A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 463

99. Last Man Standing (2)

The Tampa Bay Rays had the best data measurement equipment in the league, but using it required adhering to fairly strict operational regulations.

Perhaps that was understandable. The price of just one piece of equipment rivaled the salaries of their starting players. And those expensive pieces of equipment often broke down.

Because of this, even Ji-seop, who had risen to the level of assistant general manager, needed a waiting period of at least three to four days to use the equipment—

But this time,

the situation was completely different.

“Oh, Brett! What brings you here!”

The Tampa Bay Rays’ most veteran pitcher.

A living legend with 250 career wins.

The mere appearance of ‘Professor’ Brett Evans was enough to turn the usually strict equipment staff into a flock of gentle sheep.

“Ah, the laser measurement equipment? You want to check the rotation of the ball? Understood, we’ll set it up right away! While you’re waiting…….”

Would you like a juice?

Watching the staff ask with incredibly gentle voices, John Llama blinked in surprise.

“Kim, did I hear correctly? Those picky guys……. They just offered to get us juice?!”

“Yes, you heard correctly.”

Ji-seop was also chuckling.

The equipment staff’s friendly attitude was very unfamiliar to Ji-seop as well.

Ji-seop was a nobody, but those guys would stand their ground even when General Manager Brian Sphan came.

“The equipment staff probably gives legends some respect. Evans is likely to be inducted into the Hall of Fame even if he retires right now.”

“True, but…….”

David Wilson opened his mouth hesitantly, watching Brett Evans chatting amiably with the staff in the office.

“I still don’t quite understand why Evans is being so proactive.”

“Proactive?”

When John Llama asked back, David nodded slowly.

“Yes, just between us……. Isn’t this the time for Evans to seek stability? Big changes might be harmful.”

Brett Evans was 42 this year, an age when it wouldn’t be strange for him to announce his retirement.

In fact, rumors were rampant inside and outside the club that he would retire at the end of this season.

In this situation, was there a need to make unreasonable attempts? What was the point of understanding his natural movement?

That seemed to be David’s thought.

“It’s not like his performance this year is terrible either, is it? Although his innings pitched have decreased compared to last year, he’s still performing at the level of a 4th or 5th starter for most teams…….”

Their conversation was briefly interrupted by the equipment staff who came with juice.

Quietly sipping the orange juice he received, Ji-seop put the glass on the floor and opened his mouth.

“Well, I don’t think that 4th or 5th starter level performance satisfied Evans.”

“You mean he wasn’t satisfied with his pitching?”

Here, David waved his hand.

“Hey, Kim! That can’t be it. Evans is a scarily level-headed person. He knows his own pitching prowess better than anyone else.”

“That’s right, I think so too.”

John Llama chimed in.

“Wasn’t it just two weeks ago? When he came down after pitching exactly 5 innings and giving up 3 runs, Evans was laughing heartily. He said he was satisfied with that, that enduring 5 innings was enough.”

“Well, I remember that too…….”

Ji-seop gave a faint smile.

“We should see it as the standard has risen.”

“Standard?”

“Yes, he originally thought of being a 4th or 5th starter, but it seems like he was willing to give up his spot if the younger players’ skills improved……. But it’s different now. At least at this moment, Brett Evans is aiming to be the Tampa Bay Rays’ ace.”

Ace.

The team’s ace.

At Ji-seop’s words, John Llama and David Wilson widened their eyes.

“A, an ace? Our team’s ace is Victor Johnson, isn’t he?”

“That’s right. It might be different before the season started, but is there any reason to aim for ace now?”

“There is, of course, there is. A reason that I know, Llama knows, and David knows.”

Vincent Hiyama.

Ji-seop mentioned the Yankees’ ace, who was now aiming for his fourth consecutive shutout victory.

“Evans seems to want a starting match against Vincent.”

Ji-seop continued.

“It seems like he’s not willing to concede that to any other younger pitcher, not even Victor.”

* * *

It was about 30 minutes later that the equipment staff finished all the preparations.

Measurement equipment was installed in the indoor bullpen with neatly laid artificial turf, and blackout curtains were drawn on the windows of the office inside the bullpen.

A moment later, Brett Evans, dressed in light clothing, nodded as he stood on the mound, and the equipment staff pressed the button in front of them.

Thud-

With a loud noise, all the lights in the indoor bullpen went out at once.

With this, the inside of the indoor bullpen was as dark as pitch.

Almost simultaneously, the equipment staff grabbed the microphone and opened their mouth.

“Brett, let’s start then.”

The staff said while looking at the monitor installed inside the office.

Brett Evans’ figure was dimly visible on the monitor connected to the infrared camera.

“We’ll briefly show you the target with a laser. When you’re ready, just throw the ball lightly towards it.”

“Okay, thank you.”

It was Brett Evans himself who suggested the measurement method.

Throwing the ball in pitch-black darkness. Throwing the ball in a state where vision is completely blocked.

This way, you can check the player’s natural style. Furthermore, you can measure the natural movement.

“…….”

Brett Evans picked up a ball and slowly began to calm his breathing.

Ji-seop, who was watching the scene through the monitor with his arms crossed in the office.

At this time, what came to his mind was Brett Evans’ inner thoughts that he had heard in the company cafe the night before.

-With this…… it might be possible.

That was the reaction Brett Evans showed when Ji-seop introduced Coach William Doran’s suggestion.

-Yes, with my current pitching prowess and stamina, it’s hard to even say that I want to face Vincent. But if this method works? If I revise the pitching design based on my natural movement?

Possible.

It might be possible.

I might be able to represent Tampa Bay and face Vincent Hiyama.

The sight of Brett Evans staring intently at him with his eyes shining brightly.

When faced with this, Ji-seop’s honest feeling was as follows.

‘……This is driving me crazy.’

Throb.

It felt like a migraine was starting.

‘You want to face Vincent? You’re going to redesign your pitching to face that guy? In the middle of the season?!’

Ji-seop was also a former pitcher, but even he couldn’t easily understand that feeling.

To put it bluntly, Brett Evans was a person who had grasped all the glory that could be obtained as a pitcher.

He had already received the Cy Young Award [Award given to the best pitcher in each league] several times, which is said to be difficult even once, and he had achieved 250 career wins in an era when even 100 wins was difficult.

And that’s not all. In the twilight of his career, he returned to his hometown team and achieved the first championship while receiving encouragement and support from his old friends.

A man who literally took care of both practical benefits and romance at the same time. What more could he want from here?

‘……I have to stop him.’

Watching Brett Evans continue pitching in the dark, Ji-seop was determined.

‘David is right. This is not the time for Evans to overdo it. Maintaining the current pace is beneficial for both him and the team.’

It was said that the front office’s role was to prevent the player’s rampage.

It was also said that the front office’s duty was to prioritize the player’s health.

Just as Ji-seop was making up his mind, the staff sitting in front of the monitor grabbed the microphone.

“Brett, that’s good! That’s enough!”

And what followed was the equipment staff’s troubled voice.

“But…… hmm, this data is a bit subtle?”

“Subtle?”

Brett Evans in the monitor was tilting his head.

“What do you mean by subtle?”

“You said you were looking for your natural movement, right? The natural rotation of the ball when you throw lightly. But…….”

The staff, who was stroking above his eyebrow with his thumb, made a ‘ssup’ sound.

“There’s nothing particularly noticeable. What should I say…… it’s a very straightforward four-seam fastball.”

“What did you say?!”

It was the people in the future strategy planning department who reacted first to that word.

People who jumped up from their seats and gathered around the monitor that the staff was looking at.

The equipment staff began to tap the monitor screen with the back of a pen.

“Look. It didn’t break horizontally, and it didn’t sink vertically. It’s just a clean four-seam fastball. So much so that I want to use it as data later.”

“R, really?”

“To have so little change…….”

People tilting their heads at the results that were quite different from expectations.

But at this time, Ji-seop was secretly sighing in relief.

‘It might be better this way.’

If there is no natural movement, it is difficult to use Coach William Doran’s method.

If the situation is like this, wouldn’t Brett Evans give up his ambition? Wouldn’t he concede the match against Vincent Hiyama to the younger players?

Thinking so, Ji-seop was immediately thinking about the next step.

‘Wait a minute? Since it’s set up like this, should I call Victor Johnson right now? After all, he’s the pitcher who will face Vincent…… Hmm?!’

But right then,

one faint silhouette visible through the infrared monitor captivated Ji-seop’s heart.

“…….”

That’s right. It was Brett Evans.

The Tampa Bay Rays’ most veteran pitcher, who had been notified by the club staff, was blankly staring at the ceiling.

In pitch-black darkness. With an expression as if he had lost everything in the world. With an expression as if he had lost his last hope.

Such,

a lonely look.

A bitter smile was already blooming on Ji-seop’s lips as he faced that look.

‘Oh, dear…….’

Oh, dear. A real groan came out.

What on earth should I do with that person?

A person who was usually so calm and serious, a person who was so considerate and mature that he was respected by everyone.

How could he be making such a disappointed expression at the fact that the match against Vincent Hiyama had been thwarted?

‘Ugh, disgusting. Disgusting.’

Ji-seop, shaking his head, was unknowingly moving towards the microphone.

Someone might point out that he is too soft, but there was no other way once he saw that expression.

Brett Evans. Isn’t he the legend of the Tampa Bay Rays? Isn’t he the very person who is respected and loved by everyone?

If it’s his last wish,

Ji-seop had no other choice.

It’s not like he didn’t have any advice to give him.

“Evans?”

Ji-seop said, grabbing the microphone.

“Ah, Kim! What’s wrong?”

To Brett Evans, who answered as if nothing was wrong, Ji-seop continued.

Inside, he had an incredibly soft heart, but the voice that came out was in a rather firm tone.

“Your head seems to be full of thoughts about Vincent Hiyama?”

“Yes? Me?!”

Brett Evans laughed heartily.

“Hey, what are you talking about? Vincent is no match for me. After all, Victor will be his opponent…….”

“If you keep denying it, I might not give you any advice.”

At Ji-seop’s words, Brett Evans looked at the camera with a surprised expression.

How did this person know my heart? He was exactly that kind of veteran pitcher.

“Did you hear just now? All the balls you threw a little while ago were measured as ordinary four-seam fastballs. Every single one of them.”

Ji-seop could vaguely guess the reason.

“That’s probably because Evans couldn’t throw lightly. The thought of having to find a way to beat Vincent was so strong that he ended up throwing hard.”

John Llama exclaimed ‘Oh?!’ from the side, but Ji-seop didn’t react to it.

“Evans, it’s really troubling if you’re already like this.”

“Yes? What do you…….”

“The match against Vincent will not be easy. Even if you redesign your pitching.”

Ji-seop continued calmly.

“The stands will be packed, Vincent will be throwing amazing balls……. That alone will be nerve-wracking, but if you’re like this from now on, how will the manager entrust you with such a big match?”

“Th, then…….”

“Take a deep breath and tell me when you’re ready.”

I’ll measure it one more time.

Ji-seop gestured to the club staff.

The staff who received his instructions began to set up busily.

“Hold on to your mentality somehow, and throw the ball lightly no matter what.”

“…….”

“That’s how you can find a way. You can find Evans’ natural movement, and furthermore, you can find a way to face Vincent.”

How is it?

Will you be able to?

Brett Evans, who heard Ji-seop’s words, was staring blankly at the camera for a while.

“…….”

It was an incomprehensible expression.

How could he have seen through his inner thoughts so accurately?

How could he have known what he wanted so ghostlike?

But not long after, the veteran pitcher in the monitor was taking a deep breath, puffing up his chest.

“Sss…… Hooo…….”

As if exhaling all the tension remaining in his chest,

As if pouring out all the remaining fear in his heart at once.

Brett Evans, who took such a deep breath, lightly picked up a ball.

“Kim! Ready…… I’m ready.”

He said.

“Then…… I’ll throw!”

Whoosh- Thwack!

Whoosh- Thwack!

A much lighter pitching form.

A noticeably more relaxed expression.

At the very moment when Brett Evans threw his fifth ball exactly, the eyes of everyone in the office, including Ji-seop, were sparkling.

Ding-

Ding-

With a truly clear notification sound,

His movement was being measured on the monitor.