A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 464

The New Guy in the Baseball Team is Too Good 464

99 Last Man Standing (3)

Exactly three days later.

Tampa Bay Rays’ manager Mike Clambleas announced the starting pitchers for the home series against the New York Yankees.

The starting pitcher for Game 1 was right-hander Tommy Justice, acquired from the Minnesota Twins during the off-season.

The starting pitcher for Game 2 was rookie Warren Livingston, who was called up to the major league for the first time this season.

Finally, the highly anticipated Game 3, the player who would face Vincent Hiyama was none other than-

‘The Professor’,

Brett Evans.

In fact, the Tampa Bay coaching staff had been clutching their necks, groaning, over this decision.

The reason was none other than their ace, Victor Johnson Jr., had caught a cold from sleeping with the air conditioner blasting.

– Aaaah…… Achooo!!!

You might think a simple cold is no big deal, but this was a baseball team where dozens of players moved together.

It was something that could potentially degrade the condition of the entire team. The Tampa Bay Rays immediately decided to isolate Victor Johnson Jr.

The person chosen as the starting pitcher instead was Brett Evans. In some ways, it could be seen as a result of good fortune.

However, Brett Evans himself didn’t seem to think so.

“Haha, this is something…… I always seem to be indebted to Kim.”

It was a thank you that Brett Evans himself came to the Future Strategy Planning Department office to give, right after the starting pitcher rotation was announced.

“Kim, thank you so much. Thanks to Kim’s help, I can finally go head-to-head with that Vincent kid.”

“You’re very welcome.”

Jisub waved his hand dismissively.

“I heard it at the coaching staff meeting yesterday. Evans-ssi’s bullpen pitching was really amazing? Your curveball was always good, but the trajectory of your sweeper was incredible.”

“Haha, well. I don’t know if it was an incredible trajectory…… but it’s true that I’ve gained confidence in my sweeper.”

‘It’s all thanks to Kim’s test.’

Brett Evans nodded.

“It was huge to confirm my natural movement through the test. -28 degrees based on the horizontal axis…… it’s the perfect condition to use a sweeper, isn’t it?”

Thanks to confirming the data, I was able to have confidence in my sweeper.

And thanks to throwing with confidence, I was able to pass the coaching staff’s standards.

Brett Evans was speaking with a seemingly nonchalant expression, but in fact, Jisub was greatly impressed inside.

‘He’s definitely different. A pitcher who has earned 250 wins in the major league.’

It wasn’t as easy as it sounded.

Having confidence after seeing the data was something you couldn’t do with an ordinary amount of guts.

Throwing amazing pitches just because you had confidence was something anyone couldn’t do either.

Brett Evans accomplished all of that in just two days.

‘So that’s why he’s a legend. Just because he’s gotten older doesn’t mean his innate talent has gone anywhere.’

Half respect and half envy, it was with exactly that kind of feeling that he was blankly staring at this great pitcher, when-

“Kim.”

“Yes?”

“Is there anything…… you need my help with? I can’t just let this go so easily.”

Brett Evans stroked under his nose.

“Kim’s help was huge this time. It was Kim who told me about Biscuits coach’s idea, and it was Kim who gave me appropriate instructions during the test. So shouldn’t I be of some help too?”

“Haha, well? Our front office staff would be satisfied just with Evans-ssi showing us a good game.”

“Hey, isn’t that a player’s natural duty? Isn’t there anything else? I may not look like it, but I have a considerable amount of influence in this baseball world, you know?”

“Influence…….”

As Jisub was pondering slightly, the sight of the field far away came into his view.

People in casual clothes were gathering towards the dugout.

‘Reporters? Come to think of it, it’s the regular interview time…… Aha.’

At that moment, an idea sharply flashed through Jisub’s mind.

Jisub turned his gaze to Brett Evans, his eyes shining.

“Then…… would it be alright if I asked you for just one favor?”

“Kim, didn’t I tell you? What’s it matter if it’s two things, or even three?”

“Haha, thank you. Then…….”

Whisper, whisper, whisper.

It was at this moment that Jisub’s quiet voice was conveyed to the legend of the Tampa Bay Rays.

* * *

That was the truth.

The news that Vincent Hiyama was challenging for his fourth consecutive shutout alone was enough to focus people’s attention on Tropicana Field.

The New York Yankees were considered one of the most prestigious clubs in Major League Baseball. It was also a club that, compared to its reputation, didn’t have many overwhelming starting pitchers.

The fact that the best ace in the league had appeared in such a team. The fact that he was challenging Major League history. That fact alone was enough to draw people’s attention.

– Brett, could we ask for a brief comment?

That afternoon, a question from a Tampa Bay beat reporter added fuel to this burning interest.

– The starting match against Vincent Hiyama is set for this Sunday. What are your thoughts going into it, and what do you think of Vincent Hiyama…… we would appreciate a brief comment.

Briefly.

Simply.

There was a reason why the beat reporter kept using these expressions.

Brett Evans was usually kind and friendly, but he would become very tight-lipped as the game approached.

In fact, this was due to his philosophy rather than his personality. The philosophy that it was a player’s virtue to show rather than tell.

So at this time, the beat reporter didn’t seem to have high expectations either. It seemed like he was just trying to get a word like ‘I’ll do my best’ or ‘I’ll give it my all’ somehow.

But this day,

Was a little different.

– I like Vincent very much. When he was with Tampa Bay, my colleagues and I were able to play some really great baseball.

– Ah, is, is that so?

An unexpectedly long answer flowed out.

Reporters began to gather around Brett Evans one by one.

– It’s true that he’s performing excellently, and it’s also true that he has the skills to challenge Major League records. But in my opinion, he’s still…… young.

– Young?

– That’s right. Unlike me, who is about to retire, he has a lot of his career left.

Brett Evans continued.

– I hope he continues to work hard in the future. I hope he does his best to become an even better player. In that sense, I think it would be better to leave the four consecutive shutouts record…… as an unfinished goal. For the sake of motivation.

– Th, then……

– Yes, that’s right.

The softest smile in the world bloomed on Brett Evans’ lips.

– I mean to break Vincent Hiyama’s consecutive shutout record.

Definitely,

I mean it.

* * *

Brett Evans’ provocative remark turned Major League Baseball upside down.

It wasn’t for nothing that his nickname was ‘Professor’. Brett Evans always had a serious and calm demeanor.

The fact that such a person openly declared victory, the fact that he showed his eagerness to win at all costs.

This fact was enough to make the New York Yankees fans, as well as the Tampa Bay Rays fans who had been quiet until now, boil over.

– Kim, is this enough?

– Hehe, of course. It was perfect.

After Brett Evans’ public declaration, interest in the home series against the Yankees reached its peak.

American sports channels continued to broadcast predictions of the results of the three-game series, and the online bulletin boards were filled with tense battles between the fans of both teams.

People wearing Yankees uniforms began to be seen in downtown St. Petersburg, and the question ‘Where are you going to watch Sunday’s game?’ began to be used as a morning greeting among people.

The tickets sold by the club were sold out early. The secondary ticket sales sites were also sold out. Ticket consignment stores around the stadium continued to be crowded with people trying to get tickets by any means possible, and-

“Kim, you’ve worked hard.”

The day before the home series against the Yankees, Jisub was having dinner with CEO Brian Spann.

“You look very worn out…… are you okay? I heard you haven’t been able to leave work for the past few days.”

“Haha, I’m fine. I can still handle this much.”

Solicitations for tickets, advertising inquiries, and even the issue of operating the visiting team’s goods shop.

The past few days had really flown by without a break, but at this time, Jisub’s face was very bright.

“All three games have been confirmed to be sold out early, and I heard that all the sports pubs around the stadium are fully booked. I don’t know if I should say this…… but it seems like the atmosphere is even hotter than during the last World Series.”

“I agree. It feels more crowded than the World Series. It’s a similar atmosphere to when the Tampa Bay Rays first appeared a long time ago…….”

CEO Brian Spann, who was wearing a satisfied smile, suddenly seemed to remember something and reached down to his feet.

And what he put on the table were three large paper bags.

The CEO nudged the paper bags and said.

“Kim, these are gifts.”

“Gifts?”

Jisub stretched his neck and looked inside the paper bags.

Inside were envelopes. Almost dozens, no, hundreds of envelopes.

“These are the letters from fans that have come into our club’s office over the past ten days.”

“Aha.”

“Some are letters of gratitude. There are also letters of encouragement. But the largest part is…….”

The CEO picked up an envelope with a meaningful look.

“It was a letter requesting that the capacity of Tropicana Field be increased.”

“Ca, capacity, you mean?”

“That’s right. It’s a request to open the third-floor upper deck. Many people are arguing that the original capacity of Tropicana Field wasn’t 45,000.”

“Aha…….”

The moment he heard the word 45,000, Jisub could feel his heart beating faster than usual.

It was becoming a reality. Opening the third-floor upper deck, accepting 45,000 spectators. And furthermore-

‘Building a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays.’

Jisub was so overwhelmed that he couldn’t speak easily.

The CEO poured him a glass of wine and said to Jisub.

“Kim, honestly, I thought it was impossible.”

He also had a moved expression.

“Could the day come when the Tropicana Field would be flooded with spectators? Could the day come when the third-floor upper deck would be opened? I thought that even Kim wouldn’t find this easy.”

“…….”

“To achieve that in such a short period of time…… I can’t even begin to imagine how much effort Kim has put in.”

“It’s not like I did it alone. The president also gave his full support…….”

“Is that so? Haha, it’s not bad to hear.”

The CEO, who had poured Jisub a drink, also filled his own glass.

Then, picking up the full glass, he said to Jisub.

“There must be something coming if there is something going. That’s the principle of Major League Baseball. Kim has shown such results, so I can’t just stand still.”

He continued.

“As soon as this three-game series is over, we will hold a club strategy meeting. This time, we plan to invite the team owner and the team’s board of directors.”

“The fact that the team owner is coming means…….”

“Yes, it will be a meeting to decide whether to open the third-floor upper deck. At the same time, it will be a meeting to discuss ways to persuade the St. Petersburg city government.”

The CEO lightly shook his glass. A request for Jisub to raise his glass as well.

As Jisub hurriedly picked up his wine glass, the CEO looked at him with sharp eyes.

“Kim, you’ve worked hard so far. I am personally grateful. But since the industry we are in is the industry we are in, I can’t help but say this.”

If it had been like before, Jisub would have blinked, wondering what he was going to say, but now he was quite the seasoned front office member.

He immediately realized what the CEO was trying to say, and with a slight smile, he replied.

“To lead the meeting favorably, the team needs to win…… is that what you’re trying to say?”

“Haha, that’s Kim for you! There’s nothing more to teach you now?”

That’s right.

The CEO nodded.

“Defeat the Yankees. If we can completely subdue those high-nosed friends…….”

Your dream,

The dream of the Future Strategy Planning Department,