A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 458

The New Recruit of the Baseball Team is Too Good 458

98 Black and Yellow (2)

Montgomery, Alabama, USA.

It was also the home of the Montgomery Biscuits, a minor league Double-A team affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Although it was a small city with a population of about 200,000, it held a certain recognition among Korean baseball fans.

Of course, it’s unlikely that the name Montgomery or the team name Biscuits were widely known.

However, anyone who frequently reads baseball articles might have heard of it at least once.

[American baseball players wearing kimchi uniforms… “Eye-catching”]

[Why are minor league players playing in kimchi uniforms?]

The Montgomery Biscuits dress their players in kimchi uniforms once a year for ‘Korean Culture Day.’

In fact, they don’t just change the uniform. They even change the team name to [Montgomery Kimchi] for the day and play the game.

A marketing strategy that’s hard to find even in Korea, the home of kimchi, let alone in the United States.

There was a reason why the Montgomery Biscuits were pursuing such unconventional marketing.

“It’s because a large Korean automobile company has a factory here in Montgomery.”

That was the explanation from the Biscuits team official who greeted Ji-seop when he arrived at Montgomery Airport.

“Originally, this area was very underdeveloped, but as the factory came in, the whole city began to revitalize. Currently, about 10% of Montgomery works at the factory or related companies.”

“Wow, 10% is a lot, isn’t it?”

“Of course! Many Koreans have moved in since the factory was built, and many people have become interested in Korean culture while working at the factory. We couldn’t just pass up this great opportunity.”

This was the background behind the creation of the kimchi uniform at Montgomery Biscuits.

It was also the reason why they started holding a grand Korean Culture Day every year, going beyond just the uniform.

The Biscuits team official began to list the names of famous Korean figures who had visited the area, but from this point on, Ji-seop was only half-listening.

As someone who had only played baseball his entire life, he wasn’t very interested in the names. The bigger reason was that the stores Ji-seop had been longing for began to appear outside the car window.

‘……It’s a Korean restaurant?!’

About 10 Korean restaurants were lined up along the main street of Montgomery.

The menus were also diverse: Bulgogi [thinly sliced marinated beef], soft tofu stew, pork belly, braised short ribs, and—from the day before, Ji-seop had been wanting the most—

‘Kimchi stew restaurant!’

Ji-seop swallowed his saliva without realizing it.

He had always been proud of having a global palate, but he never thought the day would come when he would crave kimchi stew so much.

He wanted to quickly go into the restaurant, wipe his hands with a wet towel, and order in a loud voice. “사장님! [Sajangnim – Boss/Owner] Kimchi stew, large size, please. And an 계란말이 [Gyeranmari – rolled omelet] and a bottle of soju [Korean distilled rice liquor].”

Of course, there was still work to be done before he could enjoy the meal in peace.

“Will I be able to meet Jo Holtzman as soon as I arrive at the stadium?”

Calming his mind, which was full of kimchi stew, Ji-seop asked in a calm tone.

“Yes, of course!”

The team official replied.

“Holtzman also seemed very excited. He said he wanted to see the assistant general manager as soon as possible.”

“Ah, is that so?”

It was definitely a positive sign that a player returning from injury wanted to meet with someone from the front office.

It meant that he had recovered sufficiently and wanted to get back into the game as soon as possible.

‘That’s good news.’ Ji-seop turned his gaze towards the baseball stadium that was beginning to appear in the distance with a lighter heart.

* * *

To get straight to the point,

That afternoon, Ji-seop was able to deliver very welcome news to Brian Sphan, the general manager.

Jo Holtzman, who had overcome two years of rehabilitation and returned, showed off a great bullpen pitching performance.

Whoosh- Pow!

Whoosh- Pow!

Whoosh- Pow!

First of all, it was encouraging that the velocity was good. The highest speed was 98 miles per hour, 158 km/h [kilometers per hour].

It was slightly lower than before the injury, but it was still at a level that was sufficient to play as a major league bullpen pitcher. It was also possible to aim for an increase in speed while playing in actual games.

It was also good news that his control had improved significantly and that he did not feel any particular pain while pitching at full strength.

However, there was something else that Ji-seop was most satisfied with in Jo Holtzman’s bullpen pitching that day.

“Your breaking ball was impressive.”

Ji-seop said to Holtzman, who had come down from the mound, with sparkling eyes.

“Your slider has become even more powerful. That’s what the data shows, and that’s what I can see with my own eyes.”

He didn’t just say this because his pitches had improved.

Jo Holtzman is an injured player. He was a player who had been away for a considerable period of time.

So, there was a point that Ji-seop was secretly worried about.

“Many pitchers who have been away from the mound for a long time bring one or two new breaking balls… Holtzman has done a good job of choosing and focusing.”

This was the point.

Equipping a new breaking ball.

Players who have suffered injuries and have long periods of absence inevitably feel impatient.

Will I be able to return in time? Will I be able to perform as well as before even after I return?

Pitchers who can’t stand such impatience end up equipping new breaking balls, even if it means overdoing it.

‘The players themselves may think it’s a choice for better performance…….’

Unfortunately, such choices often lead to the collapse of the overall pitching balance.

The front office people who know this well repeatedly tell them not to do that, but do the players ever listen to the front office?

That’s why Ji-seop came to Montgomery Biscuits with a rather anxious heart that day.

“Holtzman, thank you so much for following our front office’s rehabilitation plan. I will definitely convey this to the general manager.”

“Ah, yes, well, I’m glad to hear the assistant general manager’s praise, but…….”

Jo Holtzman, who did not grow a mustache but only a thick beard.

It was at this moment that he scratched his smooth philtrum with an awkward expression.

“I think it would be right to give that praise to Coach William Doran here.”

Jo Holtzman brought a Black man standing a few steps behind him to his side.

A slender man with sharp eyes, and most of all, a man with a pointed mustache, unlike Jo Holtzman.

He was William Doran, the main pitching coach of the Montgomery Biscuits.

“Assistant General Manager, to be honest with you here… I was actually trying to learn a new breaking ball.”

“Yes?”

‘This son of a……’

Ji-seop sighed inwardly.

“But Coach William Doran here stopped me. And that’s not all? He also helped me sharpen my slider.”

“Is that really true?”

If so, he was a benefactor to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Ji-seop quickly turned around and grabbed William Doran’s hand.

“Thank you, Coach!”

Ji-seop shook his hand vigorously.

“We would have been in big trouble if it weren’t for you, Coach. It must have been hard to break the players’ stubbornness… Thank you for your hard work. Really.”

“No. It’s nothing.”

Doran shook his head.

“I just told him a common sense story. You have to be very careful when equipping a breaking ball… Isn’t that something that even Little League players know?”

“Oh, that’s right. It’s because there are so many cases where major league players ignore stories that even Little League players know…….”

Ji-seop bowed his head once again.

“Thank you, Coach. I will definitely report your story to the general manager.”

“Haha, I would be grateful if you would do that…….”

William Doran smiled faintly and subtly pulled his hand away from Ji-seop.

Ji-seop didn’t realize anything strange at this time, but the situation that followed was a little strange.

[Yes, it would be a really grateful thing for me, who is wandering around in the minor leagues…….]

That was Doran’s inner thoughts.

[But you’ll probably leave my story out of your report to the general manager. Blood is thicker than water.]

Ji-seop couldn’t help but tilt his head for a moment at the cold-hearted thoughts.

It was hard to understand. Why would Ji-seop leave out William Doran’s story? What ill feelings did he have towards someone he had just met today?

‘What the heck? That guy wouldn’t be doing that for no reason…….’

However, it was difficult to ask directly, so he was just smacking his lips inwardly.

Just then, someone behind Ji-seop shouted, “Assistant General Manager!”

“Oh, Assistant General Manager! I’m sorry! I’m late to greet you because the meeting with the players was delayed!”

“Hello, Manager!”

It was the manager of the Montgomery Biscuits who was waving his hand at Ji-seop and approaching.

Unlike William Doran, whom he was meeting for the first time today, Ji-seop had met the Biscuits manager several times in the past.

He saw him at the Tampa Bay Rays’ championship celebration, greeted him at the awards ceremony, and most recently—

‘I think I met him when I introduced 천진우 선배 [Cheon Jin-woo, Senior], didn’t I?’

Perhaps because he had met him several times, the Biscuits manager was constantly laughing and shaking hands with Ji-seop.

“How was Holtzman’s bullpen pitching? Is he ready to go up to the major league now?”

“I think it’s 90% certain.”

Ji-seop also replied with a smile.

“If he puts up a certain level of performance in the rehab start tonight, I think the higher-ups will probably issue a call-up order.”

“That’s a relief, that’s a relief! The Biscuits’ coaching staff has worked very hard! We’re going to reap the rewards today.”

The Biscuits manager was very pleased with the fact that he had fulfilled his role as a minor league team.

But only for a moment, he made a suggestion to Ji-seop with a very subtle expression.

“So, what are you going to do now? You don’t have any other schedules until the game, do you?”

“Yes, but…….”

“That’s great! Then how about it? Would you like to take a walk around the field with me?”

He wasn’t talking about going for a walk.

He meant that he would introduce him to the promising players of the Tampa Bay Rays’ Double-A team, the Montgomery Biscuits.

The minor league coaching staff’s achievement and career depended on getting as many promising players as possible up to the major league.

Therefore, the Biscuits manager seemed to be trying to actively promote the good prospects on his team on this occasion.

“Ah, should I?”

Of course, this was not a bad offer for Ji-seop either, but before that, there was one thing Ji-seop wanted to ask.

“But Manager, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you since earlier.”

“Ah, yes, what is it?”

“Where is Coach 천진우 [Cheon Jin-woo]? Is he still having a meeting with the players?”

This was it.

The whereabouts of Coach 천진우 [Cheon Jin-woo].

“I thought he was with the manager, but now it doesn’t seem like that…….”

“Ah, 천 [Cheon]? Are you talking about Coach 천 [Cheon]?”

At that moment, Ji-seop could feel the air around him freezing cold.

Not only the Biscuits manager and the coaches around him, but even Jo Holtzman began to avoid Ji-seop’s gaze.

And the one who had the most troubled expression at this time was none other than pitching coach William Doran.

‘As expected…… something was going on?’

As Ji-seop felt an unusual atmosphere and took a step forward, the Biscuits manager cleared his throat and opened his mouth.

“Didn’t you hear from Coach 천 [Cheon] separately? I thought you two would be in contact…….”

“No. I haven’t contacted him separately today either. My business trip was also decided suddenly, and I didn’t want to bother someone who was busy.”

“Ah, I see. In that case…….”

쩝 [Tsk].

The answer that the Biscuits manager gave while smacking his lips was as follows.

“Coach 천진우 [Cheon Jin-woo] is currently serving a period of self-reflection after receiving disciplinary action from the team.”

“D, disciplinary action from the team, you said?”

Ji-seop’s eyes widened.

“No, Coach 천 [Cheon]…… why?”