A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 437

The New Recruit of the Baseball Team is Too Good 437

Chapter 94: The Place I Need to Be (6)

Next day, morning.

The atmosphere at the Tampa Bay Rays’ spring camp, Charlotte Sports Park, was quite different.

It wasn’t just because the intense hip-hop music that had been echoing throughout the grounds until the previous day had been replaced with cheerful Latin pop.

“Oolala oolala, hey! Lalala lalalalala~”

A man who could change the entire training ground’s music genre with a single word.

This man, who insisted on Latin pop but could only hum the chorus because he didn’t know the lyrics.

Nevertheless, the very man who could make everyone’s heart flutter just by showing up on the field.

The ace of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Victor Johnson Jr. had joined spring training.

“Then, I’ll give it a shot!”

With Vincent Hiyama’s transfer to the Yankees, he, along with Brett Evans, was the one who had to support Tampa Bay’s pitching rotation this season.

Perhaps because he was well aware of his role, Victor Johnson Jr. seemed to have prepared more thoroughly than ever before.

During the first bullpen session that morning, he was showing truly tremendous pitching.

Whoosh- Bang!

Whoosh- Bang!

Whoosh- Baaang!

He seemed to be throwing lightly, casually, but the numbers on the speed gun read 94 mph – 95 mph – 97 mph.

In truly excellent condition, the Tampa Bay coaching staff nodded with satisfied expressions.

The pitchers throwing from the left and right couldn’t close their mouths, which had dropped open in surprise.

This was the presence of an ace. Even the way he took off his hat and wiped away sweat exuded charisma, but-

“Oh, Kim!!!”

The moment he spotted Jiseop appearing on the training ground, he abandoned his charisma like an old shoe and started waving his hand.

“Kim! Could you take a look at me? I made a new changeup while I was at home!!”

He had now become the undisputed ace of the team, but he still hadn’t abandoned his ‘pitch research’ habit.

However, Jiseop couldn’t coldly reject the ace’s request, so he shook his head and approached the back of the bullpen.

Of course, Victor Johnson’s passion for new pitches didn’t yield much fruit that day either.

Whoosh- Pow!

How is it, Kim?

Isn’t it a Vulcan changeup [a type of baseball pitch]?

Whoosh- Pow!

Then, what about this?

A half fork, a splitter [types of baseball pitches].

Whoosh- Pow!

This! You’ve never seen this before, have you?!!

……It’s a 12-6 curve [a type of baseball pitch]. Are you kidding me?

Damn it, damn it, damn it.

Jiseop left Victor, who was grumbling with a dissatisfied expression, with a word of ‘Keep up the good work’ and turned around.

Still, he couldn’t help but feel pleased with his burning enthusiasm, when he heard someone’s voice in his ear.

“How’s Victor’s condition?”

Jiseop turned his head without thinking, recognized the person, and gave a slight bow.

“Hello, Manager.”

The person who spoke to Jiseop was Manager Mike Clambleas.

“Are you done checking the position players? I was just about to head that way.”

“Yes, I’ve roughly looked over them. I’ll have time to examine them closely later anyway.”

Manager Clambleas took off his sunglasses and wiped them with a glasses cloth.

“What do you think of Victor’s condition, Kim? I heard in the report on the way that he seems ready to go straight into live pitching.”

“Yes, I think so too.”

Jiseop nodded.

“His condition is so good that there’s no need to take the bullpen pitching for too long. Considering Victor’s tendencies, it would be much better to have him throw with a batter in front of him.”

“Haha, this season is off to a great start. If things go well, we might be able to put Victor in the first exhibition game.”

Looking back, Tampa Bay had quite a headache last season because Victor Johnson’s joining was delayed.

But this season is different. As the ace is steadily getting in shape, they can expect more stable season management.

As a manager, it was truly welcome news.

“Then I’ll have to think about it. Victor’s live pitching… Who should I send out as his opponent?”

The ace’s first live pitching of the season. Of course, they couldn’t just send anyone out.

They needed someone who could give the pitcher the right amount of tension, but also have the experience to not lose their sense of hitting against the pitcher’s pitching.

Even in Major League Baseball, there weren’t many hitters who met these conditions.

Manager Clambleas, who had been fidgeting with his fingers for a while, suddenly turned his head as if he had thought of something.

“Ah, that’s right! Kim, I heard from the position players earlier.”

“Yes.”

“Was it Ban? The invited player you brought… I heard quite a few people gathered last night to help that friend train.”

The manager asked with a serious expression.

“What’s going on with that?”

* * *

When Jiseop received Manager Clambleas’ question, he couldn’t help but tilt his head slightly.

He couldn’t figure out what the manager’s intention was, even for a moment.

‘What does he mean? I don’t think I’ve violated any regulations…….’

First of all, what the manager said was true.

The KH Cannons staff had visited this place the night before for Ban Hojin’s batting practice.

They trained until exactly 10 p.m. and then returned to the Cannons camp in Fort Myers.

They would probably visit this place again this afternoon, but there was nothing particularly problematic about it.

‘Isn’t this normal here? Most players have personal instructors…….’

As long as it didn’t interfere with the team’s overall training, it was very common to receive help from personal instructors.

As Jiseop looked at him with a puzzled expression, the manager hurriedly waved his hand and added an explanation.

“Ah, there’s no need to take it so seriously. I was just asking out of personal curiosity.”

The manager continued.

“I heard that the people who came yesterday were official employees of KH Cannons. There were front office staff and a first-team hitting coach.”

“Yes, that’s right, but…….”

“That’s what I find strange.”

The manager stroked his chin.

“The entire club turns out for just one player? Isn’t that a very inefficient method? I don’t quite understand.”

“Ah.”

“That player Ban, just being dispatched to Major League spring training is already a huge opportunity, isn’t it? Then the player should take care of it from then on, but the club is stepping in to take care of every little detail…….”

At that very moment, Jiseop was newly realizing the difference between Korean baseball and American baseball.

‘It’s different. It’s really different. There are cases where things that are commonly accepted in Korea are not even thought of in the United States.’

“I think I’ve said something like this before…….”

Jiseop carefully opened his mouth.

“I think it’s because the value of one promising player is different.”

“The value is different?”

“Yes, in Major League Baseball, a club can secure dozens of promising players a year, right?”

Basically, they can draft amateur players from the United States and Puerto Rico.

They can also secure players from countries such as the Dominican Republic and Venezuela through the international amateur draft.

In addition, there were professional players from Korea, Japan, or even Australia and Taiwan who dreamed of the Major League and crossed the Pacific.

“But in Korean professional baseball, they can only secure about 10 promising players a year.”

“Does that make a difference?”

“Yes, there is an absolute shortage of promising players, and even fewer of them stand out. Then what can you do?”

If someone shows even a little bit of potential, the entire club has no choice but to step in.

They have to actively help, put in effort, and lead them to become great players.

It was a story that Jiseop had heard since the first day he entered the industry. But it seemed very new to Manager Clambleas.

“Hmm, I see.”

The manager nodded.

“No wonder Kim has a considerable talent for improving individual players. Victor Johnson last year, Vincent Hiyama too… I was wondering what the secret was, but it turns out there was such a background.”

Manager Clambleas narrowed his eyes with an expression as if he had found a hidden secret.

It was at this moment that he tapped Jiseop on the shoulder and made a suggestion.

“How about it, Kim! Could you arrange a meeting for me?”

“You said a meeting?”

“Yes, with your old colleagues from Korea. The people who are coming to Charlotte Sports Park for the Cannons’ promising player.”

The manager continued.

“I’d like to have dinner with them and hear about nurturing promising players in Korea… Is that possible?”

“Ah, if that’s the case…….”

It is possible.

It is possible.

That’s what Jiseop was originally going to say, but he paused his answer here and thought for a moment.

‘Wait a minute, wait a minute, rather than saying okay right away here…….’

After finishing his thoughts, Jiseop opened his mouth with a sly expression.

“I think it’s definitely possible… But Manager, could you do me a favor as well?”

“Kim’s favor?”

Hahahahaha.

Manager Clambleas laughed so hard that his uvula [the fleshy extension at the back of the soft palate] was visible.

“Did you learn that from Charles Flex? Your negotiation skills have been extraordinary lately?”

And then one word followed.

“Alright, Kim. What can I do for you?”

* * *

Around 10 p.m. on the same day.

Special batting practice for Ban Hojin was in full swing on the sub-ground of Charlotte Sports Park.

Thwack!

Thwack!

Thwaaaack!

The sound of hitting that erupted every time the batting ball pitcher threw the ball.

Watching the batted balls fly far away, Go Changdeok was smiling, revealing his white teeth.

“Kuh, beautiful! The trajectory of the batted ball is truly beautiful!”

Go Changdeok had a satisfied expression.

“As expected, we have to acknowledge Coach Yoo’s skills! Hojin’s swing trajectory has improved a lot, hasn’t it?”

“Hey, what skills.”

The Cannons’ first-team hitting coach, who heard Go Changdeok’s praise, smiled bitterly.

“It was just good timing. We came before that guy’s batting form completely collapsed. That’s why we were able to fix it in two days, otherwise… Whew, we would have really suffered for an entire season, wouldn’t we?”

“Ah, coaching is also about timing? At what point do you step in?”

“That’s right. Isn’t that how everything in the world is? Go, Deputy, that’s why I’m saying this…….”

Swish.

Coach Yoo slipped a white envelope into Go Changdeok’s pocket.

“Ah, no, Coach! What is this?!”

“Keep it, keep it. It’s not much.”

Coach Yoo’s strong hand blocked Go Changdeok from trying to pull out the envelope.

“Our Go, Deputy, must have spent quite a bit of money this time, right? I feel sorry about that. And I’m grateful too.”

“Spent money……?”

Go Changdeok blinked.

“Spent money, what are you talking about? Where did I spend money?”

“No, didn’t you take care of Kim Jiseop, the Deputy General Manager, to some extent?”

Do you think I don’t know?

Coach Yoo poked Go Changdeok in the side and smiled.

“This is my first season with the Cannons, but I’ve been around a lot of teams. I know very well what Major League employees are like.”

“I know that too, but…….”

“Yeah, so!”

Coach Yoo had an expression that he knew everything.

“Those Major League guys are so arrogant! They don’t even try to understand the situation of our Korean professional teams! They nitpick everything, they tackle everything… Whew!”

Coach Yoo shuddered.

“That Major League employee told you about Hojin’s condition? He even provided such a wonderful place for special training? Oh my, then it’s obvious.”

You spent money.

Quite a lot too.

Coach Yoo had a pitiful look in his eyes.

“Thanks to you, Hojin’s condition has been revived, so if it were normal, it wouldn’t be enough to fill all the money you spent… I’m sorry, my pocket situation isn’t very good either.”

Coach Yoo sent a moist look, but Go Changdeok couldn’t stop the laughter that kept bursting out.

“Oh, Coach! Oh, geez…….”

Go Changdeok waved his hand.

“No! It’s really not! Haven’t you heard the story? Deputy General Manager Kim is a friend who was with the Cannons until two years ago.”

“W, well, I don’t know about that, but… Still, this isn’t an ordinary favor, is it?”

Coach Yoo tilted his head.

“Then are you saying that Deputy General Manager Kim just gave you this favor? Without receiving a penny?”

“Oh, Coach! Deputy General Manager Kim and I joined the Cannons at the same time! We rolled around together since we were 2nd team training assistants! Would we help or not help for a few bucks… Hey, it’s not that kind of relationship! Hahaha.”

He was clearly talking about Jiseop. He was talking about what kind of relationship he and he had.

In some ways, it was a very ordinary story, but at this time, Go Changdeok was feeling a sense of pride rising from deep within his heart.

Had he ever thought that a friend’s success would be such a pleasant thing?

“Keep it, Coach.”

Feeling his shoulders rise slightly, Go Changdeok said.

“I’ll give Deputy General Manager Kim a separate reward. I was already thinking of buying him a big drink anyway.”

“Really? Can I trust you?”

“Oh, how many times do I have to tell you…… Ooh!!!”

It was at this moment that Go Changdeok took out his cell phone.

A call was coming in on his cell phone.

“Look, it’s Deputy General Manager Kim! He’s a friend who calls this often!”

“Oh ho, is that so?”

“Yes, now you know, right?”

Hahahahaha.

Go Changdeok, who was laughing heartily, pressed the [Call] button.

Of course, his voice was an octave higher than usual.

“Oh, Jiseop! What’s up? I’m at Hojin’s special training right now!”

Yeah, yeah, that’s right! Yeah!

Watching Go Changdeok, who was having a casual conversation, Coach Yoo was also slowly nodding his head.

It was real. They were really close friends. Then this money wouldn’t be necessary.

Just as he was thinking that and was about to put the white envelope back in his pocket.

Thud-

Really thud, Go Changdeok grabbed Coach Yoo’s wrist.

“Why?!”

“Co, Coach…….”

Go Changdeok opened his mouth, keeping his cell phone away.

“That money… I might have to take care of Deputy General Manager Kim.”

“Suddenly?”

“Yes, I was thinking of just getting away with a meal if possible, but I don’t think that’ll work.”

Go Changdeok continued.

“Deputy General Manager Kim… says he’ll send Hojin out for live batting?”

“Live batting? Who?”

“Vi, Victor Johnson Jr.”

He had a dazed expression.

“The ace pitcher of the Tampa Bay Rays.”