A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 59

Home game day morning.

Manager Arthur Freeman would take a slow stroll along the highest part of the outfield stands of the home stadium.

It was said to be a long-standing habit since he first accepted the managerial position in the American minor leagues.

Climbing the stairs is good for health, and gazing blankly at the empty ground helps to clear his mind.

“……”

Originally, Manager Freeman usually took walks alone, but recently, Ji-seop had been joining the manager’s long-standing habit.

And during this time, Manager Freeman would check how well Ji-seop was carrying out his instructions.

It felt like a kind of ‘homework check time’.

“Hmm, so… you made a ‘deal’ with that college senior?”

What Ji-seop brought to the ‘homework check’ that day was the information trade with his college senior, Gong Hyeon-baek.

Arthur Freeman, upon hearing Ji-seop’s report, showed an interested reaction.

“Yes, Manager.”

Ji-seop nodded.

“Although it’s a small company, he’s still a senior with the title of sales manager. I judged that he would have a considerable amount of information at his disposal.”

Ji-seop continued.

“If you allow me, Manager, I’d like to place a few sample bats received from ‘Perfect Swing’ in our team’s practice field… would that be alright?”

“Still, it’s a condition for receiving information, wouldn’t such lukewarm cooperation be a bit lacking?”

Manager Freeman said.

“Even one bat can be a great help to the second-string players or those who have just been promoted to the first team. So, it would be good to recommend ‘Perfect Swing’ bats to those players. Your senior also needs to gain something to bring more information diligently, right?”

This was what Ji-seop had hoped for.

Ji-seop nodded, saying, ‘I understand,’ and took out a notebook from inside his jacket.

“And a bit early, but there’s information that Perfect Swing has conveyed to me.”

“Oh, already?”

Manager Freeman stopped walking.

“Haha, information is coming in even before we’ve set up the bats in the practice field… You must have charmed your senior very well?”

“Hehe, I don’t know. I think it’s because, from my senior’s perspective, I’m too good of a money-making opportunity to miss…”

Ji-seop turned the page of his notebook.

“Anyway, according to the information from Perfect Swing, the Warriors’ catcher…”

“No, no, wait a minute.”

Arthur Freeman raised his hand to stop Ji-seop’s words.

“There’s no need to report to me, is there?”

“Yes?”

Ji-seop blinked.

Freeman chuckled as he looked at Ji-seop.

“Did you forget my instructions? I clearly told you to build ‘your own information network’.”

Manager Freeman emphasized the words ‘your own’.

“My instruction was to build your own information network and use it to increase your influence in this team. But if you hand over the information you’ve obtained to me, what are you going to live on?”

“……”

“It’s hard-earned information. So, you need to think about how it can help you.”

Manager Freeman leaned against the spectator seat fence and continued.

“It’s basic to keep detailed records of the information, and you should also make your own judgments about the accuracy and importance of the information. And when the right timing comes, you need to package it well and show others, ‘This is the information I have.’ Do you understand?”

“Ah… yes.”

Although he managed to answer, there was a slight look of bewilderment on Ji-seop’s face.

“Handling information… seems quite tricky, Manager.”

“Of course, it’s difficult.”

Manager Freeman laughed heartily and slapped Ji-seop’s back with a ‘smack’.

“But it’s a necessary part of surviving in the baseball world. It may feel a bit overwhelming now, but proceed calmly.”

“Yes, Manager.”

Ji-seop, taking the manager’s advice to heart, put away his notebook.

It was around the time when that day’s ‘homework check’ was coming to an end.

Brrr- Brrr- Brrr-

A phone call came to Ji-seop’s phone.

Ji-seop, checking the caller ID, tilted his head and looked at the manager.

“It’s the general manager, Manager.”

“Mr. Seo?”

The manager gestured for him to answer.

Ji-seop, pressing the ‘Call’ button, carefully brought the phone to his ear.

“Yes, General Manager.”

-Ah, Mr. Kim Ji-seop?

The voice came from beyond the phone.

-The manager isn’t answering his phone. Are you with the manager right now?

Manager Freeman didn’t carry his phone during his morning walks because he ‘didn’t want to be disturbed’.

“Yes, he’s next to me right now. We were about to finish our walk and head to the manager’s office…”

-Oh, that’s perfect! Then could you tell him that I’d like to visit him in the manager’s office now?

The general manager’s voice had a hint of excitement.

-Something has come up that I’d like to hear the manager’s opinion on.

There was no need to ask what it was.

-We’ve received a trade proposal from another team.

* * *

Seo Chang-gi, the general manager of the KH Cannons.

He started his front office career with the Yuseong Warriors professional baseball team, and after serving as the head of the development team and the operations team at the Cannons, he rose to the position of general manager. He was a legendary figure known as a ‘housekeeper’ within the baseball team [someone who manages the team’s resources and personnel effectively].

It was about 20 minutes later that he appeared in the manager’s office.

“Hello, Manager.”

“Welcome, Mr. Seo.”

Manager Arthur Freeman and General Manager Seo Chang-gi shook hands across a low coffee table.

It was a bit funny, but at this time, Ji-seop felt his heart ‘thumping, thumping’.

‘Hehe, a conversation between the manager and the general manager… and I get to hear a conversation about a trade live right next to them.’

He had expected this day to come someday since he was assigned to be the manager’s interpreter, but it felt new to him when it actually came to reality.

He felt nervous at the thought of being involved in the club’s important matters, and he was also excited at the thought that he had finally become a real front office member.

Of course, these thoughts didn’t last long because General Manager Seo Chang-gi’s voice was too serious.

“Last night, the general manager of the Yuseong Warriors called me and proposed a trade.”

“Oh, the Warriors?”

Manager Freeman, after hearing Ji-seop’s interpretation, had a slightly surprised reaction.

“Isn’t the Warriors a team that’s promoting a rebuilding phase this season? In some ways, they’re in a similar situation to our Cannons.”

Manager Freeman stroked his chin.

“Trades are usually made between teams in different situations… Hmm, I’m curious what kind of proposal the Warriors have made.”

“First of all, the players from the Yuseong Warriors who have expressed interest in us are pitcher Oh Young-jin and outfielder Chu Gi-jun.”

Ji-seop manipulated the laptop on the table and displayed the information of the two players on the screen.

One left-handed starting pitcher in his early 30s who is performing quite well in the minor leagues.

And one right-handed, right-hitting, military-completed outfielder who was drafted in the first round four years ago.

‘In this case… is the weight of the trade leaning towards the outfielder?’

The immediate utility value is better for the starting pitcher in his early 30s, but looking at 3-4 years from now, the value of the outfielder in his mid-20s seemed higher.

Manager Freeman’s thoughts were not much different from Ji-seop’s.

“We can send pitcher Young-jin in terms of giving him opportunities, but outfielder Gi-jun is a friend who can be said to be our team’s core prospect…”

The manager, who was looking at the screen, turned his gaze to General Manager Seo Chang-gi.

“So, what players did the Warriors offer in exchange for those two players?”

“They offered a slightly bigger card than I expected.”

The next moment, Ji-seop could feel the atmosphere in the manager’s office changing.

“Catcher Cheon Jin-woo.”

“What?!”

Manager Freeman seemed to have recognized the player’s name without Ji-seop’s interpretation.

“Mr. Cheon… are you talking about that friend who is the Warriors’ starting catcher?”

“Yes, Manager.”

As the general manager nodded, Manager Freeman smiled bitterly, revealing his white teeth.

“There was a reason why the general manager came to see me early in the morning.”

* * *

Warriors’ starting catcher Cheon Jin-woo.

He is one of the best catchers in Korean professional baseball, spending his 36th season this year.

Offensive power that can be expected to hit 20 home runs and 80 RBIs [Runs Batted In] every season, and a strong shoulder that rarely allows stolen bases.

In addition, a catcher with the ability to play mind games with opposing hitters and leadership to embrace young pitchers.

Moreover, there was another reason why KH Cannons could not simply let go of the Cheon Jin-woo card.

“He was from the Cannons, right? That friend.”

“You know him well.”

General Manager Seo Chang-gi sighed briefly.

“That’s right. He was a player who played for our Cannons until he obtained FA [Free Agent] qualification and transferred. He was virtually the face of the team. Not to mention the fans’ love for him.”

“Haha, I see why the Warriors contacted the general manager.”

Manager Freeman’s eyes lit up.

“They could have made offers to other teams, but they judged that the team that could sell Mr. Cheon for the most money was still the Cannons…”

“It’s definitely an attractive card.”

General Manager Seo Chang-gi said firmly.

“Since Cheon Jin-woo left the team, we haven’t been able to secure a starting catcher.”

“……”

“Although his age is a bit of a concern, Cheon Jin-woo could play his part as a designated hitter…”

General Manager Seo Chang-gi, who had spoken up to this point, turned his head and looked at Ji-seop.

“Mr. Kim Ji-seop.”

“Yes?”

“Why are you being silent? As an interpreter, you should convey my words to the manager.”

“Ah, yes, I’m sorry.”

Ji-seop bowed his head and hurriedly tried to start interpreting, but this time, Manager Freeman raised his hand to stop Ji-seop.

“Hey, Ji-seop.”

“Yes, Manager.”

“What were you thinking so hard about?”

‘This guy, there’s something about him.’

Manager Freeman seemed to have sensed it.

“Do you know something about the Warriors’ Mr. Cheon?”

“Well, that’s…”

“If you do, don’t hesitate to speak up. Now is the time when information is absolutely necessary.”

The time when information is absolutely necessary.

Ji-seop, hearing Manager Freeman’s words, took a deep breath and raised his head.

“Among the things that the general manager said a little while ago… the part about ‘Cheon Jin-woo is also valuable as a designated hitter,’ I think that needs to be reconsidered.”

Ji-seop continued.

“The most important thing for a designated hitter is long-range hitting ability… but I think Cheon Jin-woo’s long-range hitting ability could decline much faster than people expect.”

“What, what?!”

General Manager Seo Chang-gi’s eyes widened.

“What are you talking about? Where did you hear such a thing?”

“It’s the bat.”

Ji-seop replied.

“I recently obtained information about the bat that Cheon Jin-woo ordered.”

A slightly earlier timing than expected.

Ji-seop’s ‘information network’ began to take effect.