Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 196

196. A Disturbance (5)

I headed to the stadium with So Young-joon.

It was the day of the Jaguars versus Pelicans game, and we were going together to see Cho Kwang-hoon, the Jaguars’ general manager.

Cho Kwang-hoon would undoubtedly meet with Kim Seok-won, the Pelicans’ general manager, to discuss the trade in detail.

If a trade agreement was reached, the transfer could happen immediately.

“Representative, do you think the trade will really go through?”

“There’s no reason it can’t. The announcement could be today.”

“Really…?”

So Young-joon’s expression suddenly darkened.

“Why? Did you suddenly change your mind?”

“No, it’s not that. It just feels strange to think I might actually be leaving.”

“If you change your mind, tell me now. We can still stop it.”

“……”

So Young-joon took a deep breath.

“It’s not an easy decision, is it?”

“It’s okay. Let’s just go ahead with it. If it doesn’t work out, there’s nothing we can do, and if it does, it must be my destiny to go.”

“Alright, let’s just leave the worries to fate now.”

I stepped on the accelerator and drove faster.

As we arrived at the stadium and were about to get out, numerous reporters were waiting in the parking lot.

So Young-joon and I couldn’t hide our surprise at the unexpected scene.

“Is something going on today? I’ve never seen so many reporters in the parking lot.”

“Could it be… are those reporters waiting for you, Young-joon?”

“No way…?”

So Young-joon tilted his head, looking doubtful.

After parking, So Young-joon and I tried to quietly enter the stadium to avoid the reporters, but they spotted us and rushed over.

“So Young-joon! We hear the trade with the Jaguars is imminent. How do you feel?”

“Imminent? I haven’t heard anything definite yet.”

So Young-joon looked at me, bewildered.

I had no choice but to step in.

“We’ll do an interview as soon as things are settled.”

Even with my response, the reporters’ enthusiasm didn’t subside.

“Is your reason for wanting to leave the Pelicans due to conflict with General Manager Kim Seok-won?”

“Are you being penalized by the team for applying for salary arbitration [a process where an independent arbitrator determines a player’s salary] last winter?”

“There are also rumors of discord with other players!”

The barrage of questions didn’t stop, so I had to take a more active role.

“Reporters, So Young-joon needs to go in and prepare for the game. Would it be okay to conduct the interview after the game? The agency will arrange it separately.”

My earnest words seemed to work, and the reporters finally stopped asking questions.

Just as I was about to quietly leave with So Young-joon, a reporter’s voice was heard.

“Many Pelicans fans want So Young-joon to stay. Do you have anything to say to them?”

“……”

So Young-joon’s expression darkened again when the topic of fans came up.

“I’m sorry. We’ll set up another time soon.”

I made a path through the reporters and took So Young-joon inside.

We were able to relax a bit only after arriving in an area accessible only to players and staff.

Then, So Young-joon looked at me and asked.

“Representative, is the trade really imminent?”

“Nothing has been decided for sure yet.”

“I was surprised. I thought it had happened in the meantime.”

So Young-joon seemed relieved, finally calming down.

“I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything, so don’t worry and prepare for the game.”

“Okay. I’ll go get ready then.”

“Alright.”

I waved to So Young-joon as he walked away.

After So Young-joon left, I focused on finding out the facts by inquiring here and there.

I also spoke with a Jaguars official, but no official trade had been made yet.

Only then did I relax a little and head to the stands.

* * *

The Jaguars versus Pelicans match.

Today’s starting pitcher for the Jaguars was Michael Scott.

The names of Donald Watson and Seo Sung-min were also listed in the 5th and 6th batting lineups.

Top of the 1st inning.

So Young-joon entered the shortstop position ahead of the Jaguars’ attack.

And a moment later, the Pelicans’ starting pitcher began his pitching.

Tick!

Tick!

The Jaguars’ hitters aggressively swung their bats from the start to target the pitcher.

Their concentration was excellent, befitting a team with such a hot streak recently.

They succeeded in creating a bases-loaded situation with one out in the first inning.

Donald Watson, the 5th batter, was approaching the plate.

-The Jaguars’ batting order is really something. It’s Donald Watson’s at-bat in a bases-loaded situation, and he won the MVP [Most Valuable Player award] in June.

-It’s a bases-loaded situation, and Seo Sung-min’s recent hitting pace is also formidable, so they can’t avoid him.

-What’s the best way to compete in this situation?

-The first pitch is important in situations like this. How you start will greatly affect the outcome. It will be really difficult if you start the count with a ball.

-Throwing a strike against Donald Watson in a bases-loaded crisis… It seems like there’s no more terrible situation for a pitcher.

The Pelicans’ pitcher wiped away the sweat and struggled to throw the first ball.

Bang!

“Ball!”

-The first pitch went in as a ball. It’s hard for the pitcher not to be shaken.

-If it barely missed the strike zone, it wouldn’t have been bad even if it was a ball. But with a pitch like that, it would have been very easy for Watson to pick it off because he’s in good condition.

-It seems difficult to decide how to continue the game because the first pitch was a ball?

-Because it’s a bases-loaded situation. If it becomes a two-ball situation, it will be much more difficult than it is now. From the pitcher’s point of view, it is necessary to get a strike this time. On the other hand, from the batter’s point of view, it is necessary to take advantage of this opportunity.

The Pelicans’ pitcher exchanged signs with the catcher for a long time before he could throw the second ball.

As the ball left the pitcher’s hand, Watson swung his bat with all his might as if he had been waiting for it.

Thwack!

Contrary to expectations, the ball came in low enough to be called a ball, and a perfect hit was not achieved.

However, the hit bounced strongly off the ground, adding force and trying to break through the infield at an even faster speed.

Watson and all the runners ran towards the next base.

“Run! Run! Run!”

The Jaguars’ fans and dugout were excited at the thought of scoring at least one point.

The player who blocked that expectation was So Young-joon.

So Young-joon succeeded in catching the hit with his glove while diving.

‘If I throw the ball as I usually do, the timing will be late.’

After quickly making a judgment in his head, So Young-joon sent the ball to the second baseman with a glove toss before he could even get up properly.

“Out!”

The second base umpire raised his fist, and of course,

The ball that the second baseman threw to the first baseman too.

“Out!”

He succeeded in eliciting the first base umpire’s out call.

“Wowwww-“

“So Young-joon! So Young-joon! So Young-joon!”

The Pelicans’ fans cheered enthusiastically for So Young-joon.

-A double play comes out here! So Young-joon threw the ball wittily even while he was down.

-If he had gotten up properly in that situation and taken the ball out with his right hand and thrown it, he would have only gotten one out at best. Then, of course, they would have given up a point.

-A glove toss is not easy even for most professional players. How can he throw the ball so accurately even in such an unbalanced situation?

-It’s a masterpiece of good defense that makes you exclaim even when you watch it again on the screen. It showed that he wasn’t called a genius shortstop for nothing.

Watson, who confirmed the first base umpire’s out call, looked at So Young-joon with his mouth wide open.

The Pelicans’ pitcher extended his glove to show his gratitude to So Young-joon.

So Young-joon, who was running to the dugout, slightly raised the corners of his mouth and bumped gloves with him.

He was also cheered by his fellow players in the dugout.

The cheers of the Pelicans’ fans, which were deafening, were a given.

The inning was changed and the Pelicans’ attack began at the bottom of the 1st inning.

Michael Scott took the mound for the Jaguars as predicted.

-Michael Scott is on a 5-game winning streak in recent games. He’s not just a winning pitcher, but his performance is also excellent, right?

-The most runs he’s given up in a game this season is 3, so the game content itself is excellent.

-At this pace, if the Jaguars score 4 runs in today’s game, it means they can easily take the win.

Scott’s pitching exuded confidence.

Bang!

Bang!

Whoosh-

“Strike out!”

-That splitter is always powerful. It’s amazing.

-It’s even more difficult not to swing at that splitter that Scott throws after showing his fastball.

It seemed like the inning would end smoothly with Scott’s powerful pitching, but,

Tick!

The Pelicans’ 3rd batter succeeded in getting on base with a lucky mis-hit.

“Wowwww-“

The Pelicans’ fans sent the same enthusiastic support as if they had hit a home run, even with a mis-hit.

Now, So Young-joon, the 4th batter who had been waiting in the on-deck circle, moved to enter the plate.

-Finally, it’s time to meet the player who’s been causing the hottest issue these days.

-It’s known that a specific trade proposal is being exchanged with the Jaguars. I heard that Jaguars general manager Cho Kwang-hoon is here at the Pelicans’ home stadium right now.

-Is there really a possibility that So Young-joon’s trade will happen?

-You never know what will happen in the transfer market. Anything we can’t imagine can happen.

-I’ll have to look forward to hearing the trade news around the end of the two teams’ match.

So Young-joon, who arrived at the plate, was only looking at his bat, perhaps to focus solely on hitting.

He only briefly raised the corners of his mouth when he made eye contact with Scott, who was standing on the mound.

The moment Scott, who had received the catcher’s sign, was about to throw a ball,

Suddenly, the Pelicans’ stands began to get busy.

-Oh, what’s going on in the Pelicans’ stands?

-It looks like something is being prepared in the stands right now?

The Pelicans’ fans began to take out something they had prepared in advance.

Then, they all stood up at the same time, raised something, and began to shout in a loud voice.

Naturally, everyone’s attention was drawn to that place.