A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 544

The Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good 544

114. Please Draw a Number (5)

After meeting Ji-seop and returning, KH Cannons CEO Joo Seong-min remained in his accommodation for a while.

He didn’t contact any of the employees who came with him on the business trip, and judging from the lack of room service records, he hardly ate.

It was truly,

Seclusion.

CEO Joo’s style was to move without hesitation once he got a ‘feel’ for something, but this time it didn’t seem easy.

The opponent was Ji-seop. The general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, and one of the best front office minds in Major League Baseball.

If it were the days when CEO Park was in charge, things might be different, but could the current Cannons bring him in? Could they make him leave behind all the glory he gained in Major League Baseball and return to Korea?

‘Hmm…’

It was two full days later that CEO Joo, who had been deep in thought, called in Deputy Manager Go Chang-deok and Team Leader Yang Min-woo.

He didn’t seem to have washed properly during that time. The disheveled CEO of the Cannons appeared and said this as soon as he saw the two of them.

“Let’s do it.”

His expression was truly determined.

“No matter how much I think about it, no other option satisfies me. Let’s bring General Manager Kim Ji-seop back to our KH Cannons. That’s my conclusion.”

At this time, CEO Joo seemed to be gritting his teeth and steeling himself.

He was prepared to fight. He was prepared to endure the pouring criticism. Because it was a project that was difficult for anyone to see.

He knew the employees would rise up like a swarm of bees. To prevent that, even the CEO had to be firm.

Thinking that, CEO Joo glared, but the employees’ reactions were somewhat strange.

“Ah, I see. You’re going to bring General Manager Kim Ji-seop to our Cannons…”

Yang Min-woo, the head of the management support team, seemed to stroke his chin lightly before continuing in a calm voice.

“Frankly, there’s not much we can do at this stage. General Manager Kim is leading the Tampa Bay Rays, and the Tampa Bay Rays are heading into the postseason.”

Up until this point, CEO Joo hadn’t accurately grasped what Yang Team Leader was implying.

“According to our research, it’s customary for Major League teams to send small gifts at times like this. By sending a memorable gift, they subtly appeal to the interest the team has.”

“Researched… by you?”

As CEO Joo tilted his head slightly, Go Chang-deok opened his laptop and began to speak.

“Of course, you can’t just send any gift. According to Major League Baseball’s work regulations, gifts sent to executives of other teams must be worth less than $500. If an executive receives a gift worth more than that, they must submit a written explanation to their team. It becomes a nuisance.”

Go Chang-deok adjusted his glasses.

“So we’ve compiled a list of good gifts in advance. Personally, I think a glove from Hall of Fame pitcher James Carlton would be good…”

“Wait, wait a minute! Deputy Manager Go, just a moment!”

Just as Go Chang-deok was about to show the laptop screen, CEO Joo Seong-min couldn’t hold back any longer and raised his hand.

“What are you all… doing?”.

He had a very bewildered expression.

“Is it because I’m pushing things too unilaterally? Is this a protest against not listening to your opinions? What is this all about…”

CEO Joo had expected to spend at least an hour listening to the opposing opinions of the team’s employees.

And that’s not all. If this fact becomes known in Korea, people from all over will call to offer their unsolicited advice.

Because of this, he thought it would take at least two or three days before he could start working in earnest, but what was going on?

“…”

Yang Team Leader and Deputy Manager Go just stared blankly at CEO Joo, who was blinking his eyes.

The two exchanged meaningful glances, and then put on soft smiles.

“Sir.”

“Yes?”

“I think you already know this, but… we’ve known General Manager Kim for much longer than you have.”

Yang Team Leader continued.

“I’ve known General Manager Kim since he worked at the social baseball academy, and Deputy Manager Go here is General Manager Kim’s colleague.”

“You mean…”

As anticipation rose in CEO Joo’s eyes, Yang Team Leader slowly nodded.

“Yes, if it’s anyone else, it might be different, but there’s no reason to refuse to bring General Manager Kim back.”

“That’s right, sir!”

Go Chang-deok clenched his fist.

“Of course, it’s a difficult task. General Manager Kim… no, how many teams are after Ji-seop? They might be holding number tickets and standing in long lines by now.”

He continued.

“But if I can work with Ji-seop again, if I can feel the reward and joy I felt when I worked with him… I’m ready to close my eyes and follow you, sir!”

We’re in favor, sir.

Let’s do it, sir.

Watching the employees show their will like never before, CEO Joo could vaguely grasp it.

‘These people, it seems…’

They had been waiting for General Manager Kim’s return to the Cannons for quite some time.

They hadn’t been able to say it in front of him, but they were looking forward to the day they could work with General Manager Kim.

The employees, who had been clashing with him over every little thing for the past three years, had suddenly changed their attitude, which was a bit embarrassing.

But almost at the same time, CEO Joo Seong-min felt a sense of certainty in his heart.

‘Yes, if he’s a person who is trusted this much by his former colleagues…’

He’s a reliable person.

A trustworthy person.

My choice was right after all.

Feeling a strange sense of satisfaction rising from deep within his heart, CEO Joo Seong-min swept back his disheveled hair.

“Good! I feel reassured after hearing what you all have to say!”

And then, one more word.

“Then shall we go draw a number ticket too?”

The general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays.

A number ticket to recruit Kim Ji-seop.

Strong determination was rising in the eyes of CEO Joo and the Cannons people.

* * *

At the very moment when the movement to bring Ji-seop back from KH Cannons began.

More precisely, on the second day after CEO Joo and his colleagues joined forces.

At the Tampa Bay Rays’ home stadium, Clockwise Field, the final three-game series of the regular season was being held.

The opposing team was the Baltimore Orioles.

Wow!!!

Although the division championship had already been decided, Clockwise Field was packed with nearly full attendance even before the game started.

Proof that the Tampa Bay Rays were no longer an unpopular team, proof that they had become a team loved by baseball fans.

As the fans’ enthusiastic cheers filled the stadium, Ji-seop came out onto the field to greet a guest.

It was the person in charge of the game commentary that day. It was Jimmy Morris, a commentator for MLB Network.

“Damn, time flies, doesn’t it? It’s already the last series of the regular season.”

Another season is coming to an end like this.

Jimmy Morris had a regretful expression.

“Hey, Kim! How about a quick drink after the game? To commemorate the end of the regular season.”

“Hehe, you’re not serious, are you? The end of the regular season means the beginning of the postseason, right?”

Ji-seop, who had indirectly expressed his refusal, took out an envelope from his inside jacket pocket.

“Instead, it’s a bit like that… How many people are on your broadcast team in total? Just the people who move around with you.”

“Our broadcast team? Let’s see, if you include the caster, the PD [Producer Director], and the broadcast vehicle crew… about 15 people?”

“Ah, 15 people? Then there are a few short, but…”

Keep it, commentator.

Ji-seop handed the envelope he was holding to Jimmy Morris.

“What, what is this?”

Jimmy Morris’s eyes widened as he looked inside the envelope.

“G, Grand Hotel Sea Breezes dining vouchers? Hey, isn’t this a super expensive restaurant? I heard it costs almost $300 per person?”

How many of these are there?

Jimmy Morris, who was counting the number of dining vouchers, made an ‘uh-oh’ sound.

“What is it? What is it? Hey, even if we’re close, I can’t receive such expensive dining vouchers!”

“It’s okay. It’s a dining voucher that won’t cause any problems even if you eat it.”

It’s a bit like a scene from a crime movie.

Ji-seop thought to himself.

“I’ve already submitted a written explanation to the team, and I’ve received confirmation that I can handle it as I please. So you can use it without worry. Knowing your personality, you probably haven’t bought your fellow employees a meal yet.”

“W, well, that’s true, but… wait a minute, a written explanation?”

A strange light began to flicker in Jimmy Morris’s eyes.

“Then this dining voucher… it means it’s a gift from another team? Where is it? Where did they send the gift from?”

Sending a gift at this timing meant that they had the intention of recruiting Ji-seop in the long term.

It was news that a broadcasting commentator could never miss. But Ji-seop was snorting.

“Oh, why are you asking? Just take the dining voucher and forget about it. Either way, this team will never have a relationship with me, even if they die and come back to life.”

“Why?”

“Hey, would you want to go? If you’re going to send a gift, you have to send it with some sense. What are you going to do if you make me write a written explanation?”

Ji-seop had become somewhat accustomed to reading, but he still gritted his teeth when it came to writing.

Jimmy Morris, who knew this tendency well, took the dining voucher with a wry smile on his face.

“Okay, then I’ll just gratefully accept the gift. Thanks to you, I might be able to renew my contract next year.”

“I hope it helps.”

As Ji-seop responded lightly, Jimmy Morris raised one eyebrow and asked.

“Speaking of help… can you tell me just one thing, for my old friend who struggles every year to get a commentary contract?”

“What is it?”

Ji-seop continued, giving eye contact to the players who were coming out onto the field.

“Don’t ask about player usage. That’s the manager’s authority, so I don’t know anything about it.”

“Hmph, another obvious lie… but it’s okay. That’s not what I’m curious about.”

Shrugging his shoulders, Jimmy Morris asked the following question.

“Kim, what’s the ‘Cookie’ this year?”

“Cookie?”

“Yeah, Tampa Bay has been holding fun events for the players every postseason, right? I was wondering what it is this year.”

“Ah…”

It was an event that had become a tradition for the Tampa Bay Rays since Ji-seop took office as general manager.

Holding events for the players around the time the postseason, specifically the Division Series, began.

Of course, it was to relieve the tension of the players ahead of an important game.

‘On the morning of the first game, don’t let the players talk about baseball.’ Ji-seop was still practicing the teachings he had learned during his Cannons days.

“The year before last, a comedian came to the clubhouse, and last year, the acting owner came out in an alligator costume. What is it this year? Our viewers are very curious.”

Jimmy Morris seemed to be showing consideration for his old friend.

He could ask complicated questions. He could dig into the truth of the rumors circulating in the world.

But was there a need to put such a burden on a friend who was challenging for his third consecutive championship?

So he asked a relatively simple question, but Ji-seop showed an unexpected reaction here.

“W, well, that’s…”

After smacking his lips, he said with a troubled expression.

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“Not yet?”

“Yeah, I don’t have a good idea. Our marketing department people are racking their brains.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Jimmy Morris crossed his arms.

“Is it because the players’ expectations have risen too much? The reaction has been so good for the past two years.”

“Hehe, that could be it.”

In a way, this was also a trial and error that a team challenging for its third consecutive championship had to go through.

Honestly, he couldn’t help but feel frustrated, but Ji-seop tried to put on a bright expression as much as possible and continued.

“Either way, it’ll be decided within today or tomorrow… I’ll let you know as soon as it’s decided.”

“Oh, really?”

“Of course. Where do you think the word ‘Cookie’ came from? I have to tell the friend who was the origin of it, right?”

“Well, yeah? I’m a qualified person! Right?”

Just as the two people, who had been connected since their Cannons days, were talking affectionately.

The voice of Pablo Rodriguez from the Future Strategy Planning Division was heard from behind Ji-seop.

“Kim? Do you have a moment?”

“Hmm?”

Ji-seop turned his head.

“Ah, Pablo? What’s wrong? Are you going to tell me to step down from the general manager position again?”

“Hey, Kim! What do you think of me? Anyone who sees me will misunderstand that I have no concept.”

Pablo was slightly annoyed.

“It’s not that… A gift has just arrived for Kim.”

“A gift?”

“Yes, they say it’s a gift from KH Cannons?”

At the words KH Cannons, Ji-seop and Jimmy Morris looked at each other.

A coincidental gift that arrived at a rather coincidental time. But before considering the intention, they became curious about what kind of gift it was.

“A gift… good, give it to me.”

As Ji-seop reached out his hand, Pablo lightly shook his head.

“No, I can’t bring it to you. The packaging is so huge.”

“The packaging was huge? What is it? The item must have been written on the invoice.”

“Ah, that’s right. According to what’s written on the invoice…”

And the following answer was something Ji-seop didn’t expect.

“It’s a vending machine.”

“Huh?!”

“A vending machine, a vending machine that dispenses drinks.”

And then, one more word.

“The team called KH Cannons sent Kim one of those machines.”

Ji-seop couldn’t help but ask.