A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 449

The New Recruit of the Baseball Team is Too Good 449

96. Take Me Out to the Ballgame (5)

The last Thursday of March.

As it passed 2 PM, Tropicana Field, which had been quiet, slowly began to feel lively.

People wearing Tampa Bay Rays uniforms were noticeable, carrying cheering tools and snacks as they headed to the stadium.

The parking lot, where Ji-seop once ran in the pouring rain, was now filled with numerous cars lined up.

That’s right. It was this day.

The day when the hearts of all baseball fans swelled like balloons.

The day when intense colors were added to the drab, black-and-white movie-like routine.

Thus, a day that can be said to be the true beginning of spring for those who love baseball.

Season opener.

It was Major League Baseball’s Opening Day.

Wow!!!

Exactly 25,025 spectators were in Tropicana Field that day.

The opening game was sold out. A truly remarkable change considering the previous season’s opening game, which was practically deserted.

With the future strategy planning division’s project also showing a green light, Tropicana Field was hosting various Opening Day events prepared by the Tampa Bay Rays.

-And with that, the final out count!! This day has finally arrived, Tampa Bay Rays! This small club, once called the weakest in Major League Baseball, stands at the top today!!!

This could not be left out. A video recording the moment of their first-ever World Series victory last season was played.

“Thank you! Thank you so much! I will protect the Tampa Bay Rays’ infield again this season!”

The awards ceremony for Mark Kohun, who won the American League Gold Glove last season, also took place.

-Feel the Heat, Rays!

And a special performance by the singer who sang Tampa Bay Rays’ almost only fight song, ‘Feel the Heat Rays’.

In particular, this performance was the work of performance planners that Charles Flex personally brought from Las Vegas.

So, the atmosphere at Tropicana Field was heating up even before the game started, but-

“…….”

In the Tampa Bay dugout, only one person, ‘pitch research enthusiast’ Victor Johnson Jr., had a dissatisfied expression.

He looked out at the ground, ‘hmm,’ crossing his arms, and looked back at the stands in the distance, ‘tsk,’ lightly smacking his lips.

Victor was scheduled to be the starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays’ opening game that day, so his actions were enough to catch the attention of his teammates.

“Hey, Victor! What’s wrong?”

The person who tapped him on the shoulder was ‘Professor’ Brett Evans.

Even on the day of the pitching appearance, the manager and coaches would be wary of the pitcher, but that didn’t apply to the team’s best veteran.

“You haven’t looked good since earlier? Are you nervous? Ah, right! You said today is your first time starting on Opening Day?”

The team’s oldest pitcher approached to relieve his junior’s tension.

But it was Victor Johnson Jr. The concept of nervousness was not in his head in the first place.

“Really? Is today his first time? Haha, I didn’t even know that!”

The Tampa Bay ace scratched the back of his head and smiled brightly.

Brett Evans seemed to have lost his energy at his bright expression.

“What, you weren’t nervous?”

Brett Evans made a deflated sound.

“Then what is it? Why were you making such a serious face?”

“Ah, that’s…….”

Victor Johnson stuck his head out of the dugout and came back in.

“What should I say, I’m worried that Kim might have made a bit of a reckless move this time…….”

“Kim? Why Kim?”

“Hey, Brett, you heard it with me, right? That Kim brought a stadium organist today.”

Oh, an organ.

Victor covered his eyes with his palm.

“Don’t you think it’s too old-fashioned? The atmosphere is getting hot and good, but what are you going to do by adding an organ here?”

“……Is that so?”

I wonder when is the right time to hit this guy on the back of the head.

Brett Evans had exactly that expression, but Victor didn’t seem to notice at all.

“I don’t really want to criticize what Kim does, but I think it was a bit too much today. When you start baseball, you need a *jajejajang*! [A Korean onomatopoeia for a loud, exciting sound, like a guitar riff.] This kind of electric guitar sound is perfect. The organ sound feels a bit soggy……. Ack!”

It was at this moment that Victor flinched like a monster being electrocuted.

A strong smash flew onto his broad back.

It wasn’t Brett Evans. He was wearing a faint smile at this time.

The one who delivered the back smash to the Tampa Bay ace pitcher was Alex Montero, the starting catcher that day.

“Stop talking nonsense and get in line? Can’t you see everyone getting ready to go to the ground?”

Alex said gruffly.

“We just have to play the game. Whether we hear the organ sound or the vuvuzela sound, what effect does that have on our performance?”

“Hey, that’s not true! How important are sound effects! Even if you make the same play, you feel like you’re the main character in a movie…….”

Victor Johnson seemed to be trying to argue a little more, but he lowered his tail at Alex’s fierce glare.

“Ah, I know! I get it! We just have to get in line, right? Why are you glaring at me like you’re going to kill me for something like this?”

Victor Johnson Jr. grumbled as he prepared to enter the ground.

Brett Evans was watching the back of his junior pitcher with a slight smile.

He was also impressed that Victor didn’t even blink an eye despite being given the important role of starting pitcher for the opening game.

But the slightly bigger reason was that Brett Evans felt the same way as Victor.

‘Well, if I had to choose, I’d prefer rock music to organ music.’

Since it’s the opening game, wouldn’t it be better to have more intense music?

Wouldn’t that help boost the players’ energy?

While thinking about that, he was shouting fighting to the players who were preparing to play.

-Ladies and gentlemen, you’ve been waiting for a long time!

The stadium announcer’s microphone voice echoed on the ground.

-The moment we’ve been waiting for! Now, let me introduce the Tampa Bay Rays’ opening game lineup!!!

Clatter clatter clatter clatter!

The very moment when the Tampa Bay Rays’ symbol, the cowbell sound, filled the air.

“??!”

“?!!”

“!!!”

Victor Johnson Jr., Alex Montero, and even Brett Evans, who was watching the situation from behind.

All the Tampa Bay Rays players were looking at each other with wide eyes.

Bbaam! Bbarabam! Bbarabambbambbaam!!!

It was a truly intense opening music that made everyone’s hearts beat faster.

It felt like both shoulders were naturally shrugging.

Feeling like going to the best stage, or facing a honorable battlefield.

Thus, the person who allowed the Tampa Bay Rays players to step onto the ground more confidently than ever that day was-

The stadium organist.

It was Mr. Huck Flender.

* * *

When the Tampa Bay Rays’ marketing department heavily promoted Huck Flender’s ‘retirement performance,’ other clubs criticized it.

-Hmph, isn’t it just selling nostalgia?

Ji-seop only heard about it later, but even if he had known in advance, he would have just smiled and brushed it off.

To be blunt, it was a fact. Selling nostalgia, or nostalgia marketing. A marketing strategy that revives beautiful memories of the past in the present.

Initially, Ji-seop gave Huck Flender the opportunity entirely for the Tampa Bay’s old fans, but.

That day, Huck Flender showed a performance that far exceeded Ji-seop’s expectations.

It was truly skillful. A performance that seemed to be one with the organ keyboard unfolded.

Bbabambbabbaam-

When the Tampa Bay players entered the plate, a magnificent musical piece filled the ground.

The players who appeared against this background looked like they had become legendary warriors.

Bbaambbaam, Bbabam, Bbaambbaambbabam-

When the game flow seemed to be slowing down a bit, a fast-tempo musical piece flowed out without fail.

The spectators who heard this sound clenched the popcorn bags they were holding and swallowed hard.

Bbaam, Bbaam, Bbabaam-

Then, if the opposing team’s batters made a swing and miss strikeout, a phrase of music flowed out as if waiting.

The Tampa Bay fans were beaming at the disappointing sound effect, while the visiting team’s fans were grinding their teeth.

Wow!!!

Among them, the most wonderful scene was the situation after the 5th inning, 2 outs.

With the score tied at 0-0, ‘Flamingo’ Richard Stelmetzeck entered the plate with 2 outs and runners on 2nd and 3rd base.

When he reached a ball count of 2-2, Huck Flender pulled out the most classic card.

Bbararabambbabam-

Bbabam.

It was the sound effect used not only in Major League Baseball but also in Korean professional baseball at crucial moments.

Bbararabambbabam-

Bbabam.

It was a sound effect that could be heard often, but the sound coming through the pipe organ was somewhat different.

Ji-seop, who didn’t even raise an eyebrow at most things, was holding his breath with a tense expression at this time. And,

Bbararabambbabam-

TtaaAAAak!

One intense hitting sound erupting at the end of the organ melody.

At that very moment, the 25,000 spectators who visited Tropicana Field that day stood up all at once.

-This hit is huge! It’s very huge! A hit that stretches out to the deepest part of the outfield! Eventually, it goes over the fence!!! A preemptive three-run home run! Richard’s opening celebration explodes here!

Wow!!!

Amid the spectators’ enthusiastic cheers pouring onto the ground, Richard Stelmetzeck pointed to his uniform with both hands.

Tampa Bay Rays. The Tampa Bay Flamingo, who emphasized his team once again with a ceremony, turned around the diamond as if flying.

“Nice batting! Nice batting!”

“Richard, that’s amazing?!”

He shared light high-fives with his teammates who had entered home first, and then seemed to be contemplating something for a moment.

Perhaps he was contemplating a performance to commemorate his first home run of the season, befitting a flamingo boasting colorful colors.

And the next moment, his choice was to raise his fingers with his teammates and point to the far outfield.

“Thank you, Mr. Maestro.”

It was not captured on video, but he must have said that.

“It was a really wonderful performance.”

* * *

The Tampa Bay Rays took the lead with Richard Stelmetzeck’s home run in the bottom of the 5th inning.

In the bottom of the 6th inning, they scored additional points, and the spirit of victory began to overflow in Tropicana Field.

And I think it was around this time that the organ room at Tropicana Field became noisy.

“Jackpot! It’s a complete jackpot!”

It was John Lama who came in and shouted when the top of the 7th inning was over.

“Mr. Flender, the internet is going crazy! Everyone is talking about Mr. Flender!”

“Well, to be honest, the expression ‘going crazy’ is a bit of an exaggeration…….”

It was David Wilson who calmed down John Lama’s fuss.

“It’s clear that good reactions are coming up. Three sports media outlets have already requested interviews with Mr. Flender.”

“Oh, is that really true? Then John Lama is right! It’s a jackpot! Our Huck hit the jackpot!”

Charles Flex jumped up from his seat at the news brought by the future strategy planning division.

“Hey, Huck! How do you feel? How do you feel about hitting a come-from-behind grand slam in the last at-bat of your retirement game!”

“Hmph, a come-from-behind grand slam is what…….”

Unlike Charles Flex, who was making a fuss, Huck Flender just shrugged his shoulders lightly.

“I’m one of the top three organists in Major League Baseball! Media interviews are a natural step! Besides…….”

It was at this moment that his eyes sharpened.

“Strictly speaking, the last at-bat hasn’t even come yet.”

“The last at-bat hasn’t come? What nonsense are you talking about?”

Huck Flender’s answer to Charles Flex’s question was as follows.

“Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”

*Take Me Out to the Ballgame*.

He mentioned a song that can be said to be the symbol of the stadium organist.

The song that echoes throughout the stadium when the bottom of the 7th inning ends in Major League Baseball.

“The highlight of today’s game is when I play that song. That song should be seen as my last at-bat.”

“Ah, I was looking forward to that song too!”

John Lama’s eyes twinkled.

“You played that song for Kim last time, right? Kim said that several times! He said it was the most touching performance he had ever heard.”

“Haha, it must have been! Of course, it would have been! I’ve always been really good at playing that song!”

Everyone can look forward to it.

I’ll show you the real thing.

The organist, who swept up his few remaining hairs, was wearing a truly confident smile.

“…….”

About 10 minutes later.

When the Tampa Bay’s bottom of the 7th inning attack ended with an ordinary infield ground ball.

So, when the moment that Huck Flender had been so eager for was approaching.

A bewildered atmosphere was settling in the organ room of Tropicana Field.

“Ah, ah, that, so, um…….”

It was Huck Flender himself.

He, who had been wearing a relaxed expression just a few minutes ago, suddenly stopped his hands on the organ keyboard.

“Th, the beginning…… what was the beginning?!”

A wildly shaking gaze.

Thin fingers trembling like aspen trees.

Following that, a drop of thick cold sweat flowed down his sunken wrinkles.

“…….”

No one asked the reason.

It was something that didn’t need to be asked.

Charles Flex, John Lama, and other stadium operations staff.

Everyone was just sending pitiful glances without saying anything.

“……Director?”

“Yes, I understand.”

At that time, when Director Nicole Cassan, who had received Ji-seop’s instructions, was about to play the music that had been prepared in advance with a gloomy expression.

Yes, at that very moment-

*Take Me Out to the Ballgame~*

*Take Me Out with the Crowd~*

From somewhere,

A singing voice was heard.