A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 87

The Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good – Episode 87

Chapter 24: Greedy People (3)

The power-hitting prospect who thoroughly beat up KH Cannon’s ace, Jimmy Morris, on his first day in the major league.

The high school rookie who captured the hearts of Cannon’s fans by hitting five home runs in just a few games.

So, on this day, Lee Soo-bin, the ‘Super Rookie’ who was already being touted as the next Ryu Jang-ho among impatient fans—

Thwack!

Thwack!

Thwaaaack!

—completely turned the tables at the minor league All-Star Home Run Derby held at Ulsan Munsu Baseball Stadium.

-Ah, this hit is huge! Center-left, center-left, it’s going over the center-left fence… It’s a home run!

-Ah, this one’s big too, isn’t it? This time to center-right, center-right… It goes over! Another home run!

In fact, Ji-seop and Lee Soo-bin had made a promise.

A promise that if he tried too hard to hit a home run, he would immediately stop pitching batting practice.

But on this day, Ji-seop couldn’t even recall that promise on the mound.

Thwack!

Thwack!

Thwaaaack!

Lightly tapping at the incoming ball.

It was as if he was just swinging the bat to hit an outfield fungo [a ball hit for practice], but the batted balls flew high into the sky with tremendous trajectories.

‘This isn’t a small ballpark at all… Wow, he’s really a natural.’

Ji-seop, who had been hit quite a bit during his active career, was able to remain unfazed by most batted balls.

Even Ji-seop, however, found himself sighing in amazement at some point.

Anyway, since Lee Soo-bin had shown such tremendous hitting, it was considered natural that he won the minor league Home Run Derby that day.

“Thank you, senior [a respectful term for someone older or more experienced],” Lee Soo-bin said to Ji-seop after the awards ceremony.

“Your pitches are really amazing, senior. I don’t think you could find pitches that are so perfect for hitting home runs even in the major leagues.”

“Am I supposed to take that as a compliment?”

“Of course, it’s a compliment. I mean, I wouldn’t have been able to win the Home Run Derby without you, senior.”

With that, Lee Soo-bin ‘suddenly’ thrust the large bouquet of flowers he was holding under Ji-seop’s chin.

“Please, take it.”

“……This?”

Ji-seop waved his hand.

“No, what would I do with that bouquet? I saw your parents came earlier… Give it to your mother. She’ll be very happy.”

Ji-seop was about to leave for Busan to pitch batting practice for Ryu Jang-ho.

Taking such a large bouquet would only be a nuisance on the way to Busan.

However, Lee Soo-bin shook his head with a rather firm attitude.

“No, you must take this bouquet, senior.”

“Must?”

“Yes, didn’t you know, senior?”

Lee Soo-bin blinked.

“The coaches said that the prize money from the Home Run Derby can be kept by the player, but the prize received as a reward must be given to the person who pitched batting practice.”

Otherwise, he would have bad luck and his performance in the second half of the season would plummet.

‘Hehe, is that one of the common superstitions floating around in the baseball world…….’

It wasn’t a gift he particularly liked, but he had no choice since he would ruin his second-half performance if he didn’t accept it.

Ji-seop gave a wry smile and accepted the ridiculously large bouquet.

“Anyway, thanks. I’ll take it home and… try to decorate it somehow.”

“Yes, are you going to Ryu Jang-ho now, senior?”

“Yeah, I think it’s perfect if I leave now.”

“Good job.

Get some rest.

As he said goodbye and turned around, Lee Soo-bin clenched his fist and showed it, shouting, ‘Fighting, senior!’

“Please make sure Senior Jang-ho wins too!”

“Oh, what win.”

Ji-seop chuckled.

“It’ll be a problem if Jang-ho wins too. Do you want me to go home with two of these bouquets?”

Ryu Jang-ho was the type to believe in superstitions, so he brought it up.

However, Lee Soo-bin shook his head, saying, ‘No.’

“The minor league Home Run Derby is just a bouquet, but… the major league is different, senior.”

“Different?”

“Yes, I heard that the championship prize is bigger than usual this year because there are many sponsors. What was it……”

Ah, that’s right.

Lee Soo-bin snapped his fingers and continued.

“The championship prize is… a car, I think?”

“A car?”

Then that’s a different story?

* * *

About three hours later.

Ji-seop had arrived at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan, where the major league All-Star Home Run Derby was being held.

“Ji-seop, you’ve worked hard!”

The first person to greet Ji-seop, who appeared on the ground, was the KH Cannon’s hitting coach.

“I heard Soo-bin won? I was watching it on TV.”

It was definitely good news that a player from his team had won.

However, there seemed to be another reason why the hitting coach had such a bright expression.

“I’m not sure because I saw it on the broadcast, but… Soo-bin’s hitting balance looked pretty good.”

“Yes, I don’t think you have to worry.”

Ji-seop nodded.

“Maybe it’s because he’s such a strong guy, but I didn’t feel like he was overdoing it at the Home Run Derby. He just tapped it lightly, and it all went over the fence.”

“He’s definitely a naturally strong guy. But that doesn’t mean he’s not going to be greedy. He usually puts a lot of power into his swing.”

The hitting coach said very firmly.

“I think Soo-bin was able to swing lightly today without overdoing it… entirely thanks to Ji-seop. You really kept him in check.”

“Oh, you’re saying that again.”

“Hey, I’m not just saying that? Do you know how hard it is to tell young players to take it easy?”

Thank you, Ji-seop.

It’s all thanks to you, Ji-seop.

As he was receiving thanks from the hitting coach, a familiar voice came from the side.

“But…hyung [older brother/male friend].”

It was Ryu Jang-ho.

The KH Cannon’s representative hitter wearing an All-Star uniform.

He pointed to the bouquet Ji-seop was holding and asked.

“What’s that bouquet?”

“Ah, this?”

Ji-seop shrugged and continued.

“Lee Soo-bin gave it to me. He said the Home Run Derby prize should be given to the batting practice pitcher?”

“Ah…….”

Ryu Jang-ho nodded slowly.

But at that moment, Ji-seop could read a strange atmosphere on his face.

‘This guy, his expression is a bit strange?’

As Ji-seop tilted his head slightly, Ryu Jang-ho continued.

“Hyung, how many home runs did Lee Soo-bin hit today?”

“Soo-bin had 14, I think?”

It was the hitting coach who answered.

“He’s amazing. Usually, there are hardly any players in the major league who hit more than 10.”

“14… 14, you say?”

And the next moment.

Ji-seop, who was ‘intently’ looking at Ryu Jang-ho’s eyes, could hear it.

The voice coming from the guy’s mind after hearing the performance of his junior.

[Then I…….]

[I have to hit at least 20.]

That was definitely,

Competition.

* * *

-The highlight of the All-Star Game Eve, the All-Star Home Run Derby!!!

-As the heat intensifies, let’s bring out another star!

-The player who took first place in the Eastern League All-Star fan vote… KH Cannon’s Ryu Jang-ho!!!

Wow!!!

Wow!!!

Amid the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd, Ryu Jang-ho walked towards the announcer.

Ji-seop, who was quietly watching his back, had a faint smile on his face.

‘Somehow… I thought it was a bit strange from the beginning.’

Looking back, Ryu Jang-ho was always a guy who cared terribly about his hitting stats.

What his season batting average was, how many RBIs [Runs Batted In] he had, and how many home runs he had hit.

In that sense, it was unusual for him to be so enthusiastic about the Home Run Derby, which was just an ‘event.’

‘Right, it’s just an event held on the eve of the All-Star Game… There was no reason for him to insist so hard that I pitch batting practice for him.’

It seemed to be because of his competitive spirit towards his junior.

A super rookie from the Cannons who suddenly appeared like a comet.

Unlike himself, who hit over the fence with sophisticated technique, he was a power-hitting prospect who created tremendous batted balls with natural power.

From Ryu Jang-ho’s perspective, who was considered the best in the team in all aspects of hitting, Lee Soo-bin’s existence must have been quite annoying.

‘Ryu Jang-ho is superior in all areas except power, whether it’s plate discipline or hitting technique… But he can’t even stand being second in that one area?’

Watching Ryu Jang-ho talking to the announcer with a nonchalant expression, Ji-seop couldn’t help but shake his head.

‘He’s something else.’

Ji-seop couldn’t understand.

Why was this guy, who had little interest in most things in the world, so greedy when it came to baseball?

Was it so unbearable that a junior who was slightly better than him in one aspect appeared on the same team?

Of course, he thought that such competitiveness might have made Ryu Jang-ho who he is now, but at this time, the thought that came to Ji-seop’s mind was this.

‘Hehe, whatever the reason… I’m glad I took action in advance. I want to praise myself in the past.’

A promise to stop pitching batting practice immediately if he overdid it to hit a home run.

Strictly speaking, this was a rule made out of concern for the high school rookie Lee Soo-bin’s over-pace, but looking back, he thought it was necessary for Ryu Jang-ho.

-Alright, everyone! Let’s end the interview here and watch Ryu Jang-ho’s challenge from now on!

Bbam-ba-ba-bam.

With the announcer’s shout, the majestic music began to play.

Ji-seop followed the staff’s guidance and began to walk towards the front of the mound where the ball cart was placed.

-As I mentioned, the players are given a total of 10 outs! All batted balls except home runs are treated as outs! How many home runs will Ryu Jang-ho record!

Wow!!!

Wow!!!

As the crowd’s excitement grew, Ryu Jang-ho entered the batter’s box with his bat on his shoulder.

“Hyung, please take care of me!!!”

With a heave-ho.

Ryu Jang-ho, who even let out shouts of encouragement that he usually didn’t do, took his stance.

Ji-seop, who was watching Ryu Jang-ho, was thinking, ‘Oh, you human.’

Still, wanting to see how it would turn out, Ji-seop threw a batting practice ball.

Shooooo- Thwaaaack!

A truly brutal hitting sound.

The ball hit by Ryu Jang-ho drew a huge arc and ‘whooshed’ into the deepest part of Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium.

-Wow, this is amazing? A tremendous home run from the first pitch! KH’s Ryu Jang-ho!!!

The announcer was surprised,

“Ryu Jang-ho! Ryu Jang-ho! Ryu Jang-ho!”

“Jang-ho, please hit one more!”

The fans gave generous applause,

“…….”

As if pleased by the reaction of those people, Ryu Jang-ho raised his bat high, but at that moment—

“……Huh?!”

A slight embarrassment flashed across the face of the Cannon’s best hitter.

Thud-

He saw his ‘batting practice pitcher’ standing behind the pitcher’s screen, putting down the ball.