A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 42

#The New Recruit of the Baseball Team is Too Good Episode 42

Chapter 12: Once an Ace (3)

Next day, 9 AM.

International Affairs Team Weekly Meeting.

“Alright, let’s proceed as planned.”

Jo Sung-beom, the head of the International Affairs Team, was summarizing the meeting’s results.

“Chief Cha Yoon-jin will cover the away game against the Hawks. Assistant Manager Han and Sung Min-woo will provide support.”

Like any company, the International Affairs Team at the Cannons had to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.

Team Leader Jo Sung-beom fixed his gaze on the whiteboard, issuing instructions to each member of the International Affairs Team.

Just when it seemed like the day’s work was almost settled, Team Leader Jo Sung-beom’s gaze turned to Ji-seop and Go Chang-deok.

“Lastly, Kim Ji-seop and Go Chang-deok… you two are currently in charge of translating for Jimmy Morris, right?”

Team Leader Jo Sung-beom continued.

“Today, I’d like only one of you to handle Morris, and the other to work with me… who would be better suited?”

“Accompanying the team leader means…”

Go Chang-deok cautiously began to speak, but Team Leader Jo Sung-beom nodded before he could finish.

“Yes, Jonathan is scheduled to bring in alternative foreign player candidates today… I want you to meet them with me.”

Team Leader Jo Sung-beom then glanced at Chief Cha Yoon-jin.

Ji-seop could guess that Chief Cha Yoon-jin had given Team Leader Jo Sung-beom a heads-up.

“Since you’ve been observing Jimmy Morris most closely… I’d like to hear your opinions.”

Team Leader Jo Sung-beom’s gaze swept over Ji-seop and Go Chang-deok.

“Despite the issues with his sincerity, is it right to continue with Jimmy Morris… or is it better to recruit a different foreign player at this time?”

Ji-seop already knew.

Even though he said this, Team Leader Jo Sung-beom had already decided to replace Jimmy Morris from the start.

However, unlike a few days ago, the ‘reason’ had changed, which caught Ji-seop’s attention.

A few days ago, it was due to the betrayal he felt towards Jimmy Morris for lying to the team, but now-

[Jonathan will bring in excellent players in your opinion.]

It seemed to be due to ‘trust’ in Jonathan Stewart, the Cannons’ local scout in the United States.

* * *

It was Ji-seop who ended up working with Team Leader Jo Sung-beom that day.

If precise data analysis was needed, Go Chang-deok would have gone, but for simply assessing a player’s ‘first impression,’ Ji-seop, with his background as a player, was deemed more suitable.

“Still, it’s Jonathan after all.”

The Cannons’ home ground, where the players were away for an away game.

While waiting for Jonathan Stewart’s group to arrive in the empty dugout.

Sitting in the corner of the dugout, Ji-seop realized that the trust in Jonathan Stewart was not limited to Team Leader Jo Sung-beom alone.

“Honestly, when I heard that Morris was doing such nonsense… I thought Jonathan wasn’t the Jonathan I used to know, you know?”

Said a member of the International Affairs Team.

“But to think he’d find replacement foreign players this quickly… Jonathan’s connections are amazing.”

“When you think about it, Jonathan didn’t seem very satisfied when he brought Jimmy Morris in the first place.”

Said another employee.

“He said he tended to be overvalued because of his name value of playing as a 2nd or 3rd starter in the Major League… I remember Jonathan being against it until the end.”

“But we couldn’t help it back then, could we? The new acting owner told us to pick the best foreign pitcher no matter what….”

“It’s like a late regret, but if we had known this would happen, we should have picked the player according to Jonathan’s opinion from the beginning… don’t you think?”

The trust formed over one or two years didn’t seem to be the case.

The performance he showed as the Cannons’ ace pitcher during his active career and his track record as the team’s overseas scout after retirement.

Combining those two, it was a trust that had been slowly formed over nearly 20 years.

What kind of person is he to receive this level of trust?

Just as Ji-seop was starting to become curious about Jonathan Stewart.

Brummm- Squeak.

Two 9-seater vans appeared in the parking lot beyond the outfield fence.

After waiting for a while, the people who got out of the vans began to cross the outfield towards the dugout.

“Ah, they must have arrived!”

It was a larger group than Ji-seop had expected.

Three foreigners in uniform who appeared to be active players, three foreigners who appeared to be their agents, and each of their interpreters and drivers.

At the very end of the line of foreigners, who seemed to be at least ten people, was a middle-aged white man with a large build, striding confidently.

“Team Leader Jo Sung-beom! How have you been!”

The middle-aged man showed off his fluent Korean skills to the point where Ji-seop was surprised.

Although no one told him, Ji-seop could guess who this middle-aged white man was.

‘I see, this person is…’

Jonathan Stewart, KH Cannons’ local scout in the United States.

* * *

“I’m sorry, Team Leader.”

Jonathan Stewart, facing Team Leader Jo Sung-beom, started by apologizing politely.

“Regarding Jimmy Morris… I should have reported it sooner.”

“No. Jimmy is the one who did nonsense, why are you apologizing.”

Team Leader Jo Sung-beom patted Jonathan’s shoulder with a bright smile.

“I have a lot of stories to catch up on with you, Team Leader… but shouldn’t we meet the players I brought first?”

“Well, we’d like that.”

Jonathan Stewart, who had the thick trust of not only Team Leader Jo Sung-beom but also the entire International Affairs Team.

The trust in him certainly didn’t seem to be built overnight.

“Okay, then….”

As soon as Team Leader Jo Sung-beom’s instructions were given, Jonathan began to proceed with the ‘showcase’ of the players he had brought.

“Hey, guys! Let’s warm up first! We’ll start bullpen pitching in exactly 30 minutes!”

After instructing the players to warm up without any delay, he brought their agents to Team Leader Jo Sung-beom to introduce them.

“Team Leader, from the left, these are the agents of David, Chris, and Lloyd. If you have any questions about the players, you can ask these friends.”

“I thought only the players were coming, but you brought all the agents too?”

“Of course, Team Leader. The season is just around the corner, when else would we schedule the agents’ entry into the country?”

After exchanging greetings with the agents and discussing their desired contract terms, the players’ bullpen pitching followed.

Shoo-o-o-o- Pow!

Shoo-o-o-o- Pow!

Shoo-o-o-o- Pa-ow!

International Affairs Team, Operations Team, and even the coaching staff who remained at the home stadium to select foreign players.

Bullpen pitching taking place while the main figures of the Cannons were watching.

Jonathan Stewart didn’t try to inflate the players’ skills.

“Looking at it coldly, they are about 80% of Jimmy Morris’ maximum.”

That was Jonathan’s assessment of the players.

“But with the season just around the corner, I think these are the best cards the Cannons can bring in… what do you think?”

At Jonathan’s words, Team Leader Jo Sung-beom was slowly nodding.

* * *

That day, the showcase was held at the Cannons’ first-team spring camp.

After all the schedules were completed, an evaluation of the players Jonathan had brought was taking place in the International Affairs Team conference room.

“As Jonathan said, I don’t think they are players who can be used as definite first-choice starters.”

Said the first-team pitching coach, who came as a representative of the coaching staff.

“But their control and stuff are not bad for 3rd or 4th starters. They are all young friends, so there is still room for development.”

“They all seemed to know the players who played in Korea and returned to the Major League well. They seemed to want to follow that route too.”

Said someone from the operations team.

“Their motivation seems certain, they listened carefully to the coaches’ stories, and above all, they seemed to know quite a bit about Korean culture.”

“That’s right. When I asked them if they knew any Korean food, they all shouted ‘Japchae! [Korean glass noodles with stir-fried vegetables and meat]’ Hehe, if they know Japchae, we should see that they are already familiar with Korean culture.”

“I’ve seen friends who talk about ramen or bulgogi [Korean marinated beef barbecue], but this is the first time I’ve seen a foreigner who likes japchae.”

Hahahahaha.

With laughter filling the room, the evaluation of the players Jonathan had brought seemed to be coming to an end.

Their skills are a little lower than Jimmy Morris, but their motivation is certain and their adaptability to Korean culture is good.

“At this point, we can pick one of the three without being attached to Jimmy Morris….”

“I think so too. Now that an alternative has been prepared, there’s no reason to bring an insincere friend, is there?”

Just when the flow of the conversation seemed to be flowing towards ‘Which of the three should we recruit.’

“Wait a minute, wait a minute….”

Team Leader Jo Sung-beom, who had been listening to the story with a pleased expression, raised both hands to stop the conversation.

“Still, before we proceed further, I’d like to hear the opinions of other employees….”

Team Leader Jo Sung-beom’s gaze swept around the conference room.

“Does anyone have any opinions regarding today’s showcase? If so, I’d like you to speak up now….”

Team Leader Jo asked in a soft voice, but no one raised their hand first.

This was also because there was trust in Jonathan Stewart among the employees, and perhaps they were reluctant to say anything about matters that the main figures of the front office had already decided on.

“…….”

“…….”

As everyone kept their mouths shut, and Team Leader Jo Sung-beom confirmed this and tried to proceed with the story, saying ‘Then…’

“Um… one thing….”

Ji-seop, who had been silent until now in the corner of the conference room, carefully opened his mouth.

“Can I ask you just one thing?”

“You can ask two things? Hahaha.”

The atmosphere was still soft at this point.

However, the story Ji-seop brought up in the next moment drove the conference room into a strange atmosphere.

“I have a similar opinion to the team leaders about the players. They are all good players, and it seems like there will be no problem assigning them to the 3rd or 4th starters. However….”

“However?”

“It seemed that all the players who were tested today belong to the same company… Has this part been discussed in advance?”

“Same… company?”

At Ji-seop’s words, almost everyone sitting in the conference room tilted their heads to one side.

“Same company? What does that mean?”

Team Leader Jo Sung-beom asked.

“Those friends each belong to a different agency, right? That’s why three agents came today… Didn’t you check that part in advance?”

Team Leader Jo Sung-beom turned his head and looked at the international team employee.

The international team employee also nodded ‘Yes’, but Ji-seop did not waver at all.

“Yes, I know that the agents are different too.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“But these days, aren’t there friends among the players who have coordinators separate from the agents?”

If the agent is in charge of the player’s contract, the coordinator is the person in charge of the player’s training, treatment, and overall life issues.

The part that Ji-seop pointed out as ‘same company’ was this coordinator side.

“So, you mean….”

The pitching coach said, looking at Ji-seop.

“Are you saying that the guys who took the test today have different agents… but the coordinator is the same?”

“Yes, would you like to take a look at this?”

Ji-seop said something to the international team employee sitting in front of the laptop.

When the employee who heard Ji-seop’s story tapped the laptop keyboard a few times, a website appeared on the conference room whiteboard.

“It’s a coordinator company in the United States called ‘New Frontier Sports’.”

Ji-seop continued.

“It’s a list of players who have a contract with this company… and I see some familiar names here.”

“That, that’s… those guys who took the test today, right?”

It was the KH Cannons’ first-team pitching coach whose eyes widened as he looked at the website screen.

“No, how did you know this… no, no.”

The pitching coach seemed to realize that there was something more urgent than figuring out the source of the information.

“Team Leader Jo, this is probably….”

“Yes.”

Team Leader Jo Sung-beom nodded.

“It seems we need to call Jonathan to confirm.”