”

“Yankees’ away uniform?”

Ji-seop tilted his head, but the Tampa Bay scouts clapped, saying, “Oh!”

“Ah, you know that expression? It’s a term our scouts use!”

“Hey, how could I not? I used to risk my life in this industry!”

“What… does that mean?”

At Ji-seop’s question, the Tampa Bay scouts smiled wryly.

“It’s a kind of slang. It refers to Yankees players without any special personality.”

A player who looks good in the Yankees’ away uniform.

The scout continued.

“The Yankees’ home uniform is a cultural icon, isn’t it? Everyone recognizes it. It has so much character, history, and tradition.”

“That’s right.”

Almost everyone who plays baseball knows the Yankees’ home uniform.

Its basic design hasn’t changed since the Babe Ruth era.

“But you can’t find that charisma in the away uniform. It’s not a bad design, and it has its own tradition… but it’s somewhat blurry, almost achromatic [lacking color].”

“Hmm, achromatic. Meaning a distinct color doesn’t stand out.”

Though it felt harsh, Ji-seop was already nodding.

Richard Stelmajek’s play that day was certainly close to achromatic.

Good, not bad, but strangely, it didn’t leave a clear impression.

The Tampa Bay scouts said it wasn’t uncommon, but Ji-seop couldn’t easily accept it.

‘That’s strange.’

It was strange.

‘The Richard Stelmajek I remember was a player with a stronger personality than anyone else.’

He was a player with great showmanship. He’d dance after an infield single and forget to return to the dugout after a good play because of the celebration.

The independent league teammates who watched the TV broadcast would click their tongues, but Ji-seop was impressed.

‘Ah, that’s the kind of friend who goes pro. That’s the kind of player who can be loved by fans.’

‘Yes, that’s the kind of player he was…’

He thought time had passed. Ji-seop’s memory was eight years old.

‘Isn’t that enough time for a bright talent to fade, for the best prospect to become ordinary?’

‘It would have been nice if the old 모습 [Korean: appearance, figure] had remained, but it’s a shame… hmm?’

Just as Ji-seop was swallowing his disappointment and looking at Richard Stelmajek.

Just as the live batting was ending and they were about to evaluate the outfield defense.

Suddenly, a loud shout came from somewhere.

“Hey! Mingo!!!”

Steinbrenner Field was quiet, so everyone, including the scouts, looked around.

“You can do it! Cheer up!”

“Let’s go! Mingo! Let’s go Mingo!”

The voice came from the top of the outfield stands.

They were empty until the showcase started, but now dozens of spectators had arrived.

“Ah, it looks like the Tarpons’ fans,” said John LaMarre.

“Tampa Tarpons. The Single-A team that calls this stadium home.”

“Ah.”

It was also a Single-A team under the New York Yankees, and according to Charles Flex, a Tampa Bay competitor.

“It seems they came to cheer for Richard. Look, they even made flags?”

“Heh heh, is that so? It seems Richard is treated like a superstar here?”

“Everyone is so passionate, taking the time to gather like this on a weekday afternoon!”

The Future Strategy Planning Department shook their heads and laughed.

Others who briefly turned their attention to the outfield also seemed indifferent.

However, Ji-seop was tilting his head.

“Isn’t it a little… strange?”

“Yes? What is?”

John LaMarre blinked.

“Why are the Tarpons fans cheering for Richard? The Tarpons are a Single-A team, so Richard’s time here must have been a long time ago?”

“Well, that’s…”

The Tampa Bay scout scratched his head and answered.

“Isn’t it because they’re cheering as Yankees fans rather than Tarpons fans? This is also the Yankees’ spring training location.”

“Ah, so?”

Though he went back and forth between the majors and minors, he’d been with the Yankees for eight years.

So, it wouldn’t be strange to have dozens of enthusiastic fans.

Ji-seop thought it wasn’t necessarily wrong and was about to turn his gaze back to the field.

However, one of the cheering slogans caught his attention.

“Let’s go! Mingo! Let’s go! Mingo!”

Up to this point, he thought it was okay.

He might have wondered, ‘What does ‘Mingo’ mean?’

But then, the next cheering slogan:

“F-L-A-M-I-N-G-O!”

“F-L-A-M-I-N-G-O!”

Ji-seop, absentmindedly writing the English spelling on his palm, suddenly raised his head.

‘Flamingo? 홍학 [Korean: Flamingo]?’

If Ji-seop heard correctly, the Tarpons fans were calling Richard by the nickname ‘Flamingo.’

A name given because his whole body is as red as a flame, Flamingo.

The most noticeable animal in a lake full of deep blue, Flamingo.

‘Richard, considered the most achromatic player in the Yankees… is called Flamingo here?’

Ji-seop was unknowingly getting up.

He wanted to check directly why they called Richard Flamingo.

It could be because of his appearance, personality, or a past episode Ji-seop didn’t know about.

But if, by chance, it was because of the reason flashing through Ji-seop’s mind—

‘He’s worth bringing in.’

Ji-seop swallowed hard.

‘Richard is worth bringing in.’