A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 50

Rookie of the Baseball Team Is Too Good – Episode 50

Chapter 14: Generational Shift (3)

Unless a baseball team has the financial power of its parent company to immediately acquire necessary players, developing new talent is crucial.

While vital, there are differing opinions on how to develop new talent, generally falling into two categories:

-“New talent development? Nothing beats competition. Rookies or veterans, put them in one position and see who survives. It’s the cleanest way. No unnecessary gossip, either.”

While some emphasize fierce competition,

-“Competition? That works in American baseball, where there’s an endless stream of promising players. Korea has a shortage, so it’s better to pick a smart one and focus on giving them experience.”

Conversely, others believe in focusing on a select few promising players.

‘If I had to guess, the former is Arthur Freeman’s idea, and the latter is Ahn Young-chan’s.’

Which is the right answer?

Which should I choose?

Having only recently retired from active play, Ji-seop struggled to decide.

For now, Ji-seop could only closely monitor Shin Min-sung, ‘the problem player,’ as Coach Freeman’s interpreter.

“Alright, Shin Min-sung! Fungo [A fielding practice drill] coming up! Stay focused and catch it!”

“Yes, sir, Coach!!!”

On the surface, Shin Min-sung seemed fine.

He was the loudest during training and showcased peak batting performance in games.

Thwack!

Thwack!

Thwaaaack!

However, the ‘gut feeling’ of a veteran with over 10 years in the pro league couldn’t be ignored.

It was three days after Ahn Young-chan, KH’s starting shortstop until last season, said, ‘Something doesn’t feel right.’

Thwack!

Away game against the [Future Kings], a professional baseball team based in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province.

Bottom of the 7th inning, two outs, bases loaded: an ordinary infield fly ball hit by the opposing batter.

“Mine! Mine! Mine!”

Initially, it seemed like an easy catch for the shortstop.

However, the strong wind that day gradually pushed the ball’s trajectory towards the outfield.

“Center! Center has to catch it!”

“Left! Left, come in quickly!”

Typically, the center or left fielder would move in to catch such a drifting fly ball.

However, perhaps pressured by the situation with two outs and the bases loaded, the Cannons’ ‘sacred shortstop’ couldn’t take his eyes off the ball.

“Min-sung, get out of the way! That’s not your ball!”

“Leave it to the outfielders! You have to leave it to the outfielders!”

Coaches yelled from the dugout, but Shin Min-sung kept staring up, shuffling back and forth.

“Oh, uh?!”

Shin Min-sung, fixated on the ball, reached out his glove at the last moment, but…

Thud!

The ball landed in an ambiguous spot between the shortstop, center fielder, and left fielder.

Fair. In play.

“Aaaargh!!! That idiot!”

“Next play! Next play!”

Up to this point, it was unfortunate, but unavoidable.

Wind can change a ball’s trajectory, and ambiguous balls sometimes become hits in baseball.

However, Shin Min-sung, pale-faced, worsened the situation by picking up the ball.

“Third! Third! Third!”

“There’s still a chance at third base!!!”

Amidst the chaos, Shin Min-sung hurriedly threw to third base.

He put everything into it, but the throw was uncatchable.

“Oops!”

“Watch out!”

Thump, thump.

The ball went into the home team’s dugout in an absurd manner.

The referee advanced the opposing team’s runners, and the KH Cannons, leading 6-3, quickly allowed the tying run.

Of course, the more serious problem was…

“……Ah.”

The look on ‘sacred shortstop’ Shin Min-sung’s face, as if his soul had departed.

* * *

Despite valuing ‘competition,’ Coach Arthur Freeman wouldn’t bench a player for one mistake.

“Min-sung, communication is important for a shortstop. Pay attention and concentrate. Understand?”

“Yes, sir, Coach.”

After the game, Arthur Freeman spoke to Shin Min-sung.

The coaching staff, and veteran Ahn Young-chan, also offered advice.

The Cannons team atmosphere was that ‘a rookie can make such mistakes.’

-“Ah, the throw is heading straight for the third baseman! The third baseman to the second baseman! The second baseman throws to the first baseman again…… Out! Double play!”

-“Shin Min-sung was too greedy! No reason to pull a ball coming from outside, is there?”

Shin Min-sung seemed to think, ‘I have to make up for that mistake.’

From that bad throw onward, Shin Min-sung’s plays became strained.

He swung at bad pitches and was dismissed, and made unnecessary defensive plays, causing errors.

-“Aaaah, this throw is off! All runners advance!”

-“No reason to throw to first base, was there? Was Shin Min-sung too eager to get the batter out?”

This continued for a week.

As the KH Cannons’ opening roster decision approached, the coaching staff’s view of Shin Min-sung changed.

“Coach, we may need to reconsider Min-sung as starting shortstop. His condition isn’t bad, but he’s too impatient.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to send him to the minors? Take a break, check the basics… Bring him up that way.”

“His mistakes have affected his mentality, so sending him to the minors now may delay his recovery. For now, it would be better to have him join the opening roster……”

Just a week ago, Coach Freeman had supported Shin Min-sung.

However, with minor mistakes accumulating and fan sentiment turning negative, they couldn’t strongly advocate for him.

The consensus was to start in the minors if possible, or join the opening roster if his mentality was a concern.

“Hey, Ji-seop.”

As the coaching staff left, Arthur Freeman, staring at the roster, spoke to Ji-seop.

“What’s your opinion?”

“Yes?”

“I’m asking how you think we should manage the shortstop position this season.”

Coach Freeman wasn’t asking casually.

“Am I wrong? You’ve been watching Shin Min-sung closely……”

“Ah.”

‘That guy is like a ghost.’

Ji-seop thought.

“You weren’t a pro, but you’ve been a player for a long time, haven’t you? You must have felt something watching Shin Min-sung’s play… Tell me comfortably.”

The situation KH Cannons’ veteran shortstop, Ahn Young-chan, had talked about was approaching.

Support for ‘sacred shortstop’ Shin Min-sung was waning.

Ahn Young-chan’s request was to appeal to Coach Freeman to use Shin Min-sung when this happened.

‘Hehe, I didn’t think this would really happen…….’

Now Ji-seop had to answer.

What choice should I make?

Which choice is right?

“Well, if you ask me that…….”

Ji-seop stared at the player roster on the coach’s office wall.

Finally, having made up his mind, Ji-seop carefully spoke.

“Coach, in my opinion…….”

* * *

Ji-seop left the coach’s office well past 10 p.m.

He had to organize documents related to the next morning’s opening roster announcement.

Click, click, trilling.

After locking the office with his security card, Ji-seop descended the stairs.

As the baseball stadium’s main gate came into view, someone called from behind.

“Ji-seop, are you leaving work?”

“Ah, Ahn.”

The voice belonged to Ahn Young-chan.

He had just showered, his hair still wet.

“Are you just leaving? Today was a day game… I thought the players had left.”

“Yes, somehow…….”

Ahn Young-chan, slurring his words, watched Ji-seop’s expression.

“So… did the results come out?”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“I’m talking about the opening roster.”

“Ah, the opening roster…….”

It’s out.

Ji-seop didn’t hide it.

Although the players hadn’t been notified, the roster had been distributed to media outlets as a press release.

It would be known in an hour or two anyway, so there was no reason to hide it from a teammate.

“Ah, I see. It’s out…….”

Ahn Young-chan hesitated.

Ji-seop knew what he wanted to ask.

“If it’s about Shin Min-sung… he made the opening game roster.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, but the coach seems to be thinking of using him only as a pinch hitter or defensive replacement for the time being.”

“Ah, is, is that so?”

Ahn Young-chan sighed deeply.

“I guess that’s how it turned out.”

It was disappointing for Ahn Young-chan, who had advocated for Shin Min-sung as the starting shortstop.

Unable to hide his bitterness, he looked at Ji-seop.

“Anyway, thank you, Ji-seop.”

“Yes?”

“I saw you watching Min-sung so intently…….”

Ahn Young-chan smiled.

“Watching Min-sung like that means you listened to my story. Then…….”

‘You must have conveyed my intentions to Coach Freeman.’

Ahn Young-chan seemed to think.

“It must have been awkward to give your opinion to the coach, but thank you for conveying my intentions.”

“Ah, about that…….”

He had considered pretending, but Ji-seop decided to tell the truth.

“I said that it would be better not to use Shin Min-sung as the starting shortstop this season.”

“……Yes?!”

Ahn Young-chan’s eyes widened.

“Wh, what do you mean? You weren’t on my side… you opposed it?”

“Yes.”

In reality, how much power did a translator’s opinion have?

However, Ahn Young-chan had secretly placed great expectations on Ji-seop’s role.

His face was filled with disappointment.

“Ah, no, why…….”

Ahn Young-chan struggled to speak.

“Di, didn’t I tell you? Min-sung, that kid, is really going to be great. If you had helped him a little, it could have been a big help to him…….”

“Yes, I know that too.”

Ji-seop nodded.

“I know Shin Min-sung’s talent, and I also know that now is the time for the Cannons to develop a new shortstop. However… even considering all of that, I just thought it would be better for another player to be the starting shortstop right now.”

“Another player? Who are you talking about?”

At Ahn Young-chan’s question, Ji-seop shrugged.

“If we exclude Shin Min-sung, there’s only one player who can play starting shortstop, isn’t there?”

“No, surely…… you don’t mean me…….”

Ahn Young-chan was dumbfounded.

“Ji-seop, how many times do I have to tell you? I don’t have any regrets anymore? I just hope that one starting shortstop will come out to take over my position…….”

“Ahn Young-chan.”

Ji-seop cut him off.

“Do you really have no regrets?”

A strange smile appeared on Ji-seop’s lips.

“Someone who says they no longer have any regrets about being an active player… why are you leaving work with wet hair at this late hour?”

“…….”

“It seems like you came out after training just a little while ago… am I wrong?”

“Th, that is…….”

Ahn Young-chan couldn’t answer.

Ji-seop said calmly.

“I don’t think Ahn is lying. His feelings for his junior are genuine, and his feelings for the Cannons are genuine as well.”

Others may not know, but Ji-seop knew that feeling exactly.

“But if you have regrets in one corner of your heart, if you have even a little bit of desire to play… I don’t think there’s any need to hide it.”

“…….”

“A senior who hesitates and backs down with a heart full of regrets, and a senior who competes fiercely for the starting position until the regrets disappear, and then cleanly admits defeat and steps down…….”

Ji-seop continued, looking ‘intently’ into Ahn Young-chan’s eyes.

“I think it’s clear which of the two would be more helpful to Shin Min-sung, don’t you?”