A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 438

The Super Rookie of the Baseball Team is Too Good. Episode 438

Chapter 94: The Place I Need to Be (7)

Victor Johnson Jr., the ace of the Tampa Bay Rays, was known as a ‘pitching technique researcher.’

His first live pitching session was held two days later on the main field of Charlotte Sports Park.

“Victor, how’s your condition?”

“Do you have any new pitches this year?”

More reporters than usual had gathered on the field that day.

In addition to reporters from Florida’s local newspapers, quite a few reporters dispatched from as far as New York were also noticeable.

With the rivalry against the Yankees intensifying, Victor Johnson’s condition seemed to have become a subject of interest for baseball fans in New York as well.

“Condition? I’m in top shape!”

Victor Johnson Jr. seemed to be in a very good mood that day, thanks to the high level of interest from the reporters.

He kept smiling brightly and striking cool poses in front of the cameras.

It was precisely at that moment, as he was exuding anticipation for the live pitching session with such vibrant energy, that–

“Ho-jin, you understood what the coach said, right?”

In one corner of the main field, the KH Cannons staff were encouraging Ban Ho-jin.

“This is a great opportunity. An opportunity that won’t come again! What rookie in the world gets a chance like this!”

It was the Cannons’ first-team hitting coach.

“If you hit a big one today, you’ll become a star right away! It’ll be crazy! In Korea and in America!”

It didn’t seem like words spoken simply to boost the player’s morale.

The Cannons’ hitting coach had a strong sense of confidence on his face at this moment.

‘He might be lacking in technical aspects because he’s a rookie, but his hitting sense is truly innate.’

This was a fact he had come to realize even more clearly over the past three days of close guidance.

His bat speed was tremendous, and his dynamic visual acuity for grasping the trajectory of pitches was at a level of natural talent.

The hitting coach thought that with this much ability, he could at least put up a fight against a Major League ace, but–

“…….”

Ban Ho-jin had been staring silently at his toes for a while.

The answer he gave to the hitting coach was quite unexpected.

“I’m sorry, Coach.”

“Huh?”

The hitting coach tilted his head.

“Sorry? What for?”

“It’s such a great opportunity, as you said, Coach, but it seems like I’m just going to waste it.”

The Cannons’ rookie raised his eyes.

“Wouldn’t it have been a better match if other seniors… like Lee Soo-bin or Shim Sung-joon, had come instead of me?”

“What are you talking about?”

The hitting coach let out a hollow laugh.

“Hey, Ban Ho-jin! Why are you suddenly like this? You were always singing about the Major League, the Major League…….”

“I think I’ve come to realize a few things while being here.”

Ban Ho-jin scratched his head.

“The players here are all amazing. Whether it’s hitting or fielding. Compared to them, I’m…….”

“Ordinary?”

Go Chang-deok, who had been quietly observing the situation, joined the conversation.

“You felt ordinary?”

“Yes.”

Ban Ho-jin nodded.

“Of course, it was a great help that you and the agent came. Thanks to that, I thought I might be able to handle that pitcher I faced on my first day here. But suddenly, it’s Victor Johnson Jr…….”

“…….”

“I always thought, the place I need to be is the Major League. The Major League is where I can shine… But it seems that was just my delusion.”

The Cannons’ super rookie sighed deeply and lowered his head again.

Go Chang-deok, who had been working hard for him, couldn’t help but think this.

‘This kid…….’

Yeah, this damn kid.

‘What should I do?’

* * *

About 30 minutes later.

Victor Johnson Jr.’s live pitching session was in full swing on the main field of Charlotte Sports Park.

Live pitching, a stage where the pitcher’s condition is checked by setting up fielders and competing directly against batters.

Whether the confidence he showed to the reporters was genuine or not, Victor Johnson was putting on a truly amazing pitching performance that day.

Whoosh- Bang!

Based on his four-seam fastball, which easily exceeded 95 mph, and his sweeper [a type of breaking ball that sweeps horizontally across the plate], which was rated as one of the best in the league.

He had completely tied up the batters designated as his opponents that day.

He struck out Aaron Trapp, who was rated as the best prospect in Triple-A [the highest level of minor league baseball], and got Mark Kohoun, Tampa Bay’s unwavering leadoff hitter, to ground out to the shortstop.

“Goooood!!!”

Just as Richard Stelmayczek, nicknamed ‘Flamingo,’ was stepping up to the plate to stop Victor Johnson, who was gaining momentum.

Ji-seop, who was watching the game from in front of the visiting team’s dugout, turned his gaze to Go Chang-deok, who was standing right next to him.

“Hehe, he’s a troublesome friend.”

He was talking about Ban Ho-jin.

“I went out of my way to set him up to face a ‘real Major Leaguer,’ but now he’s backing down…….”

“So?”

Ji-seop couldn’t help but ask again.

“So, what did you do? I couldn’t exactly kick a grown man in the butt, could I?”

“Ah, that…….”

It was at this moment that a strange expression appeared on Go Chang-deok’s face.

“I told him about you, Ji-seop.”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yeah, the story of when you were with the Cannons.”

Go Chang-deok continued.

“I had been thinking about it quite seriously for a while. How did Kim Ji-seop go to the Major League?”

“You had too much time on your hands?”

When Ji-seop looked at him with a nonchalant expression, Go Chang-deok waved his hand dismissively.

“No, but isn’t it true? Jang-ho was talking about the Major League from the beginning, so let’s say that’s how it was. But did you have anything like that? I don’t think you ever even mentioned the ‘M’ in Major League, did you?”

“That’s… true, isn’t it?”

“Exactly! So, I thought about it. What was the reason Kim Ji-seop was able to become the vice president of a Major League team?”

In Ji-seop’s view, it was thanks to his ability to read other people’s minds, but Go Chang-deok’s conclusion was a little different.

“When I watch you work… you just focus on the task at hand.”

“The task at hand?”

“Yeah, surprisingly, you don’t really look at the big picture, do you? You just put all your effort into the task at hand. So fiercely, without looking back.”

Ji-seop had a look on his face that said, ‘Why is this guy doing this,’ but Go Chang-deok seemed to be analyzing him quite seriously.

“That must have been the answer. Doing your best at the task at hand. And then focusing on a new task again… I thought that might be what made you who you are today.”

“…….”

“I told Ho-jin that story too.”

Setting a big goal from the beginning and running fiercely towards it is also a method. There are people who are suited for that.

But taking things one step at a time is also a good way to succeed.

You don’t have to aim for the Major League right away. If you absolutely can’t do it, just admit it and move on.

Instead, shouldn’t you just do your best at what you have to do today, at what you’re facing today?

“In other words, the place you need to be today isn’t some huge stage called the Major League… it’s just an ordinary batter’s box that’s 1.2m wide and 1.8m long [approximately 4 feet by 6 feet]. It’s enough to just show your swing properly there.”

“Oh ho.”

Ji-seop, who had heard Go Chang-deok’s story, smiled with one eye squinted.

“Is it because you’ve become a deputy now? Your way with words has become incredibly good?”

“Hey, what are you talking about? I just imitated you. I just tried to do what you used to do when you were with the Cannons…….”

Oh well, I don’t know.

Go Chang-deok clicked his tongue.

“I don’t know if he understood my story or not… That’s what I couldn’t figure out. Ho-jin always has such a sullen look on his face.”

He was saying that he had given advice to the best of his ability, but he wasn’t sure if it would be effective.

But at that moment, a faint smile was forming on Ji-seop’s lips.

“Out! Out!”

Richard Stelmayczek was retired with a fly ball to center field, and the next batter was slowly stepping into the batter’s box.

The only invited player designated as Victor Johnson’s opponent that day, KH Cannons’ rookie Ban Ho-jin.

Go Chang-deok had no way of knowing, but Ji-seop could clearly hear it.

[My swing, my swing, my swing…….]

It was the earnest inner thoughts of the 23-year-old rookie batter stepping into the batter’s box this year.

[Today, I’m just going to focus on my swing. Yeah, that’s all I need to do!]

* * *

Victor Johnson Jr., the ace of Tampa Bay, who had already retired six batters with routine outs.

And Ban Ho-jin, the Cannons’ rookie who was given an opportunity to confirm the results of his efforts over the past few days.

The showdown between these two players actually began with a scene that seemed familiar from somewhere.

Whoosh- Crack!

Ban Ho-jin strongly hit Victor Johnson’s first pitch, creating a huge foul ball that went around the first base pole.

“Foul, foul home run?!”

Go Chang-deok trembled slightly.

He remembered the story that Ban Ho-jin had hit a foul home run on his first day here.

The story that Ban Ho-jin had become greedy for a home run with that precarious foul home run, and that had ruined his entire pace.

“Wait, Ji-seop! Can I call a timeout now? Is that okay?”

Perhaps he was momentarily impatient. Go Chang-deok tried to take a step forward, but Ji-seop quietly held him back.

“Hyung [Korean honorific for older brother or male friend], just wait a little longer.”

“Huh?”

“Look at the batter’s face. Doesn’t he look like he’s burning with greed for a home run?”

“I, is that so?”

Tap, tap, tap.

After tapping his spikes with the end of his bat, Ban Ho-jin returned to his batting stance.

“…….”

In fact, his eyes were shaking a little at this moment. It wasn’t the determined gaze of someone staring intently at his opponent.

Because the ball was so fast. Because it was so incredibly powerful. Because he was feeling the true nature of a Major League ace firsthand.

The tingling sensation he felt when the ball hit the bat still seemed to linger in his hand.

Even so, Ban Ho-jin was clearly repeating to himself at this moment.

[My swing, my swing, my swing…….]

I will swing my swing. I won’t think about anything else. I will just focus on showing my swing.

Ji-seop, who had read his inner thoughts, chose to quietly watch the match rather than give unnecessary advice–

And that choice,

Returned with the best possible result.

Crack!

The fifth pitch of the day, a four-seam fastball thrown at a 2-2 count.
The Cannons’ rookie strongly hit this pitch, which was slightly, very slightly, centered more than usual.

“!!!”

When he heard the sound of the bat hitting the ball, Ji-seop couldn’t breathe for a moment.

Because the batted ball was a ground ball. Because he had hit it hard, but the launch angle wasn’t there.

The batter threw his bat and started running towards first base, and at that moment, the Tampa Bay third baseman dove towards the ball flying like a bullet.

“Fair!! Fair!!!”

The batted ball narrowly, really by a hair’s breadth, avoided the third baseman’s glove.

From that moment on, there was only one thing that Go Chang-deok and Ji-seop could do.

“Run!!!”

Shouting at Ban Ho-jin, who was heading towards first base.

“Run, you bastard!!!”

The batted ball, which had left the infield, was quickly heading towards the outfield, and Ban Ho-jin stepped on first base and ran towards second.

Of course, the Major League outfielders were agile. They caught the batted ball, which seemed to be breaking through the gap between left and center field, with a slide, and immediately returned it to the shortstop.

Whoosh- Bang!

Splash!

It happened almost at the same time.
The shortstop receiving the ball and blocking the runner, and the batter-runner’s hand touching second base.

Safe or out. A simple hit, or a double. When everyone held their breath and looked at the umpire.

“Safe! Safe! Safe!!!”

The second base umpire making a safe call, spreading both arms to the left and right.

At that moment, a shout of ‘Waaah!’ erupted at Charlotte Sports Park.

“Nice batting! Nice running!”

“Wow, that guy! He’s doing a great job at the end!”

“Well done! Really well done! He gave Victor a good one!!!”

It was the players and coaching staff of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Although they belonged to different teams, they knew very well what had happened to Ban Ho-jin.

They knew the hardships he had gone through, and they knew the efforts he had made to overcome them, so the Tampa Bay people gave him generous applause.

“T, thank you! Thank you, thank you!”

Ban Ho-jin, flustered by the sudden outpouring of applause, bowed his head repeatedly.

Then, he discovered Go Chang-deok and the Cannons’ people far away and gave them a sly smile.

“Coach! Agent Go!”

With a face full of dirt.

Covered in sweat,

A bright smile that showed his gums.

It was clearly,

The face of a young man who had found the place he needed to be after a long period of wandering.