A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 457

Baseball Team Newbie Is Too Good 457

Baseball Team Newbie Is Too Good 457

98 Black and Yellow (1)

Vincent Hiyama, the ‘two-way ace,’ was now wearing the New York Yankees uniform this season.

He had shown great promise during his time with the Tampa Bay Rays, but Vincent was performing exceptionally well in the early part of this season.

As a key hitter for the Yankees, he was already impressive, ranking first in home runs, second in RBIs, and first in OPS [On-Base Plus Slugging, a key baseball statistic] across the entire Major League. However, his pitching performance was even more formidable.

In four starts, he had a record of 3 wins and no losses with an ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of pitching performance] of 0.58, and he had recently achieved two consecutive shutouts.

In some ways, he was being evaluated as an even better player than during his time with the Tampa Bay Rays.

As a result, the American sports media was giving him a new nickname.

Natural Disaster.

It meant ‘an event that is caused by nature and causes a lot of damage.’ It signified someone who could not be stopped by the weak power of humans.

There was a sense of exaggeration typical of the American media, but it conveyed that he was becoming an extraordinary presence.

Thanks to this, with the first head-to-head match of the season against the New York Yankees about ten days away, Ji-seop and his colleagues were focusing all their attention on the genius baseball player.

“The key is the game the day after tomorrow.”

In the office of the Future Strategy Planning Department,

‘The Great Showman’ Charles Fleck said.

“If, just if… if Vincent achieves another shutout in the game the day after tomorrow, it will be an unprecedented opportunity for us.”

An unprecedented opportunity.

The Great Showman’s eyes gleamed.

“Three consecutive shutouts have happened from time to time. It remains in people’s memories. But four consecutive shutouts? The last time that happened was in the 1980s!”

He said that you would have to go back to Orel Hershiser, the legendary ace of the LA Dodgers in 1988.

In fact, he even achieved five consecutive shutouts beyond four, but Charles didn’t seem very interested in such detailed facts.

The important thing was that an ace pitcher comparable to Orel Hershiser had appeared on the New York Yankees.

And that many Yankees fans would be competing to visit Tropicana Field to see him.

“Let’s prepare in advance.”

Charles Fleck continued.

“Let’s allocate about 5% of the total tickets for on-site sales. Wouldn’t that create a long line around the stadium on game day? This will liven up the atmosphere even more.”

In addition, the Great Showman came up with various ideas.

Making additional contracts with sports bars around the stadium, inviting people from the St. Petersburg City Council, and using this opportunity to conduct a survey on stadium expansion.

Charles Fleck was in his element. Ji-seop was carefully entering his opinions into the tablet PC with a cautious expression, but-

“Hey, Kim!”

Charles Fleck, who was excitedly continuing the story, suddenly turned to Ji-seop and narrowed his eyes.

“Are you… okay?”

He looked quite worried.

“You don’t look so good.”

* * *

The meeting of the Future Strategy Planning Department was temporarily suspended at that moment.

Ji-seop waved his hand, saying he was okay, but Charles Fleck took a very firm stance.

“Don’t say that. It’s best to rest when you feel a little unwell. Do you think I haven’t seen front office staff overdoing it and being carried away with nosebleeds?”

Charles Fleck then sent subtle glances toward David Wilson and John Rahma.

As the two, having received the signal, made a fuss, saying, ‘I’ll make some hot cocoa’ and ‘No, I’ll get a vitamin drink,’

Ji-seop, who had put down the tablet PC on his desk, was quietly smiling wryly to himself.

‘Hehe, he’s like a ghost.’

That was what he thought as he looked at Charles Fleck, who was opening the window to ventilate the room.

‘Do you become quick-witted when you get to that age? It’s as if he can read other people’s minds.’

That’s right. Charles Fleck’s observation was spot on.

On this day, Ji-seop was definitely in worse condition than usual.

His vision seemed a little blurry, and his right shoulder felt slightly stiff.

The reason for that was not difficult to guess.

‘Damn it, I should have just gone home early last night. I ended up getting cornered by the baseball operations team….’

Vincent Hiyama’s continued good pitching was becoming a ‘natural disaster’ for the Tampa Bay baseball operations team as well.

The Future Strategy Planning Department only had to worry about attracting more spectators, but the baseball operations team had to find a way to defeat that monstrous guy.

Therefore, the baseball operations team had asked Ji-seop, who had spent a long time with Vincent Hiyama last season, for help.

After discussions that lasted until dawn, they came up with a certain approach, but it seemed to have taken a toll on his physical strength.

‘Ugh, I’m definitely a company worker in my 30s now. I shouldn’t think about my playing days anymore.’

As he muttered to himself and massaged his stiff neck, Charles Fleck made a suggestion.

“Kim, just finish up early and go home today. David and I will take care of things today.”

He took out a card from his pocket and handed it to John Rahma.

“Hey, Rahma! Take Kim and get him a hearty meal. I don’t know Kim’s preferences very well.”

“Oh, is this a gold card? Isn’t this the card that you can only get with a referral from an existing member?”

“Yes, sir!”

John Rahma turned to Ji-seop with a beaming face.

“Kim, what would you like to eat? If you’re not feeling well, Chinese food might not be a good idea… Ah, what was it called? A stew with lots of vegetables and meat…”

“That’s right, kimchi stew!”

John Rahma snapped his fingers.

“How about kimchi stew? We can also order a rolled omelet and Seoul-style bulgogi [Korean marinated beef]? If you have a table full of that…”

Just as Koreans don’t properly distinguish between ‘R’ and ‘L’ sounds, Americans hardly distinguish between ‘ㅉ’ and ‘ㅊ’ sounds.

At this time, John Rahma was trying his best, but he was pronouncing it closer to ‘Kimchi Chwigae’.

But what does pronunciation matter? Ji-seop, who had no appetite just a few seconds ago, was already nodding his head happily.

“Kimchi stew, kimchi stew…”

Ji-seop swallowed hard.

“Sounds good. I like it. Hearing about home food after a long time makes me feel energized.”

“Right? I’m the only one who knows Kim’s heart the best, right?”

Looking at John Rahma, who was shrugging his shoulders, Ji-seop was feeling warm inside.

Colleagues who care about his condition. People who try to take care of him by getting him delicious food.

In fact, wouldn’t it be fortunate to work with these people in Major League Baseball, which is famous for its cold atmosphere?

He needed to recover his condition quickly and get back to his original pace. Just as he was about to get up while thinking that,

“…Oh.”

David frowned slightly.

“Kim, it looks like dinner will have to be postponed a bit.”

“Yes?”

When Ji-seop turned his head, David pointed to something on the desk with his chin.

It was Ji-seop’s cell phone. It was vibrating and ringing because a call was coming in.

And the caller displayed on the phone screen was none other than Brian Spon, the general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays.

“Somehow… I have a bad feeling?”

Listening to John Rahma’s worried voice, Ji-seop was scratching the back of his head with a troubled expression.

Ji-seop,

He had the same thought.

* * *

An uneasy premonition never goes wrong.

This time was no exception.

“Kim, I need to ask you to go on a business trip.”

When Ji-seop, who had been summoned, entered the office, General Manager Brian Spon gave him these instructions.

“Jo Holzman’s final rehab start schedule has been released. He is scheduled to pitch in the Montgomery Biscuits’ home game tomorrow afternoon. I would like Kim to go and check on his condition.”

“Ah, Jo Holzman…”

He was a pitcher who was the Tampa Bay Rays’ main closer until two years ago.

He was a pitcher who once recorded more than 40 saves based on a fastball that reached a maximum speed of 102 miles per hour and a powerful slider.

However, after suffering from chronic knee injuries for nearly two years, he was finally about to return to the major leagues.

“That’s right. It took longer than expected, but… Haha, the player who is meant to return will eventually return.”

The full-scale return of a pitcher who had reliably taken charge of the team’s bullpen.

General Manager Brian Spon seemed full of energy.

“He has shown quite good records in the previous two rehab starts. The evaluations from the local coaching staff are also good. But isn’t he a player who has been away for nearly two years? I think we need to make a stricter evaluation of the possibility of putting him into actual games.”

“A strict evaluation… I understand.”

As an assistant general manager, it was one of the duties he had to do.

It was also evidence that he was trusted by General Manager Brian Spon.

It was a business trip that had many meanings in many ways, but Ji-seop was clicking his tongue inwardly.

‘Today’s kimchi stew is gone.’

Montgomery was a city located in Alabama. It was a region that took more than 4 hours by plane from St. Petersburg.

If he wanted to see the rehab start game held in such a place, it meant that he had to leave for the airport early tomorrow morning.

If so, it would be best to go home early tonight and rest. He didn’t want to watch an important rehab start while dozing off.

‘It’s a shame… but there’s nothing I can do.’

Let’s postpone the kimchi stew until after the business trip.

Instead, he decided to have a glass of soju [Korean distilled spirit] that day.

Just as Ji-seop was consoling himself, a strange story came from the general manager.

“I heard you’ve been working late a lot lately, so I’m sorry to ask you to take this business trip.”

“No, it’s something I have to do.”

“It would be a bit much to say it’s a reward for that… I’ll book your flight back to St. Petersburg for the day after tomorrow.”

“The day after tomorrow? So you’re saying I don’t have to return right away?”

“Haha, there is a need! Our Tampa Bay Rays always need Kim. But…”

Smirk.

A faint smile appeared on the general manager’s lips at that moment.

“Don’t you have a former colleague in the Montgomery Biscuits? You should have a drink with him.”

“…Ah!”

He was referring to Chun Jin-woo.

He was once a legend of the KH Cannons, and the very person who joined Tampa Bay with Ji-seop’s help last winter.

That Chun Jin-woo was now working as a battery coach for the Montgomery Biscuits.

‘I definitely wanted to see Senior Chun Jin-woo. I’m curious about how he’s doing…’

It was always nice to meet former colleagues again in a foreign country.

Ji-seop also felt like the fatigue that had been weighing down on his shoulders was gone.

However, the story that heightened his expectations for this business trip came right after.

“You’ve worked hard, so have a good time, even if it’s short. Eat as much local food as you want after a long time.”

“Local food?”

“Yes, Montgomery is famous for having a lot of Koreans living there. There are many Korean restaurants with good skills.”

Do you remember?

The general manager continued.

“The team that wears ‘kimchi uniforms’ every year to play games… Isn’t that the Montgomery Biscuits?”

“Ah, that’s right!”

A place where many Koreans live.

A place full of Korean restaurants.

Ji-seop could already hear the sound of kimchi stew boiling in his ears.

‘Hehe, I can’t help it… I was Korean after all.’