Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 300

300. A New Beginning, Not an End

As winter faded and a warm spring breeze began to blow, the professional baseball season commenced as usual.

You might think it was just another ordinary start, but a significant change in my daily life was that I began watching baseball from morning until night.

Donald Watson and Oh Seok-hoon, both of whom had signed guaranteed Major League contracts, along with Michael Scott, were all named to their respective Major League lineups from opening day.

On days when these three players happened to face each other, all the agency staff would gather to watch the game together.

Even though it was essentially the same as watching games in Korea, I felt a thrill deep down.

I was engrossed in watching baseball from morning until afternoon.

So Young-joon, considered the top free agent [FA, a player eligible to sign with any team] this season, was under intense scrutiny with every move he made.

Despite teams typically being hesitant to entrust the captaincy to players before free agency, So Young-joon, recognized for his exceptional skills, was appointed as the captain of the Pelicans this season.

His team, the Pelicans, struggled and remained at the bottom of the league standings from the season’s outset, but So Young-joon stood out.

He was not only on track to achieve his second consecutive season with a .300 batting average and 20 home runs but was also fulfilling his leadership role in the dugout without any shortcomings.

Sky Corporation was actively promoting So Young-joon to American clubs to facilitate his potential move to Major League Baseball.

Thanks to this, we had frequent opportunities to meet with Major League scouts and officials who came to watch the Pelicans’ games.

Park Sung-joo, who remained with the Buffaloes and started the season, also garnered significant attention from fans and the media, having re-signed for the largest contract in FA history.

Living up to the high expectations, he hit a home run in his first at-bat on opening day, extending his home-run streak to four consecutive games, including the final game of the previous season.

He took a promising first step toward achieving the major milestone of 50 home runs for the first time in his career.

Na Joon-ho and Go Ji-hoon fulfilled their expected roles for the team from the very first game of the season, serving as the cleanup hitter [the batter who bats fourth in the lineup, typically a power hitter] and the starting pitcher, respectively.

Despite having signed substantial contracts, they continued to be regarded as exemplary free agents.

Thanks to their consistent dedication to self-improvement and conditioning, both players were able to maintain their high level of performance even as they aged.

Han Kyo-jin donned the starting catcher’s mask from the beginning of the season, as he always had.

He displayed excellent teamwork with the new foreign pitcher who had joined the team and faithfully carried out his duties from opening day.

Jung Min-woo, continuing his partnership with Han Kyo-jin this season, maintained his consistent and reliable pitching.

The Jaguars’ starting rotation felt solid and dependable, largely due to Jung Min-woo’s presence.

Choi Woo-jin, having finally turned professional, pitched 6 innings and allowed 3 runs in his professional debut, earning the win.

Having impressed during spring training and exhibition games, he delivered an impressive performance in his first professional appearance, securing a stable position in the starting rotation right from his debut season.

In subsequent starts, he consistently pitched more than 5 innings, demonstrating his capability as a reliable starting pitcher.

Thanks to the contributions of the 4th starter, Jung Min-woo, and the 5th starter, Choi Woo-jin, the Jaguars were able to adequately fill the void left by Scott and Watson.

And Lee Joo-hyuk, who had delivered an impressive performance at the charity event, also minimized his agency work and began a systematic training regimen.

Perhaps because several clubs had expressed interest in him, he trained with confidence and determination.

The plan was to proceed with contract negotiations as soon as he was in good enough physical condition to compete professionally.

Thanks to our players’ strong performances on the field, I couldn’t help but enjoy watching baseball every day.

In addition, including the players who joined through tryouts, the number of players represented by our agency had already exceeded 50.

As a result, it had become impossible for me to have the same personal conversations with each and every one of them as I had in the past.

We were providing scientifically developed training programs and even inviting professional sports psychologists to help the players with their physical and mental well-being, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness and guilt in a corner of my heart.

Even though I was busy with my daily schedule, I decided to make time to meet and talk with the players in person.

And today was that day.

“Representative, you didn’t forget about today, did you?”

Jung In-gyu, who had approached me unnoticed, asked.

“Of course not. I’ve been looking forward to today.”

“The players are really excited about it.”

“Whew- I’m a little nervous. Shall we get going?”

I headed to the stadium where our agency’s players were training, accompanied by Jung In-gyu.

* * *

As it had been announced in advance, the players were already gathered at the training ground.

Jung In-gyu briefly relayed a few announcements and then looked at me and shouted.

“Now, let’s bring him out. Dream Agency CEO Kang Hyun-woo!”

At Jung In-gyu’s introduction, I slowly stepped forward toward the players.

“Waaaaa-”

The players greeted me with enthusiastic cheers.

I greeted the players and began the conversation.

“Thank you. I should have come more often, but I apologize for not visiting due to my busy schedule. It makes me feel even more guilty that you’re cheering so enthusiastically.”

“You’re handsome!”

I smiled in response to one player’s shout and continued the conversation.

“Are there any difficulties or inconveniences in training these days?”

“It’s really great!”

The players replied in unison.

“Is the training manageable?”

“Yes, it’s fun!”

“Huh? Is training really fun?”

I asked the players with a faint smile.

“Uh…….”

“Shouldn’t training be fun? I should tell Coach In-gyu that we need to increase the intensity.”

“Ah…….”

Darkness fell on the players’ faces in an instant.

“I’m just kidding. It’s better to enjoy training than to make it a grueling experience. I hope you continue to find enjoyment in your training in the future.”

The tense players finally let out a collective sigh of relief.

“And if you have any difficulties or concerns, please feel free to share them with our coaches. We will do our best to support you in any way we can.”

“Yes!”

The players shouted in unison.

“I came here today because I wanted to have an open conversation with you all. I’m sure you have a lot of questions and concerns, and I thought it would be beneficial to discuss them today. Even if I can’t provide immediate solutions, I’ll do my best to find ways for the agency to assist you in any way possible.”

The players hesitated for a long time, and no one seemed willing to initiate the conversation.

Then, one player quietly raised his hand.

When I acknowledged him, the player began to speak.

“I’m about to turn thirty. Is it still realistic for me to continue pursuing baseball?”

As if everyone present shared similar concerns, as soon as they heard his question, everyone’s eyes lit up as they looked at me.

“Thirty years old. It’s an age that can bring about worries and uncertainties. How long have you been playing baseball now?”

“I started in high school, so it’s been about 10 years now.”

Listening to that player’s story reminded me of the time when I had to make the difficult decision to retire due to an injury.

“It’s a slightly different situation, but I was actually in a similar position. I suffered an injury when I was close to turning thirty. As you all know, that’s how I ended up retiring. Other players were reaching their peak, but I had to retire. Would I have ever expected that to happen? It was truly daunting, to say the least.”

I paused for a moment and continued.

“It was devastating at the time, but looking back now, it was a pivotal moment in my life. It’s the reason I’m standing before you today as an agent. So, in a way, I’m grateful to Choi Jung-hwan [likely the player who caused the injury].”

The players nodded and focused on what I was saying.

“Just because you play baseball doesn’t mean you have to become the best baseball player to find fulfillment. You can be happy even if you’re not number one, and you can shift your focus and become an agent like me.”

I took a breath and continued.

“And even if you don’t pursue a career as a baseball player, the time you’re investing now will never be wasted. The time I spent as a player has been invaluable to me as an agent. Even if you pursue something completely different, the experiences you’re gaining now will be beneficial. There’s no such thing as wasted time.”

Looking at the expression on the player who had asked the question, he seemed noticeably more at ease.

“Any other questions?”

Then another player raised his hand.

“To be honest, I don’t believe I’m naturally gifted. Is it even possible for me to go pro?”

This time, the players’ eyes sparkled with anticipation as they awaited my answer.

I took a moment to gather my thoughts and began speaking to the player.

“Well… it’s difficult to deny that natural talent plays a role. But there are quite a few players who turned professional and improved significantly as they matured, right?”

I gathered my thoughts and continued the conversation.

“Can’t you find the answer just by looking at our agency’s Seo Sung-min? He wasn’t a regular starter until he was in his mid-30s. Plus, he was even released by a team at one point. But he underwent some incredibly rigorous training to reach his current level. Honestly, would anyone argue that Seo Sung-min is a naturally gifted player?”

Then another player next to him raised his hand and asked a question.

“That’s true, but aren’t most of the players who are considered the best naturally gifted? Especially So Young-joon, he seems to excel effortlessly.”

“Does So Young-joon appear to be playing around?”

I suppressed a laugh and asked the player in return.

“Uh… to be honest, he doesn’t seem to be working very hard? He seems to have a lot of free time.”

“Hahahahaha.”

The player’s words triggered a burst of laughter.

As the laughter subsided, I took over the conversation.

“I went to school with So Young-joon when I was younger. So I have a slightly deeper understanding of him than most people.”

I turned my gaze to the other players and continued.

“It’s true that Young-joon was labeled a genius from middle school onwards. As a classmate, I couldn’t help but feel envious of his baseball prowess. Every time I saw him play, I felt inadequate. And of course, it’s also true that Young-joon was more dedicated than anyone else when it came to playing.”

Just as the players were about to erupt in laughter again, I immediately continued the conversation.

“But one thing was certain. Young-joon genuinely loved baseball, and he was more serious about it than anyone else. And his desire to become a better baseball player than anyone else was incredibly strong. He lived as if he were already a professional player since he was in middle and high school.”

Before I knew it, the players were listening intently to what I was saying with serious expressions.

“People watching from a distance may only see Young-joon enjoying himself. They might wonder how he can be so good at baseball while seemingly having so much fun. So they might assume he’s a natural genius. You can certainly think that way. But if you were to witness Young-joon’s training regimen, you wouldn’t say that.”

I took a breath and continued.

“Let me give you an example. Just look at his physique. Not only during the season but even during the off-season, his weight remains remarkably consistent. You all know that’s not easy to achieve.”

At my question, the players nodded in agreement.

“Can we really attribute this player’s success solely to natural talent? Not just Young-joon, but all the players who excel in baseball share this trait. They train so diligently behind the scenes that it’s almost frightening. I don’t know if you would still consider them to be simply ‘geniuses’ after witnessing their dedication.”

Then the player from before raised his hand again and asked.

“Then, if we train hard, can we achieve that level of success as well?”

“Absolutely. The players here are definitely capable of achieving great things.”

I answered, looking directly into the eyes of the player who had asked the question.

In the meantime, an employee approached me and whispered in my ear.

“Oh, I’m sorry, but it seems we need to wrap things up here.”

“Ah, I see.”

The players let out a sigh of disappointment.

“I’m very sorry as well, but today isn’t the last time we’ll meet. I’ll make an effort to create more opportunities for us to connect in the future. I’ll conclude here for today.”

Clap clap clap clap.

Before I knew it, the indoor practice hall was filled with the sound of the players’ applause.

I looked at the players again and delivered one final message.

“Dream Agency will continue to support you every step of the way. I hope you have a fulfilling day. This has been Kang Hyun-woo. Thank you.”

-End-