Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 287

End of Pitcher, Start of Hitter – Epilogue

Brave jerseys filled the streets. Not just uniforms, but many buildings and even giant skyscrapers occasionally displayed the Braves’ symbol.

Though strangers, people cheered as if united.

“Lee? Lee, over there!”

“Leeeeeeee!”

“Just wave once over here!”

“Braves! Braves!”

The parade cut through the heart of the city, flanked by a sea of people.

‘Millions… are these all our fans?’

Standing at the center of the parade, Lee Jungwoo chuckled at the sight of the massive crowd.

The club had warned the players to be careful, as millions were expected to gather. He had prepared himself, but the sheer number of people was shocking.

Compared to this, the shock of seeing the U.S. President at the White House was nothing.

It was as if the entire metropolitan population centered around Atlanta had gathered.

That many people were focused solely on him.

A hundred times more than the passionate fans at the ballpark.

“Is the parade all about Lee too? A little disappointing.”

“I keep saying, if you’re jealous, do as well as him.”

“I also keep saying, I know full well it’s impossible, so be quiet.”

The players chuckled at the reactions and shrugged. Derek, who had dedicated himself to the club for a long time, seemed overwhelmed by the sight of the fans, his eyes slightly red.

“Lee, at least wave. They all came to see you.”

At Derek’s words, Lee Jungwoo, who had been blankly staring at the crowd, awkwardly raised his hand. It was a somewhat comical gesture, unlike his destructive performance in the game, but the people treated it like a sacred act, cheering even louder.

The number was so immense that he felt like he was going deaf, but strangely, it felt good. The emptiness he had felt immediately after the World Series was somewhat filled.

Feeling that, Lee Jungwoo chuckled.

‘Winning suits me. I’ll need to experience it about ten more times to be satisfied.’

The World Series victory was a little more thrilling than he had expected.

And the things that followed were also sweet.

####

[This is almost a level of voter turnout only possible in a one-party dictatorship.]

[What’s even more surprising is that even voters in the Philadelphia area cast their first-place votes for him.]

[Actually, it’s somewhat obvious. The voting results are public, and no one wants to look like a fool.]

The MVP voting results from the electors were quite simple. Even a bit boring. And somewhat expected.

That made it even more surprising.

[Jungwoo Lee has been unanimously selected as the 2035 AL MVP, receiving all first-place votes.]

Unanimous. Not a common record. It wasn’t unheard of, but it was quite difficult for everyone to agree, as people have different tastes.

Lee Jungwoo, who was idly listening to the program panel like a pathetic unemployed person during the off-season, suddenly looked at the display case.

The wooden display case with glass doors always made him feel proud.

More precisely, what was inside it.

The large display case, which Mark had urged him to buy in advance, had only the Rookie of the Year trophy when he first bought it, making it look a bit pathetic. But in just one year, it was full.

He had swept all the awards he could receive this year, so the large case was bound to be filled.

Even with the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game MVP trophies, it was safe to say he had received everything a hitter could receive.

‘The only things left to add would be winning the Cy Young [award for the best pitcher] after switching to pitching or receiving the Roberto Clemente Award [award for sportsmanship and community involvement] for living like a saint.’

The center of the display case, which contained everything, was naturally the MVP.

‘More precisely, it should be MVP, MVP, MVP.’

No, MVP’s.

[With this, he has become the MVP of the regular season, the Championship Series, and the World Series, ultimately achieving a slightly different kind of Triple Crown.]

[It means he is truly the best player of the year, in name and reality. Baseball until November, oh, there was no November this year. Anyway, it means he did the best during the baseball season.]

He had achieved the MVP Triple Crown that people jokingly talked about.

‘It’s so clunky every time I see it.’

Among them, the regular season MVP plaque in the center looked like it only proved the award, with the most unrefined design.

Compared to the other trophies placed together, such as the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger, it even felt a bit shabby.

The value and glory it held could not be explained by its mere material appearance.

‘It was subtly fun to look at the design of each award. I can’t do that anymore.’

It had been fun to carefully examine each award as it arrived, but he probably wouldn’t be able to do that anymore. There were virtually no new awards for him now.

‘But it would be quite fun to line up multiple of the same award.’

However, since fun could be found elsewhere, Lee Jungwoo did not let go of his greed. Instead, he looked at what was his even more greedily.

He didn’t want to think of it as showing off. It wasn’t impossible.

No matter what anyone said.

‘Filling a whole shelf with just MVPs would be pretty cool.’

Now was his era.

Numerous trophies were showered upon him as the season ended, but Lee Jungwoo still did not forget the lightness he felt when he held the World Series trophy.

This was still not enough.

####

The neat office was filled with well-dressed men talking to each other.

The employees outside seemed curious about the conversation inside, subtly glancing towards the office while pretending not to.

“Personally, I think this is a satisfactory offer for Lee. Don’t you think?”

“…”

Mark didn’t express it outwardly, but he somewhat agreed with General Manager Pratt’s words.

He had set historical records and won the World Series.

He didn’t think it would be cheap, but he didn’t expect it to be this much.

’14 years for 728M. If all the bonuses are achieved, it exceeds 750M. But there’s no opt-out clause, so Lee will be thirty-six when the contract ends.’

After the victory and the series of awards, when the afterglow faded and the cold winter arrived,

the Braves contacted him immediately. They wanted to extend the contract.

Considering the remaining service time, it was quite surprising.

Of course, it wasn’t entirely unprecedented, but at least the scale was unprecedented.

‘Are you going to engrave the name Braves on Lee’s forehead?’

The current offer meant that the Braves were buying Lee Jungwoo’s time and the history he would write with money.

With very expensive money.

‘It’s obviously not something the club can do on its own. The rumors were true.’

He had heard countless rumors that the media empire, which had virtually neglected the Braves, had unusually intervened on a large scale. But he had honestly ignored them, as rumors tend to be exaggerated. This wasn’t a contract the Braves could handle. They really did move.

Only Liberty Media, a media giant, could come up with this level of money.

‘If he signs, it will remain the largest contract until Lee retires, or even long after.’

Among the media and netizens, there were often talks that Lee Jungwoo would be worth at least 700M if he entered the market immediately.

If a contract was even possible, it would definitely start at that level. Some even said it could reach 1000M if things went well.

So, according to their claims, even this was almost the minimum amount. But they didn’t know the industry.

Of course, it was possible. Those astronomical amounts.

‘If Lee could show the same performance until he retires.’

Yes, it was nonsense. Unless you were a great prophet, it was impossible to see the future. Even if you really saw the future, people were much more likely not to believe it.

So, this contract given to a player who had just finished his second year was already a gamble in itself.

If he were to fail, the very life of the Atlanta Braves, a Major League Baseball club, would be at stake.

That’s why Mark wanted to stamp the contract right away and bring Lee to sign it.

The commission he would receive was mind-boggling, but whether the Braves went bankrupt or not, it was enough for Lee Jungwoo to live happily ever after.

But he was an agent. He had a duty to follow the player’s will.

That was his job.

“I’m sorry, but Lee is not thinking about extending his contract right now.”

“Won’t his mind change when he sees the offer?”

“No, it won’t. You know, money isn’t that important to Lee right now.”

At his words, General Manager Pratt frowned. ‘How much are you asking for?’ That’s what he seemed to be thinking.

He had given an offer that was practically scraping the bottom of the barrel, and yet it was rejected. Mark must have looked like a devil in his eyes.

He couldn’t blame Lee Jungwoo, so he would think of him as a good-natured hero being played by a wicked agent.

But it wasn’t wrong.

Money was literally worthless to Lee right now. For something to have value, it had to have at least some scarcity. At least for him, money had no such scarcity.

According to rumors, companies that anyone in the world would know by name were approaching Lee one after another. Many had actually signed contracts.

Nike, which had been in talks for a long time, was reportedly on the verge of exploding, and eventually signed a sponsorship deal that far exceeded the highest in baseball.

That was because Lee Jungwoo was now the most glamorous superstar in the largest market in the world, the United States. He was even a player that young people, who had been indifferent to baseball, were enthusiastic about.

So, even if he only picked and chose the companies that came with bundles of money, money would be infinitely replicated for Lee Jungwoo.

Knowing that, General Manager Pratt thought it might be too late to buy him with money now.

“Still, I will take the offer, knowing the club’s goodwill. And perhaps, as you said, Lee’s mind may change. However… Lee doesn’t want to mortgage his future for money.”

“It’s a bit disappointing that Lee thinks of this as just a leash.”

But apart from knowing that reality, a sigh escaped at the rather clear rejection.

General Manager Pratt wanted to tear his hair out, but he restrained himself because there was an agent in front of him.

Mark, who had gotten up from his seat, carefully took the offer and said to the disgruntled General Manager Pratt.

“He said…”

The moment he heard those words, his stuffy mind was refreshed. He was momentarily stunned.

There was a brief silence. Soon, General Manager Pratt looked at Mark and asked.

“…Do you think so too?”

“I just believe it.”

With that, Mark left the general manager’s office, and General Manager Pratt leaned back in his chair and rubbed his face.

What should he tell the president? He had offered an amount equivalent to the acquisition cost of a small to medium-sized market club, and yet it was rejected. He might blame him.

Saying that he was being dragged around by the agent.

His head was already throbbing at the thought of him scolding him, but strangely, a little laughter escaped.

Even though he knew it was absurd, he wanted to believe it too.

At least until now, that belief had never been betrayed.

He hadn’t eaten any snacks, but strangely, his mouth was a little sweet. He kept chuckling, but soon General Manager Pratt hardened his face again.

‘But… if he keeps doing this, how much will I have to give him during salary arbitration?’

Perhaps he would have to endure that level of expenditure even though he couldn’t tie him down with an extension. If the negotiations fail…

Assuming he had a similar performance to this year, even the arbitration committee, which is usually favorable to the club, would side with Lee.

Thinking about that, his spine tingled again.

‘Should I just win one more championship next year and then run away to another club? Pass it on to the next general manager to deal with.’

He seriously contemplated in the empty general manager’s office.

####

A few days before the meeting with General Manager Pratt, Mark was in Miami, Florida.

He wasn’t leisurely enjoying a vacation. He had just followed Lee Jungwoo.

“I told you to rest more, you’re so stubborn. You went all the way to the World Series.”

“If I rest, my body stiffens. You know? And think about last year. Look at what was achieved thanks to a little more effort.”

Mark looked at Lee Jungwoo with a disgusted look.

He had quickly dealt with countless advertisements and sponsorship deals that gave him bundles of money. But the player who received the huge sum didn’t even spend it.

After finishing his schedule, he said he had rested enough and immediately started preparing for the season.

Was he that fond of baseball? He had already become the best ever, so he should have been burned out because he had nothing to aim for. But there wasn’t even a sign of that.

He was just grooming his body and reorganizing his play, just like last year.

“That’s what I’m saying. Do you think it’s possible to get better here? There’s nothing left, is there? If you’re going to say you’re going to beat last year’s me, just don’t do it.”

Mark covered his forehead as Lee Jungwoo suddenly shut his mouth as if he was really going to say that.

He was terribly anxious. Was it okay to leave him like that? He had the same thought last year, and as a result, he had achieved tremendous success due to the change, but he was even more anxious this year. He had much more to lose than before.

He was already the best, more than the best, so it was difficult to maintain his current ability…

If something went wrong, the aftermath wouldn’t just be a problem for Lee Jungwoo as a player. A cold wave would sweep through the baseball world itself, which was barely heading back to its heyday.

He would probably be remembered as the worst agent who ruined a player.

“Hoo… Why isn’t there anything left to do? There’s still plenty left.”

Lee Jungwoo, who had finished his training set alone without knowing his feelings, wiped his sweat and smiled.

Mark was about to explode at the sight, but he tried to suppress it and asked. Honestly, he was a little curious.

What else did he want to do, what was his goal?

“So what, are you going to surpass Joe DiMaggio this year? Are you greedy for a consecutive game hit streak?”

“That would be nice too.”

“You’ve gotten a little cocky? You don’t even deny it anymore.”

Lee Jungwoo chuckled at Mark’s words and then looked at Andrew Lavin and Hank Reilly. They nodded with similar expressions.

“Do you remember last year’s off-season goal? The training goal.”

“Goal? Well, improving contact. Restraining power. Improving plate discipline. And improving defense. Isn’t it?”

“The exact role model. The player you were aiming for.”