A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 483

The Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good 483

The Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good 483

102 Let Them Come (3)

Same time.

In front of El Centro Hotel.

Under the glaring hotel sign that seemed a bit extravagant, a young man was lighting a cigarette.

Chik, chik, chiiiik-

He was a fairly handsome Hispanic young man.

Tall, with a sturdy build, and most of all, a man with a striking sharp nose.

“Hoo.”

However, people passing by the hotel seemed to be trying to keep their distance from him.

This seemed to be due to the man’s attire. Even in Venezuela, a silver suit was not a common item.

A silver suit with a gold glittering necklace. And a faint, fishy smile that flickered whenever he exhaled cigarette smoke.

With rough-looking men gathered around him, people’s disapproving glances were perhaps only natural.

“Hmm!”

Of course, the young man and his party didn’t seem to be paying attention to such glances.

Everyone has their own worries. At this time, they also had a complex problem in their heads.

“Hey, Pablo!”

One of the rough-looking hulks spoke to the young man who had just stubbed out his cigarette.

“I don’t know if this is the right thing to do. I keep thinking that the approach itself is wrong.”

“Why, are you regretting burning 300 dollars on a business card?”

The young man grinned.

“Come on, why are you acting like this when you know everything? It’s a Major League assistant general manager’s business card. 300 dollars is cheap. You said it was okay earlier, didn’t you, mister?”

“No, I’m not talking about the price of the business card… I mean, a little while ago, you told the baseball association guy your real name.”

Pablo Rodriguez.

The hulk smacked his lips.

“Wouldn’t it have been better to use a pseudonym? It’s true that the baseball association people have been completely replaced, but there’s probably at least one guy left who remembers your name.”

“…….”

“If even one of them recognizes you, the plan is over, isn’t it? Would you even be able to talk to the Major League assistant general manager properly? You’d be kicked out on the spot.”

The hulk narrowed his brow.

“Usually, you use that good head of yours to fleece Major League teams… Why are you being like this today? Why are you constantly taking the direct approach?”

“A direct approach. Haha, it sounds like it when you say it.”

The young man, no, Pablo Rodriguez, replied, brushing back a slightly protruding strand of hair.

“It’s not that I haven’t thought about it… I think it’s better to go about it in a straightforward manner this time.”

“Straightforwardly?”

“Yes, shouldn’t we avoid using tricks this time? It’s almost the first time since we started working as information brokers…”

Pablo’s eyes lit up.

“Because it’s a real, legitimate business.”

* * *

About 10 minutes later.

Pablo Rodriguez was meeting the very person who had become a hot topic in the Venezuelan baseball scene recently, the assistant general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays.

‘This person is… Kim?’

Pablo had met Major League people often, but he seemed a little nervous at first.

This was because rumors were circulating throughout the baseball world that the Asian assistant general manager was no ordinary person.

There was also the story that he became the assistant general manager just one year after joining the Tampa Bay Rays, and that he was the one who spearheaded their first championship.

After Benjamin Oznovich, who is now the general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, he is being evaluated as a ‘monster-class’ front office member who has emerged from Tampa Bay for the first time in a long time.

Pablo seemed a little intimidated by the flashy modifier, but as time passed, he was facing the Asian assistant general manager with a much more relaxed expression.

There was no particular reason.

“Ah, are you a little disappointed? My business card is only worth 300 dollars… I think they valued it much more in the Dominican Republic.”

Contrary to Pablo’s expectations, the assistant general manager of Tampa Bay was a very down-to-earth person.

He didn’t act important just because he became an executive at a young age, and he didn’t create a heavy atmosphere to put people down.

There were times when he felt like he was staring intently into people’s eyes, but he was basically friendly.

His attitude was as if he were treating an old friend, and a faint smile was already forming on Pablo’s lips.

Of course, such an atmosphere could not continue forever.

“Okay, good. I think I’ve heard enough about the origin of the business card… Mr. Rodriguez, shall we get down to business now?”

The Asian assistant general manager put his hands together.

“300 dollars is not a lot of money in the baseball world, but it’s not money that you can spend carelessly… There must be a reason why you invested that money.”

“Yes, of course.”

Before giving an answer, Pablo Rodriguez glanced around to assess the situation.

He was trying to gauge the atmosphere. The atmosphere of the Venezuelan Baseball Association people. How are they viewing this situation now?

‘Hmm.’

Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, the baseball association people were not showing any particular movements.

Some were watching the Tampa Bay assistant general manager, and some were exchanging jokes with each other.

It seemed that no one had yet grasped Pablo Rodriguez’s identity.

‘Okay, then…….’

Let’s move quickly.

Let’s get the assistant general manager’s signature.

So that even if my identity is revealed later, the Tampa Bay Rays cannot say otherwise.

With that in mind, Pablo took out a document from his bag and placed it in front of the Tampa Bay assistant general manager.

“Assistant General Manager, I am currently… preparing for a baseball tournament.”

“A tournament, what kind of tournament?”

“It is a tournament for youth baseball players aged 13 to 15. It is scheduled to be held here in Caracas in two weeks.”

Pablo continued.

“As you know, Venezuela has recently experienced a severe economic crisis. The political turmoil has also been extreme. As a result, a national-scale baseball tournament has not been held for a long time, and I am thinking of reviving it this time.”

“Oh, is that so, Mr. Rodriguez?”

When the assistant general manager showed interest, Pablo began to speak more forcefully.

“Yes, it’s a pity, but until now, only players living in the metropolitan area have received attention. Most agents have only been active around Caracas.”

“Hmm.”

“But if this kind of tournament is held, players living in rural areas will also be able to receive attention. It’s good for the players to have the opportunity to go to the big stage, and it’s good for agents like me to be able to acquire excellent clients, isn’t it?”

“I see. It’s definitely an idea that can make everyone happy.”

The assistant general manager, who was slowly nodding his head, smiled and asked.

“But the fact that you came to see me today means that there was some kind of setback in the process of preparing for the tournament, right?”

“I’m ashamed to say… that’s right.”

Pablo didn’t bother to hide it.

“These kinds of tournaments cost a lot of money. The players’ transportation costs, accommodation costs, food costs… There are so many places where money is needed.”

“That’s right. The kids have to eat a lot.”

“So, I originally recruited tournament sponsors. In fact, many people expressed their intention to participate. But…….”

“It seems like there were dropouts?”

At the assistant general manager’s point, Pablo had a slightly embarrassed expression.

“That’s right. The main sponsor suddenly changed his mind… The tournament itself is now in a crisis. The preliminary rounds are already in full swing.”

“Ah, I see.”

As the Tampa Bay assistant general manager got up from his seat and began to wander around, Pablo began to persuade him more earnestly.

“So, I shamelessly came to see you, Assistant General Manager.”

He continued.

“Could you support us with about 30,000 dollars from the Tampa Bay Rays?”

“30,000 dollars?”

The assistant general manager blinked.

“That’s a lot less than I expected? Is it possible to run the tournament with that much?”

“That’s not true. But a Major League team participated as a sponsor… That fact is important to me.”

Pablo had a determined expression.

“If it becomes known that the Tampa Bay Rays have provided even a small amount of support, I will be able to obtain more sponsors. Perhaps the former sponsor who expressed his refusal may change his mind.”

“Ah, is that how it works?”

When making a request, you must also offer something in return.

Pablo was also a person who knew that principle well.

“In fact, any amount is fine. If you provide even a small amount of support… I am thinking of giving the Tampa Bay Rays the maximum reward.”

“For example?”

“On the day of the tournament, we plan to block scouts from other teams from entering the stadium. Only Tampa Bay Rays scouts will be allowed to enter.”

In fact, this was not a very attractive offer.

What kind of people are Major League scouts?

Whether they buy people or disguise themselves, they will try to enter the stadium by any means.

Knowing this well, Pablo quickly pulled out the next card.

And that was a more decisive card.

“In addition, we are prepared to collect data on all the players participating in the tournament by mobilizing our high-tech equipment, and provide this data to Tampa Bay.”

“High-tech equipment?!”

It was the front office employee sitting next to the assistant general manager who reacted.

The man with a rather meticulous impression seemed to be hooked on the word ‘high-tech equipment’.

“Excuse me, what kind of equipment do you have, Mr. Rodriguez? Do you also have an Edgertronic camera?”

“Of course. We have Edgertronic, TrackMan, Rapsodo, and K-Vest, although it is difficult to use during the game.”

At Pablo’s answer, the Tampa Bay team employee turned to the assistant general manager.

“Kim!! If we do this well…….”

“Oh, yeah, yeah, I know what you mean. Anyway, he goes crazy whenever data is mentioned.”

The assistant general manager, who calmly raised his hand to calm the employee’s excitement, slowly returned to his original seat.

And the next moment, Pablo Rodriguez realized that this Asian man was not easy to deal with.

“It’s definitely a good condition. If you can get that kind of data for a cost of only 30,000 dollars, it’s definitely not a losing business. No team will refuse.”

“Ah, thank you.”

It’s done. It’s done.

Just as Pablo was about to let out a sigh of relief, the Asian assistant general manager’s eyes became very sharp.

“But that’s the problem.”

“Yes?”

“Why would an offer that no team would refuse… come to our Tampa Bay Rays.”

The assistant general manager continued.

“There are many other Major League teams here in Venezuela, aren’t there? Unlike our Tampa Bay, which has even eliminated the field office, there are teams that have been steadily building relationships for a long time. But why didn’t you go there and come to us?”

“That, that is…….”

Pablo wasn’t a fool either.

He had anticipated this level of question and had prepared an answer for it.

However, at another question that followed, Pablo Rodriguez’s heart sank.

“In fact, I have a vague idea. What I’m more curious about is this. What was the reason for Pablo Rodriguez to host this tournament?”

“Yes?”

“It’s a very public-spirited activity, isn’t it? It’s an activity for the development of the Venezuelan baseball world.”

“That, is that…… a problem?”

“It could be a little bit.”

Swoosh.

The Tampa Bay assistant general manager’s gaze turned to Pablo, who was sitting across from him.

“Mr. Pablo Rodriguez, aren’t you a fairly notorious baseball information broker here in Venezuela?”

“!!!”

“I heard that you’ve been making fools of several teams by distributing false information… Why are you suddenly doing this kind of public-spirited activity?”

Something,

Is there a special reason?”

At the assistant general manager’s gaze that seemed to see through him, Pablo Rodriguez couldn’t even breathe properly.