A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 423

The New Recruit of the Baseball Team is Too Good 423

92 Welcome to Sunshine City (7)

Two days later, the Tampa Bay Rays announced the acquisition of Richard Stelmezek.

The contract was for one year, totaling $1 million. There were mutual options between the club and the player after the contract period.

In Major League Baseball, where massive contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars are announced almost daily, it was a very minor contract.

However, the name value of ‘Derek Jeter’s successor,’ Richard Stelmezek, was by no means insignificant.

Each media outlet rushed to send coverage requests, and the Tampa Bay Rays decided to hold an official introductory press conference.

Jiseop was meeting with General Manager Brian Sphan three hours before that press conference was scheduled to begin.

“Sir, may I buy you coffee today?”

At [Cafe Flamingo], a coffee shop located on the second floor of Tropicana Field.

As he approached the counter to order, Jiseop spoke to the General Manager.

“Richard’s acquisition was requested by our Future Strategy Planning Department, wasn’t it? It’s all thanks to the General Manager’s approval…….”

“Ah, you’re offering coffee as a token of gratitude? Well, that’s good news to hear.”

Jiseop thought he would at least politely decline once, but the General Manager picked up the menu without a second thought.

“Hey, Joe! Please make 15 Americanos and 15 Cafe Lattes.”

……Huh?

“Let’s see, are there any cookies left? Okay, good enough. Then, pack 10 of each type of cookie and send them to the Baseball Operations Department.”

……Huh?

“I’ll have a Caramel Macchiato, Venti size, with plenty of syrup and two extra shots. Yes, I’ll take mine right away.”

The General Manager, who continued ordering as if he would empty the store’s inventory, looked at Jiseop with a straight face.

“Kim, you need to order too, right?”

“Ah, yes, I’ll have…… an Iced Americano?”

Could I get a small size?

As Jiseop hesitated, thinking about his credit card bill for this month, he heard laughter from the General Manager.

“Hahaha, Kim! Aren’t you being too obviously embarrassed? You’re making me feel bad.”

“Please make this one a Venti too.”

The General Manager took out his card from his wallet and smiled.

“Just kidding, just kidding! I have the dignity of a General Manager, how could I let my subordinates pay? The club gives me a card for times like these.”

With that, Brian Sphan slapped Jiseop on the back.

Since being appointed as the Deputy General Manager, he had been treating Jiseop more casually than before.

“And it’s not like I deserve the thanks. Manager Klemblas’s influence played a significant role in Richard’s acquisition.”

Manager Klemblas was agonizing day and night to fill the void left by Vincent Hiyama.

He continued, saying that Richard Stelmezek was a lottery ticket worth scratching for such a manager.

‘He was a friend who was receiving a lot of expectations.’ Jiseop nodded and accepted his coffee when.

“Richard’s introductory press conference…… we should have it here.”

Brian Sphan, who received his coffee before Jiseop, looked around the store and said.

“Isn’t this store called [Cafe Flamingo]? It wouldn’t have been bad to have the flamingo’s welcome at the Flamingo.”

“Haha, that’s true. Coincidentally.”

As Jiseop stared at the pink flamingo on the wall, the General Manager put down his cup and continued.

“So, what kind of plans does that flamingo have for today?”

“Excuse me?”

Jiseop turned his head.

“Did you say plans?”

“Yes, didn’t Kim say? That Richard brought a flamingo ornament on his first day joining the Tampa Tarpons [a minor league affiliate of the Yankees].”

A flamingo brought to provoke a rival team.

That was the beginning of all the legends. It was also the reason Richard got the nickname Flamingo.

“So, shouldn’t something come out at today’s press conference too? We have expectations for that friend.”

“Now that you mention it, that’s true. I didn’t check that part…….”

“Really? Hmm, I’m getting more curious since Kim doesn’t know.”

The General Manager’s eyes were filled with anticipation as he nodded.

“I heard he dressed up as a flamingo and appeared in front of fans during his Tampa Tarpons days…… Is he going to do that again?”

“Well, back then, the rival team was the Ocean Shrimp. The flamingo was the natural enemy of the shrimp, so…….”

“I guess so. Then what is he going to bring this time? It’s hard to find a natural enemy relationship in the AL East division [American League East, one of MLB’s divisions].”

The Yankees’ ‘Yankee’ is just close to meaning an American.

The Red Sox’s ‘Red Sox’ meant red socks.

It was difficult to find an opponent with a clear natural enemy relationship like the Ocean Shrimp.

‘It would be strange to suddenly pick a fight with Baltimore or Toronto…….’

Jiseop also tilted his head and was about to take a sip of coffee when.

Jiseop’s cell phone, which he had put in his pocket, started ringing loudly.

“Ah, it’s David. It seems Richard has arrived at Tropicana Field.”

“Oh, really?”

The General Manager gestured for him to answer quickly, and Jiseop slightly bowed his head and pressed the [Call] button.

He was originally going to ask if Richard had arrived, but at that moment, Jiseop unknowingly squinted one eye.

-Kiiiiim!!!

As soon as he pressed the call button, he heard a scream-like voice from the other side of the receiver.

-Kim, please stop Richard! He won’t listen to us!

“……Llama?”

The number was David Wilson’s, but it seemed that John Llama was the one who made the call.

It sounded like David’s voice was coming from the other side of the receiver, and it also sounded like Charles Fleck was shouting.

What on earth is going on?

“What do you mean he’s not listening? You just need to guide him to the press conference venue.”

-No, that’s…… damn it, how do I explain this? Ah, that’s right!

Dorong dorong, dorong dorong.

John Llama’s choice here was to switch to a video call.

Perhaps he judged that it would be better to show it directly than to explain it in words.

‘What is it?’

Jiseop, who was maintaining his composure and pressing the [Accept] button until this point.

In the very next moment, Jiseop had an expression as if he had been hit in the back of the head.

“T, this is…….”

What came into Jiseop’s view was Richard Stelmezek, or rather, Richard disguised as someone.

Richard was struggling to get out of the car, and the people from the Future Strategy Planning Department were struggling to stop him.

In fact, he could understand the fact that he appeared at the stadium in disguise. The General Manager had already expected it.

The problem was,

The subject of the disguise.

Richard was wearing a black wig. His sideburns were shaved off, and his bangs were slicked back with pomade.

He was wearing a dark shirt, but his stomach was swollen as if he had stuffed a pillow inside.

And above all, what he was holding in his hand were several missile-shaped helium balloons.

Jiseop, who rarely watched the news except for baseball-related articles, knew for sure who Richard was imitating that day.

Unless there was another person with such a unique appearance, it was clear that Richard was imitating-

“It’s Kim? Another Kim.”

The General Manager was laughing heartily.

“Hahaha, that makes sense. The enemy of the Yankees, the enemy of the Americans! That friend is the hottest these days!”

“…….”

Richard’s black comedy seemed to be to Brian Sphan’s taste.

However, he couldn’t elevate the introductory press conference to the level of international news.

Jiseop bit his lower lip and got up from his seat.

“Sir, I…… I think I need to go down to the parking lot.”

“Okay, go ahead. Maybe you can get an extra suit if you talk to the Stadium Operations Department.”

The General Manager waved his hand, trying to hold back his laughter.

“Kim, I think we’ve really got a reliable friend. A friend who definitely draws aggro [aggravation].”

And then, one more word.

“Of course…… it seems like a little control is needed.”

* * *

Several hours later.

Richard Stelmezek’s introductory press conference was being held in the media room of Tropicana Field.

It was just three days before the Christmas holidays, but a considerable number of reporters had gathered in the media room that day.

Some media outlets were even broadcasting live through YouTube, truly giving the feeling that Derek Jeter’s successor was different in some way.

However, the protagonist of the day was wrinkling his nose with a dissatisfied expression.

[Damn it, no matter how I think about it, it was a really great idea! It could have been a press conference that would go down in Tampa Bay history!]

It was Richard Stelmezek’s inner thoughts that Jiseop was hearing.

He seemed to be very disappointed that his prepared ‘surprise show’ was canceled and he came to the press conference in an ordinary suit.

[Next time, I have to be careful not to get caught by Kim. Now that I’ve decided to go back to the old days, I can’t do it ambiguously, can I?]

Oh, really?

[I failed this time, but I’ll have to surprise him next time. How would Kim know? Unless I tell him…….]

I know how.

Just as Jiseop was smiling inwardly, one of the reporters raised the microphone and stood up from his seat.

“Richard, long time no see! This is Danny from Bronx Sports.”

The Bronx was the area where the New York Yankees’ home stadium was located.

It seemed that the reporter had come all the way here directly from New York.

“You’ve left the New York Yankees, which was like your hometown. I’d like to hear your thoughts on that.”

“Ah, my thoughts?”

Perhaps it was because he was a reporter he knew.

Richard, who had been sitting with a sullen expression, straightened his back for the first time.

“Honestly, I’m disappointed. Of course, I’m disappointed. But a baseball player’s life is unpredictable…… I think I can reconnect with the Yankees at any time. If not as a player, then as a coach.”

It was at this moment that an expression of ‘Oops’ appeared on Jiseop’s face as he watched the press conference.

‘Oh no, did I suppress him too much?’

He was going to draw aggro, he was going to make the Yankees fans furious.

Perhaps because Jiseop’s nagging was too long, Richard Stelmezek was unexpectedly giving ordinary answers.

‘Should I have allowed the nuclear bomb-shaped helium balloons…….’

For a moment, Jiseop had such thoughts, but as a result, it was close to being a concern.

The reporter named ‘Danny’ from New York was continuing to ask questions.

“Richard, I think the Tampa Bay Rays are very interested in the ‘Yankees DNA’ that you have. How do you plan to pass that on to your teammates?”

Yes, that was the question.

Almost at the same time as this question came out, Richard Stelmezek raised one eyebrow and reacted indifferently.

“Yankees DNA? What is that?”

“Loyalty and pride in the club, or a winning mentality? A firm determination to win.”

And in the next moment, what the reporter from New York heard was Richard’s loud laughter.

“Hahaha, Danny! What are you talking about? How can I pass on the winning mentality to my Tampa Bay teammates?”

“Excuse me?”

“Did you forget? Last season’s champion was the Tampa Bay Rays. The Yankees were eliminated in the middle. In that case, the winning mentality? Isn’t that something I should learn from my teammates here?”

“W, well, that’s true if you limit it to this season…….”

Perhaps because it was an unexpected answer, the reporter from New York was wiping away his cold sweat.

“But you are special, aren’t you? As Derek Jeter’s successor, you have the experience of receiving sincere nurturing and management from the New York Yankees…….”

And, it was at this moment.

Derek Jeter’s successor, or rather, the Tampa Bay Rays’ Flamingo.

Richard Stelmezek looked back at Jiseop and winked slightly.

[Is it now?]

He seemed to be saying this.

[Isn’t this the timing you wanted, Kim?]

When Jiseop, who understood the meaning, nodded almost imperceptibly, Richard Stelmezek rubbed his face and opened his mouth with a drowsy look.

“Derek…… who?”

It was the moment when he threw a spark at Yankees fans across the country.

“I don’t remember such a person at all.”