A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 443

The Freshman of the Baseball Team is Too Good 443

The Freshman of the Baseball Team is Too Good 443

95 Spring Comes Like That (4)

It was around the bottom of the 1st inning that Ji-seop headed to the outfield seats with Dana Sears.

“Wow!!!”

“Wow!!!”

The game had just started, and the scoreboard showed 0-0, but the atmosphere at Charlotte Sports Park was already heating up.

One reason was that the game was sold out early, with about 7,600 fans in attendance. But the more decisive reason was this man.

“Ri-chard!”

“Ri-chard!”

“Ri-chard!”

Richard Stelmetzeck, the Tampa Bay Rays’ number two hitter and left fielder, was making an appearance that day.

The ‘successor to Derek Jeter’ left the on-deck circle and slowly began to walk to the plate after the leadoff hitter walked.

It was at this moment that Ji-seop spoke to Dana Sears.

“Councilwoman, do you know Richard Stelmetzeck?”

“Huh?!”

The St. Petersburg City Councilwoman turned her head in surprise.

Ji-seop smiled subtly and continued.

“No, I thought you said you weren’t interested in baseball… But the way you’re looking at Richard is unusual.”

“Ah, well, that’s…”

Dana Sears, quickly gathering her thoughts, snapped her fingers as if she had an idea.

“My grandfather! That’s right, my late grandfather was a huge New York Yankees fan.”

“Ah, I see. I didn’t know that.”

As Ji-seop slightly bowed his head, Sears’ eyes sparkled.

*Did she think she had found a reason to talk about baseball confidently?*

“My grandfather really liked Richard Stelmetzeck. He said he was a talent who would become Derek Jeter’s successor. He said he was a good baseball player and a diligent player.”

“Hmm.”

“I thought he would be the Yankees’ starting shortstop by now… I guess he moved teams without me knowing.”

At this moment, Ji-seop could sense that Dana Sears really liked Richard Stelmetzeck.

Her eyes seemed to be filled with mixed emotions, a moist look as she stared at Richard, who was standing at the plate in the distance.

In fact, it wasn’t just Dana Sears. Most of the Yankees fans who came to Charlotte Sports Park that day felt the same way.

“Ri-chard!”

“Ri-chard!”

“Ri-chard!”

Remembering the expectations they had for him, the disappointment they felt, and the regret they felt when he left the Yankees.

Richard’s one comment, ‘Who is Derek Jeter?’ that once made Yankees fans seethe, didn’t seem to have much of an impact at this moment.

And this warm atmosphere seemed to reach its peak when Richard Stelmetzeck took off his helmet and offered his thanks.

The warmth only went that far.

Richard, returning to the plate, hit the opposing pitcher’s first pitch, creating a truly intense sound.

*Thwack!*

It was before the soft atmosphere had even faded.

Before the Yankees fans’ moist eyes had even dried.

And just as Dana Sears was still holding her hands tightly together.

*Whoosh-*

The batted ball drew a large arc, soaring deep into the outfield.

And the moment the Yankees outfielders, who were gritting their teeth as they chased the ball, were blocked by the outfield fence and hung their heads…

The successor to Derek Jeter, who was once loved by Yankees fans, no, now the Tampa Bay Rays’ new ‘Flamingo’ [a player known for flamboyant bat flips]…

“Wahoo!”

…was shouting and flipping his bat with a flourish, showing off an incredible bat flip.

Richard Stelmetzeck’s leadoff two-run home run.

It was from this moment that the back of the necks of Yankees fans began to feel hot.

* * *

They say a true star drives both ‘fans’ and ‘haters’ crazy.

In that sense, Richard Stelmetzeck was truly the best star player that day.

Even after hitting a leadoff two-run home run in the bottom of the 1st inning, he drove everyone in the stadium into a frenzy with his incredible performance.

-A bullet-like batted ball flying to left-center! This ball, this ball, this ball is… Caught it!!! Richard Stelmetzeck!!!!!

In the top of the 2nd inning, with two outs and the bases loaded, he slid to catch a ball that almost split the left-center field.

-The left fielder caught it, and the runner on 3rd base started! To home, to home, at home… Out! The call is out! Tampa Bay Rays prevents another run!!!

In the top of the 3rd inning, with one out and a runner on 3rd, he also thwarted the opponent’s scoring opportunity with an accurate throw to home.

-He hit it! This ball is… Aagh!!! It hit 1st base, bounced off the base! While the right fielder is picking up the ball, the Tampa Bay runners are stepping on home one after another!!! Richard Stelmetzeck, even luck is on his side today!!!

In the ensuing bottom of the 3rd inning, with two outs and runners on 2nd and 3rd, he even hit a two-RBI single that effectively sealed the game.

Boo-

Boo…

In fact, this alone was enough to raise the blood pressure of Yankees fans, but Tampa Bay’s superstar still had a different side to him.

In the top of the 4th inning, when Yankees fans booed Richard as he came out to his left field position.

“…….”

Richard Stelmetzeck raised the corners of his mouth and pointed to his chest with his finger, to the Tampa Bay team logo.

It meant that he was now a Tampa Bay Rays player. It meant that he had become their enemy. It meant that he was just doing his duty.

The faces of the Yankees fans turned red, and it was around this time that Dana Sears turned her gaze towards Ji-seop.

“I think… we should go now.”

She said to Ji-seop as Richard Stelmetzeck made another jumping catch.

“I think I’ve spent too much time here. I have a schedule tomorrow, so I should go now.”

“Ah, is that so?”

At this moment, Ji-seop was smiling inwardly.

*Just a little while ago, she said she had a meeting with supporters near the stadium.*

*But now she was saying she had to go because of her schedule tomorrow, a story that didn’t quite add up for her.*

*Hehe, Richard must have really gotten on her nerves. Well, I guess it can’t be helped if she’s a Yankees fan?*

*Didn’t you say you had to meet supporters earlier?*

Ji-seop thought about pointing this out, but he soon changed his mind.

The goal for today was not to tease this picky councilwoman.

The real goal was to make her enjoy the game enough to change her perception of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Therefore, Ji-seop put on a serious expression and spoke to Sears.

“Councilwoman, now that we’re here, why don’t you watch a little longer? There’s still one card left that we’ve prepared for the Yankees fans today.”

“A card for the Yankees fans?”

Councilwoman Dana Sears seemed slightly curious but quickly shook her head, putting up a firm wall.

“No, what does that have to do with me? As I said before, it’s not me who likes the Yankees…”

“Yes, I remember. But it’s also true that there are many Yankees fans in St. Petersburg.”

Unfortunately for Ji-seop, statistics showed that there were far more Yankees fans than those who supported the Tampa Bay Rays every year.

“In a way, it’s a card for the citizens of your district. Wouldn’t it be worth watching?”

“Oh my, you look quite confident? What exactly is this card that makes you so sure?”

The answer to this question didn’t need to be spoken aloud.

As Councilwoman Dana Sears tilted her head, the Yankees fans around them began to stir.

“H-hey! Look over there! Look!”

“Huh? What’s wrong? What’s going on?”

“Look at the Yankees bullpen! That guy warming up over there…”

A pitcher slowly started to play catch in the visiting team’s bullpen.

He was the last trump card that Ji-seop had prepared for the Yankees fans that day.

A player who once led the Tampa Bay Rays to their first-ever championship.

And now, a player who had emerged as the new ace of the New York Yankees.

That’s right.

It was Vincent Hiyama.

* * *

Swish- Boom!

Swish- Boom!

The pitcher’s mere warm-up pitches were enough to shake the entire Charlotte Sports Park.

Vincent Hiyama’s surprise appearance that day was made possible by Ji-seop’s earnest request.

Ji-seop inquired about his willingness to pitch through Nicholas, a special advisor to the Yankees’ general manager, and Vincent readily accepted the offer upon hearing it.

-Sure. I think I can pitch for about an inning.

That was Vincent’s reply.

-Honestly, it’s a bit of a burden… Haha, but what can I do? How can I refuse Kim’s request?

And so, Vincent Hiyama’s exhibition game appearance was arranged.

As he finished his bullpen session and slowly walked onto the mound, the atmosphere at Charlotte Sports Park grew even more heated.

Vincent! Vincent! Vincent! Vincent!

Tampa Bay fans recalled his spectacular pitching during the last World Series and cheered.

Hi! Ya! Ma! Hi! Ya! Ma!

The Yankees fans chanted their support, filled with anticipation for the upcoming season.

Wow!!!

Wow!!!

Up to this point, Ji-seop had anticipated the atmosphere from the beginning.

However, at this moment, there was an added meaning to the Yankees fans’ enthusiastic cheers.

“Hey, Vincent! Please… please do something about that Richard guy!!!”

That was it.

Revenge against the obnoxious Richard Stelmajek.

“I don’t think I can go home and sleep like this! Crush that damn guy!”

“That’s right, Vincent! You can do it! It’s something you can do in your sleep! Right?!!”

Take down Richard.

Crush Stelmajek.

As the Yankees fans’ desperate wishes soared to their peak.

“…Hmm?”

There was one movement that caught Ji-seop’s attention.

It was the Tampa Bay dugout, captured on the TV broadcast. Manager Clemblass and hitting coach Sam Harrison were putting their heads together.

They seemed to be discussing something seriously, then looking back at the players sitting in the dugout.

Watching them quietly, Ji-seop let out a bitter laugh.

‘Seriously, those guys…’

For Ji-seop, it was easy to tell at a glance. Just by looking at the dugout atmosphere, he could tell what they were aiming for.

So, Ji-seop spoke to Councilwoman Dana Sears, who was staring intently at the ground with clenched fists.

“Councilwoman?”

“…”

“Excuse me… Councilwoman?”

“Yes? Ah, what is it?”

She seemed so focused on the game that she only turned her head after being called several times.

Ji-seop spoke with a slightly, very slightly apologetic expression.

“This might seem like a sudden question, but what do you think is the purpose of an exhibition game?”

“The purpose of an exhibition game?”

She looked as if she was asking why he was asking such a thing when she was so busy.

However, the other person was the deputy general manager of Tampa Bay, so she had to answer.

“Well? It could be to check the players’ condition, or to try out various experiments, but from the fans’ perspective…”

And then, one more word.

“Isn’t it like a preview? A preview of the regular season.”

“Ah, is that what you think?”

Ji-seop grinned.

“That’s a relief. I feel a little lighter now that you’ve said that, Councilwoman.”

“Yes? What’s suddenly…”

Just as Councilwoman Dana Sears blinked, not knowing what was going on.

A reaction like a bomb had exploded erupted inside Charlotte Sports Park.

“What the hell is going on!!!”

“What is this!!!”

“Are you kidding me! Are you kidding me right now!!!”

Yankees fans screamed with their faces flushed red.

Yankees fans grabbed the back of their necks and staggered as if they were about to collapse.

And in between, Tampa Bay fans were chuckling as if they were enjoying it.

There was a good reason for that.

-We are announcing a player change for the Tampa Bay Rays.

The stadium announcer’s broadcast was playing during Richard Stelmajek’s at-bat.

-Pinch hitter Alex Montero replacing number 2 hitter Richard Stelmajek, pinch hitter Alex Montero!

Richard Stelmajek’s pinch hitter substitution.

For the Yankees fans, it was becoming an exhibition game they had never tasted before and would never forget.