A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 496

The Super Rookie of the Baseball Team is Too Good 496

104 Everyone’s Wish (6)

The total number of spectators who entered Tropicana Field that day was 45,369.

It was a tie for the highest attendance record for a single game since the Tampa Bay Rays were founded.

From the luxury lounge of [Clark Wise, likely a team executive or VIP] to the cheapest tickets on the 3rd floor upper deck, the stadium was packed.

The fervent atmosphere created by the massive crowd was also unprecedented.

Wow!!!

The cheers that erupted with every play were tremendous.

But wasn’t the real attraction of Tropicana Field something else?

Clatter clatter clatter clatter!

That’s right. It was the cowbell, a cheering tool with history and tradition.

Even when the average attendance was less than 10,000, it had a significant presence.

But when it was in the hands of 45,000 spectators, its destructive power was truly beyond imagination.

Clatter clatter clatter clatter!

In fact, the Tampa Bay players, who were used to the cowbells, didn’t have any problems.

Rather, they seemed to be energized by the clattering sound. Players like Richard Stahlmeyczek even went out to the outfield to encourage the cheering.

But for the visiting team players, who were unfamiliar with Tropicana Field, the sound was literally a living hell.

“Ugh, my ears are ringing! Are we playing Tampa Bay right now? It feels like we’re playing the Philadelphia Phillies?!”

“Isn’t it louder than the Phillies’ home stadium? Damn it, the days when Tropicana Field was a good place to play baseball quietly are over.”

While frowning at the relentless clattering, the visiting team players looked determined.

It was a natural reaction. They were major leaguers, after all. They knew that the only way to break the momentum of the home fans was to play well themselves.

Thus, the visiting team players desperately pitched, hit, and ran, trying to somehow reverse this overwhelming atmosphere.

But unfortunately,

It wasn’t their day.

Whoosh- Pow!

That day, Tampa Bay Rays’ starting pitcher, Victor Johnson Jr., showed a truly terrifying pitching performance.

His 최고 [choego – Korean for “highest” or “peak”] velocity reached 101 mph. It was as if he was determined to strike out 20 batters today, throwing the ball with a vengeance.

-Ah, he caught it! He catches this ball! Fine play, no, super play! Richard Stahlmeyczek!!!

In defense, ‘Flamingo’ Richard Stahlmeyczek’s performance stood out.

The Tampa Bay Rays’ center fielder fearlessly dove toward the batted balls, as if he wouldn’t allow a single hit today.

He also recorded a two-RBI double early in the game. He could have been chosen as the MVP [Most Valuable Player] of the day.

Wow!!!

Victor Johnson’s great pitching and Richard Stahlmeyczek’s solid plays.

The man who made the already heated atmosphere even hotter was the cleanup hitter and starting catcher, Alex Montero.

In the bottom of the 5th inning, with the score 4-0 and runners on first and third with two outs, he hit a ball with truly brutal force.

Crack!!!

The sound of cheers, applause, and the clattering of cowbells.

A moment of silence flowed through the noisy Tropicana Field.

“Huh?!”

Everyone was staring blankly at Alex Montero’s batted ball with their mouths open.

Everyone was holding their breath, as if their breath would affect the distance of the ball.

As the eyes of 45,000 spectators were focused, the destination of this huge arc was determined to be-

Right,

The 3rd floor upper deck.

Clang!!!

The moment Alex Montero’s home run ball directly hit the steel safety bar on the 3rd floor upper deck, Tropicana Field erupted in a frenzy of excitement.

It was literally a celebratory salute. A celebratory salute for opening the 3rd floor upper deck, a celebratory salute for the largest crowd ever.

The spectators all stood up and cheered. Even the stoic Alex Montero roared like a gorilla and raised his fists.

With the score now 7-0, the momentum of the game completely shifted to the Tampa Bay Rays at that very moment.

“Kim, let’s get ready!”

Jiseop heard the voice of R. J. Higgins, Vice President of Marketing, who was watching the game from behind the field.

“Take your script and take a sip of water in advance. If you’re nervous, your mouth will dry out and you’ll be prone to making mistakes!”

Vice President Higgins was experienced in event management.

He took care of the script and even opened a bottle of water for him.

As he took care of Jiseop, he suddenly raised his head and smiled.

“Hmm, anyway…….”

Swoosh.

Vice President Higgins looked around with a playful expression.

“Our team’s makeup artists……. Aren’t they really amazing? They’ve completely transformed Kim into a new person?”

“Makeup?”

Charles Fleck, who was standing behind him, reacted to Vice President Higgins’ words.

“Ah, right? He’s wearing makeup? I was wondering……. His face looks brighter today! I can’t even see the dark circles under his eyes!”

“Yes, I urgently called the makeup staff. Isn’t this a photo that will remain in the broadcasting station and in the club’s archives for a long time?”

John Lama shrugged.

“Well, I got some nagging for calling them so urgently……. But it looks good! Don’t you think his sharp eyes have softened a bit?”

“Yes, it’s much better! Hey, Kim! You should just wear makeup every day! You have to think about us too!”

“I think it would be even better if you put on a disguise rather than makeup…….”

From R. J. Higgins to Charles Fleck, John Lama, and David Wilson.

The colleagues were joking around, each saying a word about Jiseop, who was wearing makeup for the broadcast.

“Hey, come on…….”

Jiseop would never have stood still at any other time. He would have retorted with two or three words for every word he heard.

‘Who is picking on whom for their face? I was called ‘Miracle Skin’ during my active days. Do you know how hard it is for a baseball player to maintain this kind of skin?’

He had a lot of rebuttals in his head, but at this time, Jiseop could only give a bitter smile.

There was no other way. Even the great Jiseop was nervous about appearing in front of 45,000 spectators.

“Um…… Mr. Higgins?”

Jiseop called Vice President Higgins.

“Well, everything is good, but the lighting effects before the official announcement……. Can’t you do something about that?”

“Lighting effects?”

“Yes, you decided to turn off all the lights on the field as soon as the bottom of the 5th inning ends. Only keep the spotlight on the presenter.”

A single spotlight in a dark stadium.

It was a kind of stage production that Vice President Higgins had prepared for a dramatic effect.

“Wasn’t that originally prepared for CEO Brian Spann? Because he didn’t get as much attention as Billy Bean or Theo Epstein……. Since he didn’t have much of a presence.”

“That’s right. I wanted to give him a boost this time, since he didn’t have much of a presence.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Jiseop’s words sped up slightly.

“Wouldn’t it be better to postpone this production? It’s a bit much for me to take the preparations for the CEO…….”

Too much in many ways.

That was Jiseop’s honest feeling.

It was already an honor enough to be making the official announcement of the new stadium construction himself.

He didn’t want anything more. He had already been recognized by the club people, so what more could he want?

That’s what he was thinking, but the answer that came back was quite firm.

“Haha, as expected, the CEO has great insight. He guessed it almost perfectly?”

“Yes?”

“The CEO said that Kim would try to change the stage production with almost 100% probability.”

Vice President Higgins smiled.

“But he urged me not to follow Kim’s words at all. He said that Kim should practice standing in front of people now.”

“Practice standing in front of people? Wait a minute, Mr. Higgins! I don’t need to practice that, I’m already good at it…….”

Just as Jiseop was about to say something more, he heard the sound of ‘Out!’ from the field.

“Oh, the bottom of the 5th inning is over.”

Vice President Higgins was unstoppable.

Almost at the same time as the end of the bottom of the 5th inning, he sent a signal to the staff.

-We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the audience who visited Tropicana Field today.

It was the voice of the stadium announcer.

-In a moment, there will be an official announcement on the field regarding our Tampa Bay Rays’ future plans.

-During the announcement, some of the lights on the field will be turned off, so please be careful of your safety.

The same broadcast was repeated once or twice more.

Soon, the field lights went out with the sound of ‘Thud, thud, thud.’

“Oh, what is it? Is it something serious?”

“Official announcement, what are they going to say? Are they recruiting a new player?”

“No, that’s not it! If there’s something the club can announce now…….”

When only the murmuring of people could be heard in the darkened stands.

A ray of intense spotlight came down with a ‘Flash’ and illuminated the field.

About six steps behind home plate. A single platform installed on the grass.

R. J. Higgins pointed to that place and said to Jiseop.

“Well, Kim! It’s ready.”

Please come.

He was smiling brightly.

“Isn’t it the moment that everyone……. everyone who loves the Tampa Bay Rays has been eagerly waiting for?”

* * *

-Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome with a big round of applause!

-The Deputy Director of the Tampa Bay Rays’ Future Strategy Planning Division, Jiseop Kim!!

With the stadium announcer’s shout, applause poured onto the field.

Even as he approached the platform while receiving the applause, Jiseop felt calm.

His past experience seemed to be helping him.

After experiencing all kinds of hardships, he had reached a level where he could control his mind to some extent.

“Hello, I’m Kim from the Tampa Bay Rays’ Future Strategy Planning Division.”

Even when he stood holding the microphone, his expression was still calm and composed.

Numerous photographers were pressing the shutter one after another in front of him, but he was not shaken by this either.

“Today, on behalf of Jeffrey Taylor, the owner of the club, and Brian Spann, the CEO, who attended the city council, I will report one matter to you.”

The stadium was also quiet.

In fact, it was a natural thing. It wasn’t a player like Brett Evans, but suddenly an Asian employee came out to report on behalf of the owner.

People were more interested in what he was going to announce than who was on the platform now.

It was good for Jiseop. It was just right. He would just say what he had to say in this calm atmosphere and come down.

That’s what he was thinking as he was about to unfold the manuscript he had brought, right at that moment.

“M! V! P!!!”

Someone shouted loudly from the home team dugout.

It seemed to be Victor Johnson Jr. There was no other player in the Tampa Bay Rays with such a boisterous voice.

‘Ugh, he’s always fluttering around…….’

Jiseop just laughed it off at this time.

Victor Johnson’s fuss was nothing new.

He just gave a subtle look towards the home team dugout and was about to read the manuscript again, when.

“M! V! P!”

The number of players shouting after Victor Johnson began to increase.

At first, it seemed to be just the players’ shouts. But after a while, the coaching staff also joined in.

“Kim! Congratulations! Are you finally emerging as our club’s star?!”

“Thanks to Kim, we have this day! Thank you, Kim!”

“You’ve worked hard! Bringing in the audience, getting the club value certified!”

“Oh, why are you all talking so long! So it’s MVP! Tampa Bay Rays’ MVP!!”

Victor Johnson’s outburst became a signal.

MVP, MVP, MVP. The shouts that filled the quiet stadium were soon transmitted to the audience.

“What is it? Why are the players making such a fuss?”

“Oh, it looks like that person has done something great? Isn’t that right?”

“That’s right, there was a rumor on the internet? That there’s an ace in the Tampa Bay front office!”

“Ah, right?! Is that him? Is that why he came out as a representative today?”

“Then it’s MVP? Is MVP right?!”

It was from that moment on.

The voices chanting ‘MVP’ began to echo in Tropicana Field, where 45,369 people, the largest crowd since its founding, had come.

M! V! P!

The MVP call that tens of thousands of spectators shouted in unison.

It was at this moment that a slight tremor appeared on the face of Jiseop, who had been calm, more than anyone else.

“…….”

There was no other reason. It was the MVP call.

Something that every player wants to receive at least once.

The best treatment that the audience gives to the best player in the team.

The moment something he had never even dreamed of in his active days unfolded before his eyes, Jiseop felt as if his head was empty.

‘W, what is this…….’

It was a feeling that could not be explained in words.

It was a feeling that he could not grasp how to express.

He also remembered the day when he was notified of his release from the Chinese semi-professional league for the last time.

He also remembered the day when he was praised for the first time after joining the KH Cannons.

The many days he had spent as a baseball team’s front office flashed before his eyes.

“……Hoo.”

Those emotions were swirling around chaotically, but Jiseop calmed his mind with a light sigh.

He had come out as a representative of the Tampa Bay Rays. It was impossible for him to be swept away by his own emotions and not do his job properly.

‘Yes, I’m kind of…… an ace? The ace of the Tampa Bay front office.’

Calling himself an ‘ace’ for the first time, Jiseop slowly turned over the manuscript.

Then, with an ace-like serious and calm expression, he began to speak the news that everyone had been waiting for.

“I would like to report to the fans.”

In fact, he didn’t seem to be looking at the manuscript.

Because it was a statement that he had imagined countless times in his mind for a long time.

“Two hours ago, the St. Petersburg City Council resolved to build a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays. With this, our Tampa Bay Rays…….”

Jiseop’s clear voice echoed through Tropicana Field.

“Will open a new era in a new stadium!”