A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 509

The Greatest Rookie in Baseball Team 510

The Greatest Rookie in Baseball Team 510

107 Lucky Guy in Florida (3)

Looking back, Brian Spahn, the general manager, was clearly a man of outstanding ability.

Even with players leaving almost every year, he managed to cultivate new and excellent players time and time again.

Even as big-market teams dominated the league, he devised a way for small-market teams to survive.

In fact, is there any need to mention anything else? He had been leading the Tampa Bay Rays, who were predicted to fail in three years, for nearly 30 years.

Thus, Brian Spahn, the general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, the man who created miracles, the man known as a legend in the industry.

There was no problem he hadn’t solved, and therefore, nothing he feared, but-

“…….”

Even the great Brian Spahn couldn’t hide his embarrassment at this moment.

That day, the day before his retirement, at the very moment when a party celebrating his retirement was in full swing.

Inside the box he opened without much thought was an outfit of the legendary actress, Marilyn Monroe.

‘This is… my outfit for today?’

A dazzling white dress, a golden wig, complete with a fake mole and shoes.

Faced with items that no American could fail to recognize, Brian Spahn took a sip of the coffee he had brought.

‘Well, this is troublesome.’

In fact, if it were him on a normal day, it would have been a happening he would have easily brushed off. He would have just smiled wryly and gone outside to ask, ‘Isn’t there another outfit?’

But today, that wasn’t easy. It was the day before his retirement. It was a time when his power as general manager had almost disappeared.

And for exactly the same reason, it was a time when even the mighty Brian Spahn couldn’t help but feel vulnerable.

“……Hmm.”

A deep shadow was already cast on the general manager’s face as he put down his coffee cup.

Although it was only a fleeting moment, all sorts of thoughts seemed to be running through his head.

Had he incurred someone’s resentment without realizing it? Was it coming back in this way?

If so, what was the cause? Is there a way to undo it now?

Just as those thoughts, chasing each other’s tails, were stirring up the heart of Brian Spahn, who was about to return to being an ordinary baseball fan-

“Hey, Richie! I told you so many times, didn’t I? No matter what, make sure you deliver the Batman costume!”

There was a noisy voice coming from outside the dressing room.

“That’s right, Iron Man is important too! But I said today’s main character is Batman, didn’t I? Don’t you remember?”

A man lecturing the event company people.

It was a voice that Brian Spahn was familiar with.

‘Lamar? Is John Lamar here?’

The only son of the team owner, and a person who was like a nephew to Brian Spahn.

For a moment, he felt happy and moved towards the dressing room entrance.

“Sir!!”

The dressing room door burst open and a face popped in.

“What, Iron Man?”

The general manager tilted his head at the sudden appearance of the superhero.

The Iron Man’s face made an ‘Oops’ sound.

“I’m sorry, sir. The transformation function on this costume is so fun that I couldn’t help myself…….”

Then, as he pressed a button on his forearm, a familiar face appeared with a ‘buzzing’ sound.

“It’s me, sir.”

Perhaps a little embarrassed that he had been absorbed in playing superhero, this person bowed his head with an awkward expression.

It was Ji-seop.

* * *

“I’m sorry, sir.”

Ji-seop and John Lamar, who had rushed to the dressing room to find the general manager.

It was John Lamar who was in charge of explaining the situation.

“The event company people seem to be out of their minds. They completely handed over the costume that was set aside for you to someone else.”

“Ah, so that’s how it happened?”

The general manager nodded.

“It’s understandable that they’re out of their minds. How many employees do we have? It’s not easy to distribute costumes to so many people.”

Although he didn’t show it on the outside, Brian Spahn seemed to be breathing a sigh of relief inside.

It was a relief. He hadn’t been disliked by anyone. He seemed to have been worrying for nothing.

Of course, John Lamar, who had no way of knowing that, had a very disappointed expression.

“Hey, that Batman costume was the highlight of today……. There’s no real solution. We can’t ask someone who’s already wearing it to take it off.”

Clicking his tongue, John Lamar placed the box he had received from the staff on the desk.

“Sir, it’s a little disappointing, but……. Please wear this costume today.”

“Costume?”

“Yes, it’s a costume party that you suggested, isn’t it? Just because the Batman costume is gone, you can’t just go out there looking scruffy.”

John Lamar opened the box and took out a fedora and a fake beard.

“It’s President Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln.”

One of the most popular historical figures in the United States.

He was also a frequent subject for these costume parties.

“I brought it because it seemed to be the best of the remaining costumes. It’s easy to decorate because it looks plausible with just a beard and a hat, and most of all… he’s the president, isn’t he?”

John Lamar grinned.

“You were like the president of our Tampa Bay Rays.”

“Haha, did you choose the subject with some meaning in mind? Good, not bad.”

“Right? Then why don’t you change right away? Everyone must be waiting for you to come.”

John Lamar held out the items he had prepared, but for some reason, Brian Spahn didn’t readily accept them.

Instead, with a very slight frown, he alternated between looking at the two boxes on the dressing room desk.

The box containing the costume of President Abraham Lincoln and the box containing the costume of actress Marilyn Monroe.

“What’s wrong?”

John Lamar blinked.

“Ah, are you worried about the size? It’s okay. Basically, costumes for costume parties are free size…….”

“No, no, it’s not that.”

Brian Spahn scratched his chin.

“I was wondering if I could liven up the party atmosphere with the Abraham Lincoln costume.”

“The party atmosphere?”

“Yes, it’s an event that I started to give pleasure to the employees who worked hard during the season, isn’t it? But if I go in wearing such a quiet costume, I feel like it’ll be a bit of a letdown.”

“It’s definitely a little weaker than the Batman costume, but…….”

“What can we do?”

John Lamar scratched his head.

“There aren’t many costumes left. At best, it’s a Yankees uniform prepared for punishment? But you can’t wear something like that, sir.”

“Ah, really? Are you saying there are almost no other alternatives?”

Brian Spahn, the general manager, was lost in thought with a very serious expression.

After staring at the costumes on the desk for a long time, he suddenly realized Ji-seop’s presence and raised his head.

“Ah, Kim! I’m sorry. Are you frustrated watching? Maybe it’s because I’m getting old, but it’s hard to make a decision on even such a trivial matter.”

“No, sir.”

At this time, Ji-seop had a vague idea of what the general manager was worried about.

“I think it’s a very difficult decision. You need to liven up the atmosphere, but you also have to maintain your dignity as general manager. You’re also worried about whether people will like this in the first place……. Isn’t that about it?”

“What, what did you say?”

The general manager, who had initially widened his eyes, soon nodded with a faint smile.

“Haha, Kim’s insight is terrifying as always. How do you see through my heart so accurately?”

As always, Ji-seop did not answer that question.

Instead, he opened his mouth to the general manager with the softest smile in the world.

“If you hadn’t thought about it in the first place, it might be different, but if you’ve already made up your mind, it might not be bad to completely ruin yourself once.”

“Ah, really?”

“And if I may give you one piece of information for reference…….”

Here, Ji-seop exchanged meaningful glances with John Lamar, who was standing next to him, and then continued.

“I saw it briefly as I was coming in, but there seemed to be about two Marilyn Monroe costumes left…….”

“Two, two costumes?”

It was at this moment that Brian Spahn’s face lit up brightly.

The expression of someone who had gained a thousand troops, the expression of someone who had gained a colleague to go through a minefield with.

It was exactly that expression that the general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays was looking at Ji-seop and John Lamar alternately.

“Then…… perhaps?!”

* * *

At the very moment when Ji-seop and Brian Spahn, the general manager, were having a serious conversation about which costume to choose.

Inside the hotel banquet hall, the atmosphere of the costume party was in full swing.

-Yes, this is the time to choose the team with the best costume today! The team that is currently in first place is the data analysis team in the baseball operations division!!!

On the stage set up in the middle of the banquet hall, various events were being held under the leadership of the emcee [master of ceremonies].

Around it, tables filled with all sorts of sweet snacks and fragrant alcohol were attracting people.

The Tampa Bay employees who attended the party let go of the tension that had continued throughout the season, and were chatting happily here and there.

While everyone was enjoying the party with happy expressions, there was one place where a particularly heavy atmosphere was felt.

“…….”

“…….”

It was a table placed in one corner of the banquet hall.

Sitting here was R. J. Higgins, the vice president wearing the old symbol of the Tampa Bay Rays, the stingray costume.

And next to him was a man named Harry Milter, a reporter for [Florida Today], with a subtle expression on his face.

“Hey, Mr. Higgins! Aren’t you being too cold to me?”

Harry Milter was leaning towards Vice President Higgins and continuing to speak.

“The rumor has spread throughout the industry that General Manager Brian Spahn was forced to retire against his will.”

“…….”

Vice President Higgins only stroked the fins of the stingray costume without answering.

Harry Milter seemed to take that reaction as a positive sign.

“I see this as an attempt by team owner Jeffrey Taylor to expand his influence?”

“The team owner?”

“Isn’t that the only way to see it? The general manager suddenly stepped down, and the person who took over is said to be a close friend of the team owner’s son, John Lamar.”

The reporter’s eyes sparkled.

“Was it Kim? The hypothesis is that the team owner is trying to put that friend in place as a figurehead and actually lead the management of the Tampa Bay Rays.”

“Kim…… a figurehead?”

Vice President Higgins snorted as if he was dumbfounded.

“Haha, that’s really amazing imagination. You haven’t even done enough research on our team to be believable.”

“Yes?”

“Kim is not someone who will play a supporting role anywhere. He is by far the best of the colleagues I have ever seen. If the team owner had planned to expand his influence, he would not have appointed Kim as the next general manager.”

When Vice President Higgins spoke very firmly, the reporter looked slightly surprised at the unexpected reaction.

“I’ve heard rumors about Kim, but……. Are all those rumors true? He did all that work by himself?”

“That’s right. Surprisingly quickly, and surely…… Kim showed his ability.”

Vice President Higgins replied.

“And in the first place, it was current President Brian Spahn who nominated Kim as the next general manager. I’m sorry, but I think the reporter’s assumption is completely wrong.”

“But Kim is someone who has only been with the Tampa Bay Rays for two years, isn’t he?”

The reporter didn’t seem to be able to shake off his doubts.

“He gained Brian’s trust in that short amount of time? So Brian was able to step down to the second line with peace of mind? Are you telling me to believe that now? It’s unprecedented!”

“Ha, this is…….”

Vice President Higgins smiled bitterly.

“Okay, I admit it’s an unusual event. So I understand that it’s hard to accept easily. But since that’s the truth, I have nothing more to say……. Hmm?!”

And just then, the party hall suddenly began to get noisy.

“Wahahaha! What is that!!!”

“Aah, my eyes! My eyes!!!”

“No, sir! What are you doing?! What is Kim doing!”

Seeing the three people entering the party hall, the Tampa Bay people burst into laughter all at once.

At first, Vice President Higgins was craning his neck to see what was going on, but before long, he burst out laughing, ‘Euhahaha!’

“Wow, those crazy people are real…….”

It was Marilyn Monroe.

To be exact, Marilyn Monroe ‘s’.

Ji-seop, Brian Spahn, and John Lamar Taylor were entering the party hall wearing Marilyn Monroe’s costumes.

Wahaha!!!

Ahahaha!!!

Everyone was laughing like crazy, but the three seemed to have made up their minds to completely ruin themselves.

Not only were they walking in, but they were also blowing kisses to the people with a nonchalant expression.

“Tampa Bay colleagues! You’ve worked so hard during the season!”

“This season was a little disappointing, but let’s do it right next season!”

“I love you! I really love you? Take my kiss!”

The three Marilyn Monroes, or rather, the performances of the three people who were dressed up similarly to that legendary actress.

The Tampa Bay Rays employees began to cheer with more joyful expressions than ever before.

“Brian! Brian! Awesome, you’re really the best!!!”

“Kim! Awesome! You even look good in it?!”

“Lamar!!! What are you doing not stopping those two?! Huh!!!”

Enthusiastic reactions poured out towards the three people who came up on the stage.

Just in time, the emcee played some exciting music, and the atmosphere was heading towards its climax.

“Oh, oh……. Oh, oh?!”

Harry Milter was tilting his head with an unbelievable expression.

R. J. Higgins was giving this poor friend a pat on the shoulder with a subtle smile.

“Reporter, did you see that?”

Vice President Higgins was trying hard to hold back his laughter.

“If President Brian Spahn was forced to step down, if Kim came down as the team owner’s figurehead…… would something like that be possible?”

“Oh, Marilyn Monroe cosplay [costume play].”

Vice President Higgins shook his head.

“T, then…….”

“Yes, it’s as you saw it.”

Vice President Higgins continued.

“The general manager trusted Kim the most, and Kim has repaid that trust without any gaps. This change of president is just the result.”

“…….”

“It’s true that Kim hasn’t been with our team for long, and it’s also true that there are employees who haven’t had a proper conversation with him yet. But as the successor chosen by the person we respected the most, General Manager Brian Spahn…….”

Swoosh.

Vice President Higgins raised his head.

“We will follow Kim, and therefore, the Tampa Bay Rays will not be shaken.”

“I, is that so? I think I had a misunderstanding.”

“Yes, you misunderstood. You jumped to conclusions a lot. But now that that misunderstanding seems to be resolved, can I ask you for a favor?”

“A favor? What kind of favor?”

At the reporter’s question, R. J. Higgins was giving a relaxed smile.

“What’s there to ask for? Just…… please write a good article.”

About Kim.

About the new general manager.

And about the new Tampa Bay Rays that he will open up.