A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 452

The New Recruit of the Baseball Team is Too Good 452

The New Recruit of the Baseball Team is Too Good 452

97. The Rain Dance (2)

Tampa Bay Rays’ starting shortstop, Mark Kohoun, had a nickname since his debut season:

Dark.

Dark Kohoun.

Of course, his appearance and demeanor had a significant impact.

When he pursed his lips, a dark aura emanated around him, deterring even the most sociable veteran reporters from approaching him casually.

However, the Tampa Bay front office had another reason for calling him ‘Dark.’

The stories were so varied and numerous that Jiseop found it hard to piece them together, but to sum it up in one sentence:

Mark Kohoun was a man born with a dark fate.

In other words, he was incredibly unlucky.

In high school, he was a promising pitcher likely to be a first-round pick, but it was revealed that he congenitally lacked tendons in his wrist, causing his draft ranking to plummet.

He did quite well after switching to shortstop, but he suffered from severe diarrhea on the very day he was called up to the major leagues, indefinitely postponing his debut.

After finally becoming a major leaguer, he settled in relatively quickly, but his parents’ home in his hometown was hit by a hurricane, leaving him with a massive debt once again.

At this point, one might wonder if he was born under an unlucky star.

At this point, his gloomy expression seemed only natural.

Fortunately, he won a Gold Glove in the American League shortstop category last season.

It seemed that some light was finally shining on his dark baseball career.

Unfortunately,

his bad luck didn’t seem to be over yet.

-I don’t know if Kim has been contacted. Didn’t the league office announce a correction of records last week?

It was David Wilson speaking.

-It was a review of the last two years’ worth of records… and unfortunately, one of Mark Kohoun’s home runs was canceled.

“A home run was canceled?”

Jiseop tilted his head.

“Is that even possible? A home run is when you hit the ball over the fence. I don’t see how there could be any controversy here.”

-It wasn’t just any home run… it was an inside-the-park home run.

An inside-the-park home run.

In Korean, it’s called a ground rule home run.

It refers to a home run that is scored when the batter runs all the way home without the ball leaving the field.

-At the time, it was ruled a home run, but the league office, after reviewing the footage again, ruled it a hit and an error. They seemed to think the opposing fielder’s mistake was decisive.

“Really? Well, if the league office made that decision, there’s nothing we can do… but Mark Kohoun must be very disappointed. He doesn’t hit many home runs, does he?”

Indeed, Mark Kohoun was the Tampa Bay Rays’ weakest hitter in terms of power.

In his eight years, he had only 11 career home runs. He didn’t hit a single home run last season.

To have one of those precious home runs taken away, it seemed like the worst kind of bad luck.

Okay, that’s all well and good.

“But why are you bringing this up all of a sudden? Is it related to the event that the hitting coach suggested?”

-Yes, it is.

David replied.

-With that home run from two years ago being canceled, Mark Kohoun is now facing an unwelcome record.

“An unwelcome record?”

-A 1,000-at-bat homerless streak. He’s the first Tampa Bay Rays player to achieve that record.

“…Ah.”

A 1,000-at-bat homerless streak.

As David said, it was a very rare record in the major leagues.

Since most starting fielders have around 500 at-bats per season, you’d have to go two full seasons without hitting a home run to achieve that record.

But it’s virtually unheard of because it’s very difficult for a player with that little power to play as a starter.

The story was that our ‘Dark Kohoun’ was about to achieve that difficult record.

-The coach was just going to ignore it, but Mark Kohoun himself suggested it last night.

In this day and age, there’s no hiding anything.

The media will be all over it next week.

So I’d rather use this situation to our advantage.

-He asked us to hold a grand event. ‘Catch Mark Kohoun’s home run ball.’ He said he’d give a big prize to whoever catches the home run ball.

“……”

How should I interpret this?

Jiseop was a little confused.

-He said that this way, he could get the fans’ support and help the team… something like that.

“Wait a minute, David. So the event name, , is also…”

-Yes, that’s right.

David Wilson’s calm voice could be heard over the phone.

-It means that he wants to receive the fans’ support until Mark Kohoun hits a home run, until his consecutive at-bat homerless streak ends.

* * *

Jiseop decided to put Mark Kohoun’s proposal into action two days later.

It was the first time he’d ever run an event like this, but there wasn’t much for Jiseop to worry about.

“Hmm, … That’s quite an appealing proposal. Okay, let’s do it!”

With the help of ‘The Great Showman’ Charles Pless, the event proceeded smoothly.

Obtaining approval from the team’s upper management, including R. J. Higgins, the vice president, meeting with the staff in charge of the practical work, and setting specific guidelines.

It took about a week to prepare the videos and posts, upload them to social media, and send press releases to each media outlet.

Thanks to this, by the time the Tampa Bay players returned from their road trip to the west, Tropicana Field was already filled with the atmosphere of .

Let’s go Mark!

Let’s go Mark!

Let’s go Mark!

Two hours before the game started, voices cheering for Mark Kohoun could be heard throughout Tropicana Field.

There were cheering tools with messages wishing for his home run, and people with large gloves trying to catch the home run ball.

For now, the event itself seemed to be generating a considerable response among the fans.

“Haha, that’s only natural, isn’t it? Who was in charge of the practical work! I’d be disappointed if we didn’t get this kind of reaction!”

As the Tampa Bay Rays’ training began, Charles Pless laughed heartily, leaning back in his chair.

“Actually, this is an event with history and tradition! A big prize for the person who catches the home run ball… its effect has been proven since the days of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa.”

It wasn’t an unfamiliar sight for Jiseop either.

In Korea, when a home run hitter was approaching a new record, crowds of spectators would gather to try and catch the home run ball.

The sight of spectators entering with butterfly nets in their hands was vivid in Jiseop’s memory.

‘Ah, that’s right… butterfly nets! If we had sold butterfly nets here, we could have made quite a bit of money…’

As he was thinking about a point he hadn’t been able to put into practice due to the time constraints, John Llama, who was sitting next to Jiseop, quietly opened his mouth.

“But, Kim! It might sound like I’m raining on your parade, but… I’ve been a little worried about something since yesterday.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Jiseop turned his head.

“You’re worried about something? What is it?”

“Well, I was thinking about it alone yesterday… and I realized that this event could have a negative impact on Mark Kohoun’s condition.”

“A negative impact?”

Charles Pless raised an eyebrow and made a dissatisfied expression, but Jiseop was smiling softly.

“It’s okay. Go on.”

At Jiseop’s gesture, John Llama cautiously continued.

“Mark Kohoun’s batting average has been really bad lately. Even though it’s gotten a little better, his batting average is still in the very low .200s… Shouldn’t he avoid trying to hit a home run at times like this? His swing could get bigger, which could prolong his slump.”

“Haha, excellent. I heard you’ve been studying lately, and it seems like you’re showing some results?”

Jiseop smiled brightly and patted John Llama on the shoulder.

The owner’s son, who had always been considered to have no other merits than grilling meat.

If that guy had come to the point of expressing his opinion like this, he deserved a passing grade.

Of course, John Llama himself was tilting his head slightly even after hearing Jiseop’s compliment.

“No, Kim! Did you know?”

John Llama blinked.

“So you knew all along, but you still went ahead with this event?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Jiseop nodded lightly.

“Actually, I was concerned about that too. That’s why I just stayed still for about two days after receiving David’s report.”

Of course, saying he stayed still was just a cover story.

In reality, he was busy calling around to get an accurate picture of the situation.

In fact, it would have been over if he had just met the players or coaches and glanced into their eyes, but now Jiseop had so many responsibilities that he couldn’t easily leave Tropicana Field.

It was time to use the experience he had accumulated and the intuition he had honed.

And so, Jiseop came to the following conclusion.

“I think Mark Kohoun is deceiving all of us… no, everyone in this stadium.”

“Deceiving?”

As John Llama widened his eyes, Jiseop put his finger to his lips.

It meant there was no need to make a loud noise.

“It may be true that he wants to receive the fans’ support. But he wants to hit a home run? He wants to end his consecutive at-bat homerless streak? That’s a complete lie.”

“No, but for what purpose…”

“Llama, don’t you know? There’s only one case where you’re allowed to deceive your teammates in a baseball team.”

Jiseop grinned.

“It’s to deceive the opposing team.”

“…Ah!”

“Mark Kohoun is aiming for a home run. He desperately wants a home run… He’s trying to send that message to the opponent.”

Of course, the opponent won’t be easily fooled.

But if an event is being held on such a grand scale, if social media and the media are all in an uproar.

So if Tropicana Field is filled with the slogan ‘Mark Kohoun Home Run!’-

“Wouldn’t the opponent keep that fact in mind when they come to the game?”

“So the real purpose is to influence the opposing team’s pitch selection…”

Is that even possible?

John Llama blinked.

“Even if Mark Kohoun isn’t an ordinary player, to go to such great lengths just for a few of his hits…”

John Llama didn’t seem to accept it easily, but Jiseop’s attitude was very relaxed.

“Llama, have you forgotten? Mark Kohoun is a player who hasn’t hit a home run in nearly 1,000 at-bats. His power tool is as good as non-existent.”

Jiseop narrowed his eyes.

“If such a player has survived in the major leagues for over eight years and has even won a Gold Glove in the end…”

His determination,

is far beyond ordinary.”

Jiseop’s gaze was directed towards Mark Kohoun, who was walking towards the batting cage.