A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 507

The New Recruit of the Baseball Team is Too Good – Episode 508

107. Lucky Guy in Florida (1)

The news that Jisub had been named the next General Manager of the Tampa Bay Rays sent shockwaves through the baseball world.

Perhaps it was only natural. As President Oh Soo-man of [Superstar Baseball, a social baseball camp] had said, Jisub was a veteran of the ‘baseball grand adventure,’ having traveled the world solely for baseball.

[Brian Spon Steps Down… Tampa Bay Names Next General Manager]

[Tampa Bay Rays, Names 2nd Year Front Office Staff Kim as Next General Manager]

[The Era of Spon is History… Who is the Next General Manager Kim?]

American sports media mainly covered Jisub’s appointment from the perspective of ‘Brian Spon’s successor.’

[Tampa Bay Rays, Appoints Korean Employee Kim Ji-sub as Next General Manager!]

[Korean Leads Major League Team… The Emergence of the First Korean General Manager, the Greatest Celebration in Korean Baseball History]

[General Manager Kim Ji-sub, Turns Out to Be From KH Cannons Front Office? … Vice President Park Hong-joo, “He Was Different From the Start”]

The Korean sports media made the most noise, focusing on Jisub’s KH Cannons career.

[Japanese Independent League Player Becomes Head of Major League?! Tampa Bay Rays Selects Kim Ji-sub as New General Manager]

[Showed the Potential of Asians… Interest in Kim’s Special Relationship with Vincent Hiyama]

Jisub’s time as an independent league player also became a major topic in Japan.

[Former Qingdao Elephants Player Kim Ji-sub Appointed as General Manager of American Major League… First Asian Record]

[President Wang Xiaochun of Elephants, “Kim Was Qingdao’s Ace, Feels Immense Pride in the Success of His Former Colleague.”]

Even in China, where Jisub spent his last season as a player, albeit for only one season, a tremendous amount of articles poured out.

It was truly a We Are The World moment.

At this moment, he was an icon of world baseball.

Of course, Jisub’s face was filled with wry smiles as he read the articles.

‘Was I the Elephants’ ace?’

Jisub chuckled to himself.

‘Hehe, no matter how I think about it, I don’t remember that……’

After the initial flood of articles, an enormous number of interview and lecture requests poured in.

Similar proposals had been coming in through the team’s PR team, but this time, they were coming through both official and unofficial channels of the club.

The Major League Baseball headquarters offered to conduct an interview directly, and Korean broadcasters requested him to appear on entertainment programs.

Furthermore, the number of customers at his parents’ store increased dramatically, and people lined up to take photos at the social baseball camp [Superstar Baseball].

The public’s interest in the first Korean Major League General Manager was skyrocketing, but unfortunately, Jisub couldn’t fully enjoy this heated atmosphere.

There was a simple reason for that.

This was Major League Baseball.

To lead the team following Brian Spon, there was a lot to prepare for.

-Sir, what do you think about assigning David Wilson as the Quality Control Coach?

-David as a coach? I was thinking of making him the Deputy General Manager to assist Kim?

-No, he has always been very interested in being on the field. He also has great ambitions to be a manager. It would be better to keep someone like that on the field to act as a bridge to the front office…….

The first order of business was the Tampa Bay Rays’ personnel arrangement for the next season.

Who should be assigned to what role to get the best results?

It was a time to make decisions one by one with the advice of General Manager Brian Spon.

-Chairman, this is Kim. You saw the article, right? He’s the one who will take over the team from me starting next season.

-Oh, yes! Kim, this isn’t our first time meeting, is it? Back when we were arguing about whether to sign Vincent Hiyama… I saw you briefly at that meeting, didn’t I?

-Yes, I remember. I look forward to working with you, Chairman.

Next was a series of meetings with the Tampa Bay Rays’ board of directors.

In Tampa Bay, owner Jeffrey Taylor had the most influence, but the voices of the board of directors could not be ignored.

Whenever he had time, Jisub met with the board members and gradually secured their support.

-You’re amazing, General Manager. How have you been doing all this work by yourself?

-Haha, it’s not that amazing. It just feels that way because the work is overlapping right now. Kim will get used to it soon enough.

In addition, he met with people from the team’s partner companies, met with the minor league executives, and met with people from the St. Petersburg Regional Committee.

Jisub had always been busy, but the schedule was so tight that his previous work felt almost leisurely by comparison.

As he was transitioning into the role of General Manager, time flew by, and before he knew it, it was mid-September-

Wow!!!

Jisub hadn’t been able to watch the games properly for a while because of the handover, but on this day, he put off all other schedules and came to the stadium early.

It wasn’t just Jisub. Tropicana Field, which had been somewhat deserted since Tampa Bay’s postseason appearance was thwarted, was sold out early with 45,000 seats filled on this day.

There was a good reason for that.

This day was the retirement game of Brett Evans, the Tampa Bay Rays’ oldest pitcher and one of the main contributors to the team’s first championship.

* * *

In fact, to be blunt, Brett Evans’ time with the Tampa Bay Rays was less than two years.

He signed a Major League comeback contract in the second half of last season and announced his retirement in the early part of this season.

Considering that his career spanned 22 years, his time with the Tampa Bay Rays was perhaps a fleeting moment.

However, the 45,000 spectators who came to Tropicana Field on this day were enthusiastically cheering for his last appearance.

Let’s Go E-vans! Clap clap clap!

Brett Evans was born and raised in the Tampa Bay area.

He even tried to sneak into Tropicana Field to steal a stingray during his college days.

But the tremendous support on this day did not seem to be simply because he was from the local area.

He had led the team as a model veteran player in the Tampa Bay Rays, which was aiming for its first championship.

He was the first to create the history and tradition that Tampa Bay Rays lacked the most.

And from his World Series appearance to his heated starting match against Vincent Hiyama.

Every moment he was on the mound remained a brilliant memory in the minds of Tampa Bay fans.

That was what made the cowbell sound echoing through Tropicana Field on this day even more intense.

Clatter clatter clatter clatter!

Although it was a retirement game, the class of a legend with 250 career wins in the Major League did not seem to disappear so easily.

He allowed only one hit from the first to the third inning, perfectly fulfilling his role.

Wow!!!

Just as Brett Evans was leaving the mound to a standing ovation from the fans after his last appearance, General Manager Brian Spon, who was watching the game in his office, took off his glasses and said,

“So an era is coming to an end.”

His voice was filled with mixed emotions.

“It feels like only yesterday that the whole league was buzzing about the emergence of an amazing rookie pitcher.”

“I feel strange too.”

Jisub also had a somber expression.

“I used to imitate Evans’ pitching form a lot when I was a kid. To think that such an amazing pitcher is now retiring…….”

“It was a great fortune for the Tampa Bay Rays. Even if it was for a short time, we were able to be with a great pitcher like Brett Evans.”

The retirement of a legend is bound to bring special emotions to everyone.

However, since they were the front office of a Major League team, they didn’t have much time to indulge in such sentimental feelings.

“Kim, how is the retirement ceremony going? Are all the preparations in place?”

“Of course, sir.”

Jisub nodded.

“I just received a call from Charles Flex. The friends from Las Vegas said they have completed all the preparations.”

In the United States, people from Las Vegas are considered the best when it comes to events.

People who know how to use video, audio, and 3D augmented reality to completely captivate people.

On this day, Charles Flex had called his colleagues from his Las Vegas days to prepare the retirement ceremony.

“The event is scheduled to start 5 minutes after the end of the game, so you should go down to the field after the top of the 8th inning.”

“Okay, I hope it will be a meaningful time for Brett. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment for him.”

The TV screen on the wall of the office showed Brett Evans hugging his teammates.

The last appearance of a pitcher who had dominated an era. General Manager Brian Spon slowly nodded.

“……”

It was the very next moment that Jisub, who was watching his every move, carefully spoke.

There was another legend leaving the team this season.

“Um… Sir?”

“Yes?”

The ‘legend’ of the industry turned his head.

Jisub cleared his throat and continued.

“Has there been any change in your position?”

“Position? What position?”

“I told you a few days ago. About your… retirement event.”

That’s right. This was it.

Something as important to the front office staff as Brett Evans’ retirement ceremony.

How to send off Brian Spon, the man who had led the Tampa Bay Rays for nearly 30 years.

“Haha, wasn’t that all settled?”

The General Manager smiled.

“Any team only has a retirement ceremony once a year at most. If there are too many retirement ceremonies, it gives people the impression that the organization is unstable, you know? Besides, it’s always been a virtue for front office people to retire quietly. You know that too, Kim, right?”

“Yes, you’ve said that before, but…”

Jisub scratched the back of his head.

“The staff seems to feel very sad about it. There are quite a few people who have been working with you for over 20 years.”

“It’s a nice thing to say, but…”

The General Manager was slightly shaken by the mention of his longtime colleagues.

Jisub was not one to miss such a timing.

“I won’t ask you to have a grand retirement ceremony in front of the fans anymore, since you said it might be seen negatively externally.”

“Then?”

“But wouldn’t it be okay to hold an internal event for our team? After all, there are many events held after the season ends.”

“Ah, there are many events held anyway? Well, that’s not wrong.”

Looking back, General Manager Brian Spon, who had always been serious and prudent.

It was at this moment that a particularly playful expression appeared on his face.

“Okay. If it’s an internal event for the team, I have no reason to refuse.”

“Oh, then…”

“Instead… Kim, can I ask for one condition?”

“A condition?”

As Jisub tilted his head, the General Manager’s expression became even more playful.

“I appreciate your willingness to hold a retirement event for me. I really appreciate it. But I don’t want a gloomy and depressing atmosphere at my retirement ceremony.”

A new era is opening, isn’t it?

The General Manager smiled brightly.

“If possible, I’d like it to be a fun atmosphere. Everyone laughing, talking, and drinking a lot… As you know, Kim, our Tampa Bay Rays front office is a bit too serious, isn’t it?”

“Well, it’s certainly true, but…”

Jisub blinked.

“What kind of fun event are you talking about specifically? Do you have any ideas in mind?”

“Haha, well. Rather than an idea for my retirement ceremony… There’s an event that I’ve wanted to introduce for a long time, but it’s been repeatedly thwarted because of our front office’s rigid atmosphere.”

“Wait a minute, sir! If it’s an event that has been repeatedly thwarted in our front office…”

Jisub had a feeling he knew what it was.