A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 536

536. A Baseball Team Rookie Is Too Good 113. Head Over Heels, Bewildered (2)

The Tampa Bay Rays hosted a drawing contest for their young fans.

The moment Ji-seop heard that Ryu Jang-ho’s son had won first place in this contest, a wry smile touched his lips.

It was about a month ago, wasn’t it? He remembered his conversation with five-year-old Ryu Leo.

– Uncle, the Tampa Bay Rays are having a drawing contest.

– Yeah.

– Can Leo draw too?

– Huh?

Even then, Ji-seop didn’t quite understand what the little guy was getting at.

– Well… I guess you can draw? Did your dad say you couldn’t?

– No, it’s not that.

His voice was clear.

– If Leo wins first place, I have to throw the first pitch, but Mom and Dad are too busy these days. Leo can’t go to Florida alone, can I?

– Aha?

Ji-seop nodded.

– Hey, if that’s the case, don’t worry. If Mom and Dad are busy, your uncle will take you! Leo hasn’t been to Tropicana Field [Tampa Bay Rays’ home stadium] yet, right? Let’s go sightseeing with your uncle and eat delicious things.

– Really? Really?

– Of course! If our Leo wins first place, what can’t your uncle do? So draw wonderfully. Your uncle is looking forward to it!

– Yes, Uncle!!!

To be honest,

At the time, Ji-seop was just saying it casually.

After all, he’s just a five-year-old kid. How well could he draw? The probability of winning an award in a contest where even elementary school students participated would be close to zero, so he thought there was no need to discourage the child.

‘He won an award in that contest? And it was a unanimous first-place award?’

Of course, he was happy. He was very happy.

He was also amazed at how a five-year-old kid could capture the players’ characteristics so well.

He was also curious about how such a sensible son was born to the baseball fanatic Ryu Jang-ho.

‘Then is this his wife’s influence? Come to think of it, I think she works in design…….’

As a longtime friend of Ryu Jang-ho’s family and Leo’s ‘Uncle Ji-seop,’ it was truly welcome news. It was something that would make for a fun story for years to come.

However, Ji-seop was also the general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays. From that perspective, this situation wasn’t so simple.

“Ryu Jang-ho’s son won first place in our team’s drawing contest… Haha, this is largely my responsibility.”

“Yes? President’s responsibility?”

Ji-seop shrugged at the marketing department employee who looked at him, puzzled.

“I’ve been diligently ‘marketing’ Ryu’s son since he was little, trying to make him a fan of our team.”

“Oh my, really?”

“That’s right. I bought him a uniform and gave him a mascot doll… Oh yeah, I probably gave him crayons with our team’s colors, right? You know, the set that only contains Tampa Bay’s team colors.”

“Haha, then one of your long-term projects has succeeded.”

Another employee standing next to him gave a thumbs-up.

“So, President, what should we do? Should we proceed according to the judging results? Invite Ryu Jang-ho’s son to Tropicana Field……”

“No, this time we should slightly adjust the contest results.”

Ji-seop waved his hand.

“Let’s exclude Ryu’s son from the list of winners and move the runners-up up one spot.”

“Ah, I see……”

They were marketing department employees who were quick to understand.

No one questioned Ji-seop’s decision.

“I guess that would be better, right?”

“Yes, we want to show only good things to children… But adults have their own circumstances.”

Ji-seop clicked his tongue.

“Don’t worry. I’ll buy Leo a very big gift later.”

* * *

He felt sorry for the five-year-old, but Ji-seop had no choice.

At this point, Ryu Jang-ho had become a symbol of the Boston Red Sox.

Ryu! Ryu! Ryu! Ryu!

Ryu! Ryu! Ryu! Ryu!

After leaving the KH Cannons and joining the Boston Red Sox, he broke the records of Korean major leaguers one by one.

Most home runs, most hits, most stolen bases, and even the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove in the outfield.

Valuable achievements made while the main players of Boston were falling out due to injuries, steadfastly holding their own.

Ryu Jang-ho was originally scheduled to become a free agent after this season. Of course, Ji-seop had him on the recruitment candidate list.

However, Jessica Ross, the vice president of the Boston Red Sox and Ji-seop’s graduate school classmate, had said firmly.

– Haha, Kim! I guarantee it. No matter how great you are, you won’t meet Ryu in next year’s FA [Free Agent] market. You won’t even get to see him!

Less than a week after her bold statement, the Boston Red Sox announced an extension contract with Ryu Jang-ho.

The total amount was staggering, but what really surprised Ji-seop was the length of his contract.

A whopping 9-year contract. At that time, Ryu Jang-ho was just about to enter his 32nd season, so it was a contract that covered up to his 40th season.

From the 37th season, there was an opt-out clause every year, but it was said that it only applied when negotiating with Korean professional baseball teams.

What did this contract mean?

‘Unless the player himself wants to return to the Cannons, Boston intends to keep Ryu until the end.’

Some experts pointed out that it was somewhat of an overpay, but such opinions were buried by the cheering Boston fans and quickly disappeared.

They signed a de facto lifetime contract with a player who has skills, personality, sincerity, and leadership. How could the fans’ joy be compared?

[Ryu, Forever a Red Sox!] banners were hung all over Boston, and news spread that several Korean companies that used Ryu Jang-ho as a promotional model recorded record-breaking sales.

It was perhaps natural that he was appointed as the captain of Boston before this season, and Ryu Jang-ho was becoming ‘Boston’s Lover.’

‘Jang-ho’s son throws the first ball in Tampa Bay? Oh, that won’t do. Those die-hard Boston fans won’t just sit still and watch.’

Ji-seop shook his head.

‘Damn it, if I had known this would happen, I would have just bought Leo a few storybooks… I made a mistake.’

He just wanted to see his cute nephew wearing a Tampa Bay uniform, but it turned out like this.

Ji-seop chuckled and diligently chose a gift for Leo with one hand, clicking and clicking.

“……”

Coincidentally, an away series with the Boston Red Sox was scheduled for the coming weekend.

There were a few things to discuss with the front office there, so he could apply for a business trip under that pretext.

Meet Ryu Jang-ho then and deliver the gift for Leo. Briefly explain the situation in a summarized version.

‘Well, if I have some time, I can have dinner with Leo?’

Before he knew it, a happy smile spread across Ji-seop’s face.

Hmm, if Mom sees this, will she slap me on the back right away?

While thinking that to himself, Ji-seop was ordering sketchbooks and watercolor paints, clicking and clicking.

“Oh, Brother. You’re here.”

A few days later.

When Ji-seop faced Ryu Jang-ho at Fenway Park, the home stadium of the Boston Red Sox.

Ji-seop could sense that the situation was subtly awkward.

“It’s been a long time. How’s your health? Are you eating well?”

“Of course, I’m eating very well! Half of my salary goes into eating, you know? Hahaha.”

After the usual greetings, Ji-seop tilted his head.

“But Jang-ho, why… what’s with your expression? Is something wrong?”

“Yes? What’s wrong with my expression? Nothing’s wrong.”

Ryu Jang-ho pretended not to know, but Ji-seop chuckled and slapped him on the shoulder.

“Come on, you can’t even fool a ghost. Do you think I don’t know your expression? Drooping eyebrows and hazy eyes… This is the expression you make when you haven’t gotten a hit for at least three days?”

No, no.

Ji-seop scratched his cheek.

“Didn’t you get 3 hits yesterday? And you hit a home run the day before yesterday. Our power analysis team is telling me to be careful of you… Hmm?”

And then, a slightly embarrassed expression appeared on Ji-seop’s face.

The reason was simple. Ryu Jang-ho’s inner thoughts were audible to Ji-seop.

[Other kids are so happy when they’re told they can throw the first pitch, but why does our Leo adamantly refuse?]

Hmm?

[Is he shy after all? Is he uncomfortable coming out holding his dad’s hand in front of people?]

Oh?

[No, how could that rambunctious kid be shy? He must not really like it…….]

It seemed that the Boston Red Sox were also preparing a similar event to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Of course, there was a difference. Tampa Bay held a contest to select the first pitcher, while Boston invited the players’ children.

An offer was made to Ryu Jang-ho, Boston’s most popular player, but the problem started there.

‘So Leo refused to throw the first pitch in Boston? He even drew a picture saying he wanted to throw the first pitch in Tampa Bay?’

It might be an irrelevant story, but Ji-seop was thinking this.

‘Wow, the stubbornness is exactly the same between father and son?’

Looking back on his Cannons days, Ryu Jang-ho’s stubbornness was truly something else.

He would say that 50% of Ji-seop’s achievements in the Cannons were thanks to Ryu Jang-ho’s stubbornness.

It seemed that his terrible stubbornness was passed on to his son, Ryu Leo.

I guess this is why the old people used to say that you can’t steal the seed, and DNA is really scary.

‘Well, whatever…….’

It seemed better not to deliver the gift prepared for Leo now.

How would Ryu Jang-ho feel? If he heard that his son, who refused to throw the first pitch in Boston, was making a fuss about wanting to throw the first pitch in Tampa Bay.

It might unnecessarily provoke this monstrous veteran. Just as Ji-seop was subtly moving the paper bag he was holding behind his back.

“Oh, Jang-ho! Jang-ho!”

A cheerful voice was heard.

It was Victor Johnson Jr., the ace of the Tampa Bay Rays.

“Long time no see? Have you been sleeping well? If you raised an industry colleague’s ERA [Earned Run Average] to 3 points, you shouldn’t have been able to sleep out of conscience.”

Victor Johnson, who allowed Ryu Jang-ho to get 4 hits in 4 at-bats in the last match, was pouting.

Of course, Ryu Jang-ho was now a major league veteran and could skillfully deal with this kind of playful provocation.

“Of course, I slept very well! If I raise that industry colleague’s ERA to 4 points in this series, I might be able to sleep even better.”

“Oh, that’s going to be really difficult? It’s not that I’m ignoring your skills, but my ERA has already dropped to 2 points, you know? Hahaha.”

Then, Victor Johnson Jr. gave Ji-seop a slight nod.

Up to this point, it was a conversation between rival players without much trouble.

But,

Right after that moment.

“So what’s going on? You don’t usually come all the way here to say hello, do you?”

“I felt like I had to say hello today. I also have a gift I want to give to your son.”

“My… son?”

It was at this moment that Ji-seop’s thick eyebrows twitched.

“Yeah, Leo, was it? That friend drew a wonderful portrait of me. You saw it too, right? Honestly, the drawing itself was scribbled, but what should I say… it had a feeling! His observation skills are amazing!”

Then, Victor Johnson took out a well-packaged gift box.

“It’s chocolate. The club will send a separate gift, but I wanted to express my gratitude in my own way.”

“Ah, really? Well, our Leo is good at drawing……”

Friend, can you explain?

Ryu Jang-ho narrowed his eyes.

“Why did Leo draw a portrait of you? What’s the gift from the club? Did Tampa Bay Rays hold some kind of event?”

“What, you didn’t know?”

At this time, Ji-seop was diligently sending signals to Victor Johnson.

Don’t say it. Shut your mouth. Don’t do anything unnecessary.

Not only that, but Richard Stelmezek, who was with Ji-seop, was drawing an X with his fingers.

“???”

But,

Who is Victor Johnson?

A my-pace [unpredictable] guy known for sometimes forgetting the signs even during the game.

He blinked as if he didn’t know what was going on, and in the end, he caused this incident.

“Yeah, there was a drawing contest.”

He said.

“The friend who wins first place was supposed to have the opportunity to throw the first pitch at Tropicana Field, right?”

“……First pitch?”

“Yeah, first pitch.”

“……”

Ryu Jang-ho, who heard Victor Johnson’s words, looked slightly shocked.

His eyebrows drooped even more, and his hazy eyes became even hazier.

Then, he stroked his mouth with an expression that anyone could see was sullen, and said this to Ji-seop.

“……It’s okay, Brother.”

He shrugged.

“I’m fine. I already knew that Leo was a Tampa Bay fan. Hahahahaha.”

A genius hitter who still bluffs even after becoming a father and the best hitter in the Boston Red Sox.

In fact, there was only one thing Ji-seop could say to such a guy.

“……Jang-ho.”

Brother,

I didn’t say anything?