A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 477

The Super Rookie of the Baseball Team is Too Good 477

101 The Last Piece of the Puzzle (3)

Two days later, Brian Spann, the general manager, convened a temporary strategy meeting for the team.

The message delivered to the meeting participants listed several urgent matters, but it was clear to everyone that the main agenda for the day was this:

Who would lead the team value certification project?

Who would be in charge of Zeus Analytics?

With such prominent candidates on the list, the meeting was initially expected to last quite a long time.

Rumors circulated that ‘Tropicana’s Bulldozer’ R. J. Higgins was seriously eyeing the project, and ‘Ace of Baseball Operations’ Deputy General Manager Rebecca Carney was also determined to take it on.

A fierce battle between the young front office executives that the Tampa Bay Rays were so proud of.

Both inside and outside the team, the atmosphere was akin to watching a professional boxing final.

However, the ‘match’ that everyone had been anticipating ended rather anticlimactically.

Immediately after the candidates were recommended, just as discussions were about to begin to determine who was the right person,

R. J. Higgins, the vice president, who had been quietly observing the situation, raised his hand and said:

-I apologize to those who recommended me, but I think the answer is already clear.

His tone was resolute.

-This matter should be handled by the Future Strategy Planning Department… no, by Kim. Everyone knows, right? What he has done for our Tampa Bay Rays so far.

-But…

Some executives began to express their objections, but even those movements were silenced by Deputy General Manager Rebecca Carney.

-I agree.

Carney said.

-Today’s discussion was possible entirely because the 3rd floor upper deck was opened. Wasn’t it the Future Strategy Planning Department that achieved that? For me to take charge of the team value certification here feels like taking credit for someone else’s work.

Contrary to the opinions of some executives, the two supported the Future Strategy Planning Department.

With the marketing and baseball operations departments promising to actively support the team value certification process.

With such strong candidates taking this stance, the meeting could not continue much longer.

-Alright.

Less than 30 minutes after the meeting began, General Manager Brian Spann said,

-Then this team value certification process, the collaboration with Zeus Analytics…

Will be entrusted to the Future Strategy Planning Department,

To Kim.

It was the moment when the Tampa Bay Rays’ new stadium construction project was entirely entrusted to Jiseop’s hands.

“Alright, Kim! Take a big gulp. This is a congratulatory drink from me, and also an encouragement drink.”

About an hour later.

General Manager Brian Spann was meeting with Jiseop in his office.

The general manager was generously pouring the precious liquor he had kept carefully in his cabinet.

At this moment, a more than satisfied smile was on his face.

‘Whew, it feels like a heavy burden has been lifted.’

It could have led to a serious internal conflict, but unexpectedly, an amicable agreement was reached.

It was also welcome that R. J. Higgins and Rebecca Carney, the two key figures in the Tampa Bay front office, had agreed to actively cooperate in the team value certification.

However, at this very moment, what made General Manager Brian Spann the proudest was something else.

‘Kim… has made a decision.’

That’s right. This was the key.

The fact that Jiseop had agreed to take on the team value certification.

The fact that he nodded without complaint to the recommendations of others.

‘The person who succeeds in the team value certification will eventually succeed me… I couldn’t have been unaware of the rumors circulating within the team.’

The fact that he nodded even knowing that was considered evidence of his decision.

He had given up on the idea of returning to Korea and had now decided to stay with the Tampa Bay Rays.

He had made up his mind to lead Tampa Bay after him.

‘Yes, perhaps it’s only natural.’

Watching Jiseop not even flinch after drinking the strong liquor, the general manager smiled inwardly.

‘This is Major League Baseball, the best baseball league in the world… No one would just throw away the opportunity to be at the top in a place like this.’

Of course, it must have been a difficult decision.

The general manager had heard how much affection the Korean professional team had poured into Jiseop.

Since he had made such a difficult decision, he had to reward him properly. He had to teach him everything he knew.

With such a grateful heart, and on the other hand, with a sense of reassurance.

Just as the general manager was about to offer Jiseop another drink.

“Sir.”

Jiseop looked up.

“This might be a slightly uncomfortable question… but may I ask you one thing?”

“Oh, an uncomfortable question?”

As if barely holding back the urge to say, ‘What uncomfortable question could there be between us?’ the general manager lightly waved his hand.

“Yes, go ahead.”

“According to rumors, I’ve heard that you are planning to leave the team soon… Is that true?”

“Ah, retirement? Are you asking if I’m facing retirement?”

After pondering for a moment, the general manager slowly nodded.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

At this point, Brian Spann seemed ready to reveal everything to Jiseop.

“Once the new stadium construction is somewhat on track, I plan to step down from my current position. When that time comes, our Tampa Bay Rays will need new leadership. And I…”

Swish.

The general manager looked up.

“I hope that new leadership… Kim, you will take it on.”

“Me?”

“That’s right. It’s you.”

The general manager was quick-witted.

In that short time, as he gave Jiseop a faint smile, all the stories he was about to tell him came to his mind.

Why he chose Jiseop. What strengths Jiseop had compared to other smart front office staff. What he expected from Jiseop, and what he could do to help him.

The general manager was about to tell him all of that step by step, taking his time, but-

“For me to succeed you, sir, thank you, sir. It’s a very grateful offer, but…”

Faced with his proposal, Jiseop replied with a calm expression.

“I intend to be satisfied with the role of your right-hand man.”

* * *

A firm,

A far too firm answer.

The atmosphere in the general manager’s office, which had been amicable just a few seconds ago, suddenly became heavy.

“Satisfied with the role of right-hand man?”

Brian Spann raised an eyebrow.

“Then… you mean you can’t take over the Tampa Bay Rays after me?”

“Yes, as I’ve said several times, I’m planning to return to the KH Cannons someday.”

“The Cannons? Of Korean professional baseball?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

At Jiseop’s refreshing answer, the general manager couldn’t say anything for a while.

It wasn’t that he had nothing to say, but rather that he had so much to say that he couldn’t figure out where to start.

Didn’t he know what Major League Baseball was? How could he turn down such an opportunity? Was the Cannons such an important place? Then did that mean the Tampa Bay Rays weren’t important?

The stories only hovered around his lips, but they didn’t come out easily.

After hesitating for a long time, Brian Spann barely managed to utter just this one word.

“Have you thought it through enough?”

Judging from the general manager’s expression, he shouldn’t have, but at this moment, Jiseop was quietly smiling inside.

‘Have you thought it through enough?’ This was the same question Charles Flex had asked Jiseop two days ago.

-Hey, have you thought this through enough before saying this? Are you serious right now?!

Jiseop had tilted his head back then.

He couldn’t understand why Charles Flex was so upset, why he was so excited.

But thanks to having experienced a similar situation once, Jiseop was able to express his intentions relatively calmly at this time.

“I made a promise to my colleagues in Korea. A promise to return as the new general manager on the day the KH Cannons’ new stadium opens.”

“Yes, that’s a story I’ve heard as well.”

Looking at the general manager, who had become gloomy, Jiseop continued calmly.

“What I can clearly say is that I don’t place more weight on either the KH Cannons or the Tampa Bay Rays…”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, both teams have very important meanings to me. I can’t say which one is more important.”

“Then is it first come, first served?”

Here, the general manager gave a bitter smile.

“The place you promised first has priority… Is that what you mean?”

To that question, which was even considered a bit of a grumble, Jiseop gave a faint smile.

“Sir, do you perhaps remember? When I first joined the Tampa Bay Rays, there was something you used to say to me like a habit.”

“A habit?”

“Yes, you have to find your weapon. You have to find your own weapon as a front office staff… You emphasized that a lot.”

Jiseop had an expression as if he were wandering through distant memories.

“I’ve been thinking about it for quite a long time since I heard that. What can I use as a weapon? What kind of front office staff should I become with my strengths?”

“……”

“My experience as an active player was almost non-existent, and there were already so many other outstanding people with sharp analytical and observational skills. Then the strength I found was…”

“Gaining people’s trust, right?”

The general manager said.

“The ability to make anyone trust you, Kim… In my opinion, Kim’s greatest strength is that, isn’t it?”

“As expected, you understand, sir.”

Jiseop winked.

“If you understand that, sir, then the story will move even faster.”

“Faster? How?”

“I want to further refine the ability I have, the ability to gain people’s trust…”

Jiseop’s eyes became serious.

“Until now, I’ve been diligently moving my tongue to gain trust, but that doesn’t last very long. I think real trust comes from actions.”

“Actions?”

Here, the general manager’s eyes also lit up.

“Wait a minute, then…”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Jiseop nodded.

“I know that Major League Baseball is a big stage. I also know that this opportunity may never come again. But in order to have a competitiveness that no one else can match as a front office staff, I decided that I had to return to Korea.”

“……”

“If I go back to Korea, many people will say I’m foolish. Some will say I missed the opportunity to play on a big stage. But some of them, perhaps the players or front office staff who couldn’t trust anyone…”

Kim is a person who keeps his word.

Kim is a person who keeps his promises.

And so-

“If it’s Kim’s word, I can trust it.”

At Jiseop’s spirited declaration, General Manager Brian Spann stared intently at his face for a while.

It wasn’t because it was such a great idea. It’s not difficult to find examples of this kind of idea in Major League Baseball.

What surprised him at this time was Jiseop’s aspect that he had never known before.

‘He was an ambitious person.’

He only thought he was greedy for work.

He just thought he was a person who felt rewarded by getting along with good colleagues and doing his best.

In some ways, he was an extremely ordinary style, so he thought his role was to lead him to have more ambition-

‘To make everyone believe in and follow his thoughts… He’s become a much scarier friend than I thought.’

When did he grow up like this?

When did he become so strong?

Hiding his surprise, Brian Spann was slowly opening his mouth.

“Alright.”

He nodded.

“I can’t help but admit it. I thought too highly of the word Major League Baseball.”

“Yes?”

“To be honest, I thought Major League Baseball would be a great asset in my negotiations with you. I thought I could persuade you just with the name value that Major League Baseball gives.”

But now I see that’s not the case.

The general manager smiled.

“Kim, let’s pretend my proposal didn’t happen this time. Forget about the offer to succeed me for a while, and focus on the team value certification for now.”

“You’re… entrusting the work to me?”

Jiseop tilted his head.

“I thought that if I didn’t accept the successor matter, you wouldn’t entrust the team value certification to me either…”

“Didn’t you hear what people were saying today? Everyone is saying that Kim is the right person, so we can’t change it now.”

The general manager smiled.

“Please do your best. While you’re working hard to get the certification, I’ll be diligently racking my brains in my own way.”

“Racking your brains? No, what are you racking your brains for, sir…”

“Isn’t it obvious? It’s a plan to keep you in the Tampa Bay Rays.”

A more attractive offer.

Furthermore, an offer that cannot be refused.

The general manager was showing his will.

“After hearing your story, I don’t want to let you go even more.”