A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 528

The Newcomer to the Baseball Team is Too Good – Episode 528

Chapter 112. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1)

It had been exactly three days since Ji-seop single-handedly impressed the Tampa Bay Rays’ executives.

At the [Jeffrey Taylor Ground], an auxiliary stadium about a five-minute drive from Clarkwise Field, Vincent Hiyama was in the middle of batting practice.

Thwack!

Thwack!

Thwaack!

It was around 9 a.m., and the empty baseball field echoed with Vincent Hiyama’s powerful hits.

Each swing of his bat sent the ball soaring, a satisfying sight to behold.

Brett Evans, the manager, watched from the stands, a pleased smile gradually spreading across his face.

“Hmm, this is… impressive.”

That was the manager’s assessment.

“Wasn’t the balance adjustment focused on the pitching form? Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like Vincent’s batting form has also become quite smooth?”

“Yes, you’re exactly right.”

Nodding in agreement was Dr. Goldberg from the [Braveball Institute].

“After thoroughly analyzing Vincent, we discovered that his pitching and batting balance are organically connected.”

“Ah, they go hand in hand? Like how typical fielders show similar patterns in their batting and fielding?”

“Exactly. Therefore, we concluded that it’s more efficient to balance them together rather than focusing on just one aspect. Fortunately, we’re seeing results early on.”

It was at this moment that Dr. Goldberg subtly wiped his mustache and gave the manager a nod.

“Thank you, Manager.”

“Hmm? For what?”

“Balancing both pitching and batting… This is a method that would normally be difficult to even attempt. Assuming consistent game appearances, frankly, it’s challenging enough just to balance the pitching.”

Dr. Goldberg continued.

“But thanks to the manager giving Vincent ample time, we’ve been able to proceed in the most efficient way possible.”

“Hmm.”

“We’re grateful, but Vincent Hiyama himself is incredibly enthusiastic. He said he must repay the manager for making such a difficult decision…”

At Dr. Goldberg’s words, Brett Evans took off his hat and grinned.

“Haha, it always feels good to hear that. But I think that gratitude should go to someone else.”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s true that I gave you direct instructions. But the one who really trusted you wasn’t me, but Kim.”

The manager slowly nodded, adjusting the brim of his hat.

“I simply trusted Kim’s judgment. I believed in his experience and past achievements. Of course, we’ll have to share the responsibility for the outcome of this.”

“Re, responsibility, you say?”

Dr. Goldberg tensed up slightly at the word ‘responsibility,’ and Brett Evans replied with a serious expression.

“Of course, we share the responsibility. Aren’t the manager and general manager supposed to be in this together? So…”

The manager tapped Dr. Goldberg’s arm with his hat.

“Doctor, you have to do well. The Tampa Bay Rays’ three consecutive championships, as well as Kim’s and my fate, are in your hands.”

“Oh, that’s…”

Dr. Goldberg swallowed hard.

Perhaps he was realizing anew how important his job was.

“Ye, yes, we have to do well! We have experience, so we won’t disappoint you. Yes, we’ll really work hard, but…”

Swoosh.

The doctor’s gaze shifted.

“Wait, shouldn’t the manager be doing something about that instead of standing here?”

“Huh?”

Why is the arrow pointing at me?

That was exactly the manager’s expression.

“Isn’t that right? You need to fill Vincent’s spot right away, so what are you doing here? Even when Vincent returns, the team needs to make it to the postseason first, right?”

“Ah, in that context?”

The manager smacked his lips.

“Ahem, this is true. Saying this at this moment might make it sound like I’m not doing anything, but…”

Don’t worry too much.

The manager shrugged.

“Kim said he’s meeting with Pablo Rodriguez this afternoon.”

“Pablo? Ah…”

Dr. Goldberg pretended to know.

“Pablo is famous as Kim’s right-hand man, right? What was it, his exact position…”

“Future Strategy Planning Division,”

Brett Evans said.

“Deputy Director of the Future Strategy Planning Division.”

* * *

Pablo Rodriguez. 34 years old.

The very person Ji-seop had met in Venezuela when he was still the Deputy Director of the Future Strategy Planning Division.

Originally, he was a notorious agent who exploited the chaotic situation in Venezuelan baseball to swindle Major League teams.

However, Ji-seop, after becoming the general manager, highly valued his skills and boldly recruited him, and since then, he had been working as an employee of the Tampa Bay Rays.

From the beginning, he had great connections in Venezuela, and considering he had risen from the bottom to start his own agency, his drive was also extraordinary.

With Ji-seop’s intensive training added to the mix, Pablo Rodriguez grew incredibly.

Now, he was evaluated by people inside and outside the industry as ‘Kim’s right-hand man,’ but-

“Hey, Silverfish!”

Ji-seop still called him by his old nickname.

“Is this the entire list? There weren’t any other players to call up from the minor leagues?”

“Wow, that’s a completely unexpected reaction, isn’t it?”

Pablo Rodriguez looked at Ji-seop with a dumbfounded expression.

“Is this all? There are eleven of them? There are as many as eleven players who can be used in the Major League right now!”

Whoosh!

He blew his hair up.

“Damn it, call other general managers and ask them! How many minor leaguers can they use right now! Then you’ll get a sense of how hard I’ve been managing the prospects!”

“Oh my, are you going to eat me alive? Are you about to devour someone?”

“Well, isn’t that the case!”

Pablo crossed his arms and sent a dissatisfied look.

“We’ve won the championship for two consecutive years, right? Every time we win, we send prospects and receive immediate reinforcements. Normally, there shouldn’t be a single blade of grass left in our farm system! Who filled it all up, and you’re saying such disappointing things… Hmm?!”

Pablo Rodriguez, who had been grumbling and complaining to himself.

It was at this moment that he suddenly changed his expression and turned his head.

“Ho, ho, perhaps… Kim! Have you finally made a decision?”

“What are you talking about?”

When Ji-seop replied indifferently, Pablo quickly approached him.

“A decision, I say! The decision to pass on the general manager position to me!”

His eyes sparkled.

“Ah, that’s right! You’ve made a decision! You’re going to win the championship for three consecutive years and then cleanly shoo [retire]! That’s why you’re giving me such a tough mission, right? You need to entrust me with the next general manager position, but you can’t have complaints coming from the team!”

Oh, really?

“That’s right, I heard that former General Manager Brian Spon also did that to Kim, right? He even told Kim to fill the stadium with full attendance and asked him to pass the certification process…”

He’s playing by himself.

“Great! I can’t have any complaints with those conditions! Mr. President, how many more do we need to secure? Ten? Twenty? No? Unless we’re going to overhaul the entire roster, I don’t think we need that many…”

He’s playing the drums, the janggu [Korean double-headed drum], and the flute all by himself, and he’s also taking the tickets.

That’s exactly the feeling Pablo Rodriguez was making a fuss with.

“…”

Ji-seop shook his head and looked at him, then let out a sigh and opened his mouth.

“Well, it’s good to have big dreams.”

“Yes?”

“You’re still a long way off, you rascal.”

In fact, Ji-seop had already recognized Pablo Rodriguez’s talent early on.

When it came to developing prospects, especially Hispanic players, there was no one who could match him.

He knew the players’ tendencies well, accurately predicted the timing of their slumps, and had various ways to boost their morale.

But the more outstanding the junior, the stricter the standards Ji-seop had to apply.

“Haven’t I told you this many times? Pablo Rodriguez, what is your biggest weakness?”

Since it had been pointed out several times, Pablo Rodriguez became slightly intimidated.

“De, details?”

“Correct.”

Ji-seop snapped his fingers.

“Honestly, I don’t have any complaints about this list either. It’s excellent. If we limit it to the regular season, we can fill Vincent Hiyama’s spot with just the players here. But Pablo, what was our ultimate goal?”

“Wo, World Series championship?”

When Pablo answered cautiously, Ji-seop nodded and handed him the report.

“Good, then look at this list again with that goal in mind. Then you’ll see something, right?”

“World Series, so you’re telling me to think about the postseason?”

Pablo’s face instantly lost its earlier excitement.

The deputy director looked at the list with a serious expression, and at the same time, he took out his phone to check the current roster.

And before long, he looked at Ji-seop and let out a long sigh.

“I think I know what Kim wants to say now.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes, how should I put it… The players, especially the pitchers, have somewhat similar types.”

He narrowed his brow slightly.

“It might not be a big problem in the regular season. Because we keep meeting new teams. But considering that we play up to eight consecutive games against one team in the postseason…”

Something,

A player with an ‘edge’?

Pablo narrowed his eyes.

“We need a player who has something different from the existing players, a player with his own unique characteristics… Is that what you mean?”

To be honest, Ji-seop was inwardly shouting ‘as expected’ at this moment.

But there was no need to show it. He just quietly watched him speak.

“Thinking about it, that’s true. Most of the pitchers on our roster have a mid-90s fastball and a sweeper [a type of breaking ball]… If only this type of player comes out in a row, the opponent can easily respond.”

Of course, Pablo wasn’t the type to maintain this docile attitude for long.

“But Kim, isn’t this unavoidable? To develop prospects in a short period of time, we need to have a certain manual…”

“No buts, no buts.”

Ji-seop said sharply.

“Are you going to make excuses after getting crushed in the postseason? You know that’s not going to work, right?”

“We, well…”

As Pablo scratched his head, Ji-seop tapped the desk.

“Let’s bring up only two from this list for now. And in the remaining time, let’s find a player with an ‘edge,’ as you said.”

“Understood.”

Pablo nodded.

“Sigh, I’ve been traveling around the minor league teams for almost a month, but I have to go around again.”

Secure a new type of pitcher.

Find a pitcher for the fall season.

Just as Pablo Rodriguez, who had received Ji-seop’s instructions, was smacking his lips with a troubled expression.

“Hmm?”

A phone call came to his phone.

He gave Ji-seop a slight nod and pressed the [Call] button.

“Oh, hello, Manager!”

Manager? Who is it?

Ji-seop tilted his head.

“Yes, have you been well? It must be very hot in San Diego too, right? Yes, yes, yes…”

It was at this moment that he suddenly turned to Ji-seop, agreeing with the other party’s story.

“Ah, the general manager? Wow, you timed it perfectly. He’s right next to me!”

Just a moment.

Then Pablo handed his phone to Ji-seop.

“Kim, take this.”

“Who is it?”

The next moment, Ji-seop heard a welcome name.

“It’s Mr. Chun, Manager Chun Jin-woo.”

“Oh ho?”

“But…”

Pablo Rodriguez covered the receiver with his hand and continued.

“He doesn’t seem to have any energy in his voice.”

“No energy in his voice?”

The always energetic uncle?

No, why?