A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 518

The Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good 518

110. He’s Always Been Greedy (2)

There were considerable concerns both inside and outside the baseball world regarding Brett Evans’ appointment as the next manager of the Tampa Bay Rays.

The most common concern was the 5-year hiatus. Since Brett Evans hadn’t been active since retiring as a player, it was inevitable that his feel for the game would be rusty.

In a similar vein, the fact that he had no coaching experience was also pointed out. Some grumbled about what motivation he would have now that he was already inducted into the Hall of Fame.

And then there was ‘that saying’ that pops up with almost 100% certainty the moment a player of Brett Evans’ caliber becomes a manager.

-Isn’t there a saying? Great players don’t always make great managers!

So many stories poured out that John Rahma asked, ‘Kim, are we okay?’ while watching TV, but it didn’t take long for the uproar to subside.

In an away series against the AL Central powerhouse Cleveland Guardians, new manager Brett Evans swept his debut series with three consecutive wins.

Wow!

To be honest, the first game seemed lucky. The flow was frustrating throughout, but in the end, they scored the winning run with a bases-loaded walk.

But from the second game on, they looked definitely different. From the starter to the closer, the pitching changes flowed seamlessly, resulting in a 2-0 shutout victory.

And the ensuing third game was the highlight of the series. All three pinch-hitters came through in crucial moments, resulting in a final score of 11-8, a dramatic come-from-behind victory.

Brett! Brett! Brett! Brett!

The Tampa Bay visiting fans who came to Progressive Field that day didn’t leave even after the game was over, chanting the manager’s name loudly.

The commentators who had made negative predictions just a few days earlier smiled wryly and shook their heads.

Belatedly, praise for the new Tampa Bay manager poured in, saying he was a prepared leader, that he had been different since his playing days-

“Well, I’m a little dazed.”

Inside the team’s private plane heading to the next away game after leaving Cleveland.

Manager Brett Evans, facing Jisub, wore an awkward smile.

“I’m getting a lot of congratulatory messages from all over the place… Haha, I’m honestly embarrassed. I wonder if I deserve this kind of congratulations.”

He scratched the back of his head vigorously.

“Kim, don’t look at me like that. I’m not just saying this? Basically, the players did well. The coaches’ advice was spot on. And we also had Manager Clemblaus, who prepared all of this…”

And.

Most of all.

“There was also the support from the front office.”

“Our support?”

At Jisub’s question, Manager Brett Evans nodded slowly.

“The data you sent me before the game was a huge help. Especially… was it the Baseball R&D team? Their reports were amazing!”

The manager slapped his knee.

“To think they compared the tendencies and characteristics of our current players with those of players I faced in the past… Wow, I never would have thought of that. The moment I read the report, I got a clear picture of our players!”

It was at this moment that a faint smile appeared on Jisub’s lips.

Using past players to explain current players. This was a project Jisub had instructed the Baseball R&D team to do.

He was hesitant about whether it would work while preparing, but he was very pleased to see such a positive response.

“The Baseball R&D team will be very happy to hear what you said, Manager. I’ll set up a simple dinner for them as soon as we get back to St. Petersburg.”

“Oh, that’s a great idea! Tell them I’ll treat them. Well, there’s still one series left before we return home…”

Watching Brett Evans take out his phone and check his schedule, Jisub breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

Even in Major League Baseball, the world’s best baseball league, there weren’t always good managers.

There were quite a few managers who blindly opposed the front office’s opinions, and there were plenty who tried to take all the credit for themselves.

In this situation, the fact that Brett Evans had returned, that he had come to be the manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, was considered a great stroke of luck for Jisub.

‘Maybe we’ve overcome the biggest hurdle. The biggest hurdle to winning three consecutive championships.’

As he thought that, he secretly praised himself, ‘Good job, me,’ but at that very moment.

Manager Brett Evans, who had put down his phone, snapped his fingers and turned to Jisub.

“Ah, that’s right…”

It seemed like something had suddenly occurred to him.

“I checked the report you sent me yesterday. Judging from the contents, it seems you’re planning to acquire quite a few players by the trade deadline…”

“Haha, not all of them.”

Jisub shrugged.

“If you point out a player you want to work with, our front office will try to make it happen.”

“Oh, really? A player I want to work with?”

The next moment, a meaningful expression appeared on Brett Evans’ face.

“Haha, now that I see it, Kim, you have a sneaky side to you?”

“Sneaky?”

“Yes, what do you call this? It seems a bit outdated, but… ‘Dap-jeong-neo’ [a Korean slang term meaning ‘the answer is predetermined, you just have to say yes’]? The answer is already set, and you just have to answer?”

Brett Evans, who even used such an out-of-place word, took out his tablet PC and continued.

“If you ask me to pick a player I want to work with from this list, what other answer can I give?”

With an expression as if recalling happy memories.

With an expression as if reliving regrettable memories.

And with a slightly subdued expression, as if swallowing his disappointment.

The new manager of the Tampa Bay Rays was saying to Jisub.

“Vincent Hiyama of the New York Yankees.”

He tapped the screen of the tablet PC.

“He’s the best for me.”

* * *

That’s right. It was Vincent Hiyama.

The two-way ace who led the Tampa Bay Rays to their first-ever championship.

After transferring to the New York Yankees, he had a heated starting match against Brett Evans, who was nearing retirement.

Perhaps because of that, he was still loved by Tampa Bay Rays fans even after a long time had passed.

Jisub had put Vincent Hiyama on the list of acquisition candidates during this trade deadline.

“Vincent, Vincent Hiyama… Hearing his name makes my heart feel warm. It’s like I’ve returned to my playing days.”

Vincent Hiyama still seemed to have a special meaning for Manager Brett Evans.

“He’s an unforgettable friend. He gave me the only World Series ring of my career, and it was after the starting match against him that I decided to retire from my playing days.”

His face was full of smiles just from his name being mentioned, and Manager Brett Evans was recounting memories with a wistful expression.

But that was only for a moment, as he began to add his assessment as the manager of the Tampa Bay Rays.

“Of course, it would be a great help if he joined us.”

He continued.

“I can’t expect him to dominate the league like he used to, but he’s still being used as a key hitter for the Yankees.”

There was a hint of regret on Manager Brett Evans’ face as he said that.

‘I can’t expect him to dominate the entire league like he used to.’ It seemed that this expression hit him hard as well.

“Ah, if it weren’t for that damn injury, he would still be at the top…”

After transferring to the New York Yankees, Vincent Hiyama had been performing incredibly well for the first three years, so much so that he was called a ‘natural disaster.’

During that period, he was recognized as the best player in Major League Baseball. As a pitcher and as a hitter. To the point where winning the World Series was taken for granted.

However, in the World Series game he played again as a member of the Yankees, he was unexpectedly taken off the roster due to an elbow injury.

He returned to the team after more than six months of rehabilitation, but he was not showing the same incredible performance as before.

“But there’s no denying that he’s still a good player. As a hitter, you can expect 20 home runs every year, and as a pitcher, you can expect 10 wins as a starter.”

When the story reached this point, Manager Brett Evans put down the tablet PC he was holding and asked.

“But… Kim, is it really possible to acquire Vincent through a trade?”

The manager scratched his chin.

“To take Vincent Hiyama away from the New York Yankees? It doesn’t seem easy to me…”

“Yes, I think so too. Even so, he’s a player who can hit double-digit home runs every year… He’s not a player you’d readily give to a rival team in the same division.”

Even as he said that, Jisub’s face was relaxed.

“But I think there’s plenty of room to dig in. I heard that there’s a considerable conflict between the Yankees’ new manager and Vincent Hiyama.”

It was also a very common conflict.

“The new manager wants him to focus on just one, either pitcher or hitter, but Vincent Hiyama is still insisting on being a two-way player?”

It was this part that made Jisub sense the possibility of a trade.

Vincent Hiyama, who considers being a two-way player as important as his life. The New York Yankees, who now want him to focus on one thing.

In Jisub’s experience, such conflicts are really difficult to resolve amicably.

“Besides, I’ve also received information that the Yankees’ owner has expressed dissatisfaction with Vincent Hiyama. If we can target this part well…”

There’s a possibility.

We can definitely bring him in.

In a direction that is very favorable to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Jisub tried to express his confidence in that way, but Manager Brett Evans was shaking his head.

“No, no, that’s not it.”

“Yes?”

“I’ve heard the rumors about Vincent too. I’ve heard that the situation is quite dire. Of course, if you target that side, there’s a possibility. But what I’m worried about is…”

Tsck.

Brett Evans clicked his tongue.

“Kim, it’s whether you can contact the Yankees’ front office.”

“Contact?”

As Jisub blinked, the manager continued with a worried expression.

“The rumors are rampant. They say that there are more than one or two general managers who have been burned by you, Kim. Because of that, when the trade deadline approaches, the Major League general managers never answer calls from your number…”

“Ah, is that what you mean?”

Jisub smiled here.

Because what the manager said was true.

Not only did they not answer the phone, but there were also quite a few general managers who had blocked Jisub’s number from the start.

But at this time, Jisub’s face was full of composure.

“There’s no need to worry about that part. It’s true that the general managers don’t answer my calls, but that doesn’t mean there’s no way to contact them at all.”

“There’s a way…?”

“Of course.”

Jisub nodded.

“Then can I assume that you also approve of acquiring Vincent Hiyama…? Can I start working on it right away?”

“Ah, yes, I approve, but…”

Manager Brett Evans was tilting his head.

How on earth is he going to proceed with this?

How is he going to break through the general managers who are setting up thorns like hedgehogs?

It didn’t take long to find out the answer.

“Okay. Then just a moment…”

After asking for understanding, Jisub took out the satellite phone attached to the first-class seat of the private plane and started calling someone.

“…”