A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 512

The Freshman of the Baseball Team is Too Good 512

The Legend Begins Like That, Chapter 108

At the very same moment that John Laramie and the Tampa Bay Rays staff were bustling with preparations for the event.

Across the Pacific, with Jiseop’s former team, the KH Cannons.

Rookie hitter Ban Ho-jin was pacing the hallway of the away team’s lodging with a disgruntled expression.

“……Are they really doing this to me?”

He grumbled to himself, staring at his phone screen.

“Earlier, they were all like, ‘Let’s get *jokbal* [pig’s trotters],’ or ‘Let’s order chicken,’ acting like they were going to throw a huge late-night snack party… Wow, how can they do this? Are people allowed to do this?!”

Ban Ho-jin had a legitimate reason to be so upset.

In the third game of the 準playoff [semi-playoff] series held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul that day, he had put on a monstrous performance with 4 hits in 4 at-bats, including 2 home runs and 7 RBIs.

Wow!!!

A powerful hit that clearly demonstrated his strength in big games. A refreshing hit that instantly turned the tide in a series that was tied at 1 win and 1 loss.

Naturally, his seniors on the Cannons patted him on the back, making firm promises like, ‘I’ll buy you anything today.’

However, when he returned to the lodging, none of the seniors replied to Ban Ho-jin’s messages.

‘Ah, well… I guess Subin *hyung* [older brother/male senior] might be like that! He said he’d cut out late-night snacks during this postseason.’

In fact, he could understand the other senior players in a similar vein.

Important games were continuing, and of course, they would be under a lot of stress.

But there was one person who could not escape Ban Ho-jin’s resentment.

‘Okay, I understand everything… But shouldn’t at least Manager Go Chang-deok respond to my message?!’

Go Chang-deok, the manager of the power analysis team.

Ban Ho-jin pouted, thinking of his round face.

‘I talked about the manager the most during my MVP interview today, didn’t I? More than I talked about the coach! So, I deserve at least a late-night snack.’

This was why Ban Ho-jin had come down to the 6th floor of the away team’s lodging.

To meet Manager Go Chang-deok. To get at least a cup of ramen out of that chubby guy.

‘Well, it should be okay to go, right? He told me to come to him anytime I wanted something, ever since the Florida Spring Camp….’

Thinking that, Ban Ho-jin strode towards room 615 of the hotel, Manager Go Chang-deok’s room.

Fortunately, the door to Manager Go’s room was wide open. It seemed he hadn’t fallen asleep yet.

‘Perfect timing,’ Ban Ho-jin thought, a triumphant smile on his face, as he stepped into the room in question—

“Manager!!! Cup ramen!! Give me some seafood-flavored cup ramen… Oh?!”

Ban Ho-jin, who had entered energetically, suddenly froze in his tracks.

“Huh?!”

“Oh!”

“Hojin?!”

Manager Go Chang-deok’s room already had guests.

No, the expression ‘had’ might not be enough.

The guests were crowded. There was barely any room to step.

“Ah, no, this is…….”

The guests were also quite impressive.

Starting with the captain, Lee Subin, and followed by the Cannons’ starting players, Kyung Sun-woo, Shim Sung-joon, and Jang Dae-woo.

Front office staff, led by Cha Jong-min, the manager of the scouting team who had drafted Ban Ho-jin.

And, decisively, the person Ban Ho-jin respected and feared the most.

Arthur Freeman, the coach of the KH Cannons, was also there as a guest.

“Ah, no, this is…….”

He had only come to get a cup of ramen, but what was this situation unfolding before his eyes?

As Ban Ho-jin bowed awkwardly to Coach Freeman and the other guests.

A voice like a lifeline came from behind him.

“Oh, Ban Ho-jin! Hojin, you’re here?”

It was Go Chang-deok.

The manager of the Cannons’ power analysis team appeared, carrying a large plastic bag, as if he had just come back from a nearby convenience store.

“Did you come to watch the broadcast too? You’re more loyal than you look?”

Go Chang-deok, with a beaming expression, took out an ice cream from the plastic bag and held it out.

Ban Ho-jin got one of the snacks he had been craving, but he couldn’t help but tilt his head in confusion.

“Broadcast… you say? What broadcast?”

“What, you came without knowing anything? You really just wanted a late-night snack?”

It was Lee Subin, sitting next to the coach, who answered.

“You’re too much, aren’t you? Hey, have you already forgotten? Who put you in the Major League Spring Camp last spring, huh?”

“Yes? That was Tampa Bay Rays’ Deputy General Manager Kim Ji-seop… Ah!!!”

Only then did Ban Ho-jin slap his knee.

“It’s today? The day Deputy General Manager Kim Ji-seop is inaugurated as the Tampa Bay General Manager! Ah, so that’s why everyone is gathered here like this?”

The power analysis team’s lodging was basically equipped with a satellite TV system.

This meant that broadcasts from local Florida channels could be watched here with very clear picture quality.

The reason why the Cannons people, including Coach Arthur Freeman, had gathered in Manager Go Chang-deok’s room was precisely because of that.

“Wow, but Deputy General Manager Kim Ji-seop’s popularity is no joke, is it? There’s a game tomorrow, but so many people have gathered like this.”

“Well, as a baseball team front office member, I don’t know if I should say this… But even if tomorrow was Game 7 of the Korean Series, I’d still have to watch today’s broadcast before going to bed.”

Go Chang-deok nodded firmly, putting down the plastic bag.

“Our Jiseop is becoming the Major League General Manager, how can I miss this moment? Right?”

“That’s right. We can’t miss it. Isn’t this a joyous occasion not only for our Cannons but for the entire Korean baseball community?”

Lee Subin, who had been refraining from expressing his emotions since being appointed as captain, couldn’t hide his excitement at this moment.

The players and front office staff sitting around him were also feeling their hearts pounding, unable to hide their excitement.

As everyone stared intently at the large TV screen, Coach Arthur Freeman opened his mouth.

“Hey, Mr. Go?”

“Yes, Coach!”

As Go Chang-deok half-stood up, Coach Freeman signaled him to sit down and continued.

“Have you contacted Boston’s ‘Leo’s Dad’? I’m curious if he’s watching this broadcast too.”

“Leo… Dad? Ah, Jang-ho? Are you talking about Ryu Jang-ho?”

Go Chang-deok chuckled.

“Oh my, Coach, your memory is so good. How do you even remember Jang-ho’s son’s name?”

Leo. Ryu Leo.

Ryu Jang-ho’s son, who was born not long ago.

Superstar Ryu Jang-ho’s news of having a son was widely known not only in Major League Baseball but also in Korea, and above all, the name ‘Leo’ was personally given by Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju.

Thanks to that, Ryu Leo was recognized by the KH Cannons people as a mascot of the club.

“I spoke with Jang-ho briefly yesterday. He’s been busy taking care of the newborn these days, but he said he’s definitely planning to watch today’s broadcast.”

“Haha, is that so?”

As Coach Freeman smiled, Go Chang-deok shared the food he had bought from the convenience store and continued.

“Actually, it’s not just Jang-ho, is it? There must be more than a few people who are nervously watching TV right now.”

“That’s right.”

Coach Freeman nodded.

“So many people must be waiting for the new General Manager of the Tampa Bay Rays.”

The two men’s guesses were correct.

Numerous people who had formed relationships with Jiseop were sitting in front of the TV at this time.

“…….”

Cheon Jin-woo, the coach of the Tampa Bay minor league team, and his inseparable partner, William Doran.

Huck Flender, the friend of ‘The Great Showman’ Charles Fleck and the organist of Tropicana Field.

Nicholas Weiner of the Yankees and Jessica Ross of Boston, who were active as Jiseop’s rivals.

And ‘Sakhalin Park’ Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju, and Jiseop’s parents and older brother Kim Ji-chang, who were visiting the United States with him—

That moment that all those people had desperately hoped for.

That moment that all those people had dreamed of for a long time.

The following comment was broadcast on a local Florida channel a little after 10 a.m. Eastern Time.

-Tampa Bay Rays fans across the country, you’ve been waiting for a long time!

It was the announcer of the local broadcasting station who hosted the event that day.

-Now, we will begin the inauguration press conference of the new General Manager of the Tampa Bay Rays!

The Tropicana Field media room began to stir from that moment.

The reporters who visited the stadium for coverage, the Tampa Bay Rays front office people, and even the players who had come from afar, foregoing their vacations.

Everyone was raising their heels and craning their necks like a group of meerkats.

Just as the tense atmosphere reached its peak, the announcer brought the microphone to his mouth again.

-Everyone, please welcome them with a big round of applause! Club advisor Brian Spon, club owner Jeffrey Taylor! And the person you’ve all been eagerly waiting for…….

He raised one hand high.

-The new General Manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, Jiseop Kim!!!

Almost simultaneously with the announcer’s shout, three men appeared on the platform.

The first to come up was Brian Spon, who had led Tampa Bay for nearly 30 years.

Following him was the current owner of the Tampa Bay Rays, Jeffrey Taylor.

And the last person to come up, receiving the warmest cheers, was Jiseop.

Kim! Kim! Kim! Kim!

According to Major League Baseball convention, the owner would first come forward and give a welcoming speech.

Then, the club’s advisor would come out and briefly introduce the new General Manager’s background.

The Tampa Bay Rays also planned to faithfully follow that convention, but at this time, the atmosphere in the media room was deviating from everyone’s expectations.

Kim! Kim! Kim! Kim!

The players chanted Jiseop’s name in unison, and the fans who were invited to attend shook their cowbells.

Even the people in the future strategy planning department, who were supposed to maintain order, were swept up in the atmosphere and shouted ‘MVP! MVP!’

“Haha, well, this is…….”

“I guess we have no choice?”

Club owner Jeffrey Taylor and General Manager Brian Spon patted Jiseop on the shoulder with smiles on their faces.

“Kim, it seems like you’ll have to step up. At this rate, this will just become your fan meeting instead of a press conference!”

Hahaha.

Jeffrey Taylor laughed so hard his uvula was visible.

“That’s right, Kim. It doesn’t seem like it’s time to be bound by outdated conventions. Give your greetings first, and then introduce the owner.”

As club advisor Brian Spon also recommended in a soft voice, Jiseop had no other choice.

“I understand. Then, I’m sorry, but I’ll go first…….”

“Sorry? Go give a great greeting!”

“It’s your first comment as General Manager, Kim! Do well!”

Receiving the support of the owner and the former General Manager, Jiseop slowly moved to the front of the platform.

As he approached the microphone, the atmosphere of the press conference resembled Tropicana Field during the World Series.

“Kim! Congratulations! Really congratulations!”

“Our Kim looks incredibly handsome today?! DiCaprio would come and cry!”

“Hey, Fleck! No matter what, DiCaprio is too much! Are you already trying to get on Kim’s good side?”

The press conference erupted in laughter at Victor Johnson’s shout.

Jiseop, with a faint smile on his lips, quietly watched the scene for a while.

“…….”

Although it was a brief moment, it seems that many scenes flashed through his mind at this time.

From the day he received a dismissal notice in China and bought a beer gift set for his parents.

To the day he headed to the KH Cannons field after being called by Sakhalin Park, the scenery he saw on the bus.

To the day he joined the Tampa Bay Rays, the day he won the championship, and even the moment he announced the construction of the new stadium as a representative of the front office.

“…….”

There were difficult moments, enjoyable moments, and sometimes moments that were so overwhelming that he couldn’t handle them.

All of that was now a memory. A precious memory that he wouldn’t get tired of even if he replayed it for hours.

However, Jiseop decided to push those memories into a corner of his heart and look forward to the days ahead.

There was only one reason.

‘……There are so many now.’

There were so many people watching him.

The players playing on the ground, the front office staff helping them.

In addition, people who are connected to the club and continue their livelihoods, and above all, the fans who love the Tampa Bay Rays.

All these people are now watching him. His choices will determine their happiness and unhappiness.

The moment these thoughts flashed through his mind, Jiseop became more determined than ever.

With such a determined mind,

And with such a resolute heart.

The baseball player who once threw a 128km/h fastball.

This steadfast man who couldn’t let go of his love for baseball.

Passing through a suspiciously good at his job baseball team rookie, passing through a front office that created a miracle that no one could have imagined—

So that day,

Of a Major League club,

He was rising to the pinnacle.

“Hello, everyone.”

The man’s voice echoed.

“I am Kim Jiseop, the new General Manager of the Tampa Bay Rays.”