A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 474

Rookie sensation of the baseball team is too good 474

Rookie sensation of the baseball team is too good 474

100 Questions for You (6)

“Grandfather?”

Ji-seop narrowed his eyes.

“Did you just say grandfather?”

“Yes, those are the words of my grandfather, Joseph Carter. To enter the ballpark, you have to pay an admission fee! Conversely, if you don’t enter the ballpark, you don’t need to pay!”

The last sentence was clearly something Louis Carter had arbitrarily pieced together, but he continued confidently.

“You’re an employee of the Tampa Bay Rays, right? Then there’s no way you wouldn’t know my grandfather? Joseph Carter, haven’t you heard of him?”

“Joseph Carter… I’ve heard of him. Of course, I’ve heard of him. Isn’t he the founding owner of our Tampa Bay Rays?”

At Ji-seop’s words, the security guards standing on either side of him widened their eyes in surprise.

“Fou, founding owner?”

“So this airhead is…”

“No, it’s alright. There’s no need to be so flustered. He’s not directly related to owner Jeffrey Taylor.”

Soothing the security guards, Ji-seop turned his gaze to Louis Carter.

A young man in his early twenties who looked just like the picture of his grandfather displayed in the team museum.

The expression on Ji-seop’s face was similar to when a promising player drafted in the last round suddenly started throwing 100-mile-per-hour fastballs.

‘Hehe, luck is on my side. I was worried because I couldn’t find Joseph Carter, but now his grandson has come to the stadium himself.’

All that’s left is to coax this guy and get Joseph Carter to the negotiating table.

Thinking of three or four scenarios for him in his head, Ji-seop spoke in a polite tone.

“Hmm, a refund for the admission fee… I understand, it’s not a difficult matter.”

Ji-seop nodded.

“But we also have procedures. Would you mind coming with me for a moment? It should only take about 10 minutes.”

“Co, come with you? Inside the stadium?!”

Louis Carter’s eyes darted around busily at that moment.

He seemed to be carefully considering something, then let out an awkward ‘Ahahaha’ laugh.

“Ah, no! Now that I think about it, I don’t think I need a refund. After applying all sorts of discount coupons, I only ended up spending about $5.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Besides, when you think about it, it was my fault for entering the stadium on my own after being banned. So, I don’t really need a refund…”

The security guards looked like they were wondering if he had eaten something wrong, but Ji-seop simply reacted calmly.

“I understand. If that’s what you think, then I can’t help it. You’re free to leave.”

“Really? Haha, thank you! Thank you so much!”

As Louis Carter smiled and stepped back, Ji-seop added one more thing.

“Instead… would you return the Brett Evans bobblehead you’re hiding behind your back?”

“Heeek?!”

Louis Carter was startled.

Ji-seop put on the gentlest expression he could muster and continued.

“According to team regulations, souvenirs are only provided to spectators who have entered normally.”

“…”

“We cannot give a bobblehead to Louis Carter, who has been banned from entering.”

“I, is that so?!”

Ji-seop smiled at Louis Carter, who was looking at him with a dumbfounded expression.

“Yes, why?”

Ji-seop raised one eyebrow.

“Even though you were banned, you came to the stadium to get a bobblehead that you could resell for a high price online?”

“Ho, how did you know…?”

“If you really want to take the bobblehead with you… how about it?”

Ji-seop gestured towards the inside of the stadium.

“All you have to do is have a cup of tea with me.”

* * *

About 10 minutes later.

Ji-seop was handing a warm cup of coffee to Louis Carter, who had visited his office.

“Yo, you’re the deputy general manager?!”

Louis Carter, who received the coffee, looked at Ji-seop with wide eyes.

“Oh, there’s no need to be so surprised. In other teams, it’s just a director position. Actually, more than that…”

This, this thing.

Ji-seop tapped the bobblehead box with his finger.

“You said you were planning to resell it… was there a special reason? Is your financial situation so bad that you have to sell something like this?”

“Damn it, why do I have to answer that?”

Louis glared at Ji-seop with a dissatisfied expression, but it didn’t last long.

When Ji-seop subtly tried to move the bobblehead away, Louis opened his mouth in surprise.

“It’s not that my financial situation is bad. My grandfather takes good care of my college tuition, transportation, and allowance.”

“Oh-ho.”

Even 1-dollar Joseph is a kind grandfather to his grandson, it seems.

Ji-seop nodded.

“The reason I was going to resell the bobblehead is… because of something you know about, Deputy General Manager.”

“Something I know about?”

“The time I ran onto the field. During the game when Vincent Hiyama pitched last time.”

Although Louis Carter was banned from entering the stadium by the Tampa Bay Rays, the punishment couldn’t end there.

Louis Carter, who was arrested by the police that day, was fined a whopping $3,000.

“Even with my allowance, $3,000 is not a small amount. So, what else could I do? I had to find another way.”

Louis Carter sipped his coffee.

“I heard that Brett Evans’ bobblehead can be sold for $70 outside the stadium, and up to $150 if I put it online…”

“Why don’t you use your grandfather’s chance?”

Ji-seop tilted his head.

“You said your grandfather treats you very well? Then he would easily solve this kind of problem, wouldn’t he?”

“Eh, that’s absolutely impossible.”

Louis said firmly.

“My grandfather hates being involved with the Tampa Bay Rays the most. He doesn’t watch the games, and he told me not to even go near Tropicana Field.”

“Ah, you’d be in trouble in many ways if he found out you came to see the game, right?”

Ji-seop couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

There were so many things he wanted to point out.

Like, when are you going to pay off the $3,000 fine by reselling a $100 bobblehead?

And why did you run onto the field when you knew your grandfather hated it?

But almost at the same time, Ji-seop sensed that this hopeless friend would be a great help to him.

‘Anyway, Joseph Carter dotes on his grandson, right? Then Louis is a valuable person.’

Now that it’s come to this, let’s win this guy over for sure.

It was at this moment that Ji-seop took out the autographed ball that Brett Evans had given him from his jacket pocket.

“Louis, do you like the New York Yankees? If you came to see Vincent Hiyama’s game.”

“Of course?”

Louis answered indifferently.

“They’re the best team in the world, right? Unlike the Tampa Bay Rays.”

Oh, look at this guy.

Ji-seop raised one eyebrow, but decided to let it go here.

“Good. Since you say you’re a fan of the New York Yankees, I’ll show you something good.”

Ji-seop placed the autographed ball he was holding on the desk.

Whether it was a lie that he was a Yankees fan or not, Louis’s eyes widened immediately.

“Wait a minute, this is…”

Vincent Hiyama?!

Louis almost screamed.

“It’s Vincent Hiyama’s autograph, right? Right? I can tell just by looking at it?”

“Oh, don’t go around saying you’re a Yankees fan. This isn’t an ordinary autograph.”

Ji-seop raised his finger and turned the autographed ball halfway around.

“Remember the last game? That amazing starting pitcher showdown that unfolded after you were arrested by the police.”

“Yeah, well… I didn’t get to see it in person, though.”

“It’s a ball signed together by Brett Evans and Vincent Hiyama, who were the starting pitchers that day. It was to commemorate that day’s game.”

“Heok?!”

Louis was so surprised that he bit his tongue.

Ugh, he covered his mouth in pain and finally raised his head after a while.

“To, to have such an amazing ball… Deputy General Manager, thank you! Just looking at it makes me feel brighter!”

“Really? Do you think it’s valuable? I wonder if there’s demand for resale?”

“Oh, of course!!!”

Louis made a fuss.

“With this, you could start at a base price of $5,000? If the competition gets fierce, it could go up to $10,000? It’s practically whatever you can get for it, but…”

Ah, I want it.

I really want it.

Louis Carter looked at the ball intently, even swallowing his saliva.

Ji-seop felt that the deal was more than 80% done and opened his mouth in a relaxed manner.

“If you want, I can give you this ball as a gift.”

“Yeah?! No, are you kidding me?”

“Eh, of course not.”

Ji-seop shrugged his shoulders.

“You can resell it to pay off the fine, or you can cherish it as a personal collection. But instead…”

“Instead?”

“Could you do me a favor?”

Looking at Louis Carter, who was asking back with sparkling eyes, Ji-seop was quietly smiling inside.

‘Is it because I’ve only dealt with the seasoned big shots in Major League Baseball…’

This friend is,

a piece of cake.

* * *

And again, a few hours later.

At Tropicana Field, while the game against the Chicago White Sox was in full swing.

Ji-seop was telling Charles Flex about what had happened a little while ago.

“So, you’re saying…”

Charles Flex had a surprised expression.

“You met the grandson of 1-dollar Joseph [Joseph Carter’s nickname, referring to his frugality]? Here in this office?”

“Yes, I met him. Fortunately, the conversation went well.”

I was lucky.

Ji-seop smiled.

“Heo, this is something! I’m on my way back from Atlanta to find out about Joseph Carter’s whereabouts…”

Charles Flex shook his head.

“You were sitting here and getting things done?”

“Sometimes, luck like this follows. I was honestly surprised too.”

“So… Louis, was it? What favor did you ask that airhead friend? Did you ask him to find his grandfather’s whereabouts?”

“No, there was no need for that. From the beginning, Louis seemed to be in contact with his grandfather.”

Just as he heard the sound of a hit from the ground, Ji-seop checked that side and continued.

“I told him to bring Joseph Carter to the city. Whether he asks him to buy him dinner or says he needs something… any reason is fine.”

“Bring him to the city?”

“Yes, if Louis gives me a heads up on the date, time, and place in advance… wouldn’t we be able to run into him naturally? Our Tampa Bay Rays’ founding owner.”

“Oh-ho, that’s what you were thinking?”

That’s not bad, good idea.

Charles Flex was satisfied.

“Well, yeah, we can’t meet someone who wouldn’t even meet us if we went looking for him… using his grandson would be the best.”

Joseph Carter, whose whereabouts were unknown, began to come into view.

Charles Flex seemed excited just by this much progress.

“When did Louis say he would contact us? Since he’s his grandfather, it shouldn’t take too long, right?”

“Yes, he said he would contact us tonight, so if we wait a little longer… Hmm?!”

It was at that moment that Ji-seop’s pupils shook.

Ji-seop’s cell phone, which was placed on the desk, started ringing.

“It’s Louis.”

“Good! Answer it quickly!”

“Yes, then…”

Did that guy carry out the mission well?

Did he win his grandfather’s heart?

With a mix of anticipation and worry, Ji-seop pressed the [Call] button on his phone.

“Hello, Louis?”

However, contrary to Ji-seop’s expectations, what he heard over the phone was not Louis’s light voice.

-Are you Kim?

A bulldog.

It was a voice reminiscent of an old bulldog.

-This is Joseph. Joseph Carter. There’s no need to introduce myself unnecessarily.

A low, thick, and booming voice continued.

-I heard from my grandson that you guys seem to have something to say to me…

What is it, just tell me.

He said very firmly.

-We’re not close enough to take the time to meet on purpose.