A Rookie in the Baseball Team is Too Good

Chapter 16 Reporting to the Baseball Team for Work (1)

KH Cannons Field was quiet.

Just as it always was in the middle of winter.

“Ah, it’s cold.”

Kim Ji-seop blew on his hands to warm them up as he dragged his clattering suitcase behind him.

As he was about to press the outdoor elevator button, just as indicated in his acceptance letter, a familiar voice called out from behind him.

“Coach Kim.”

The voice quickly corrected itself.

“No, perhaps I should call you Mr. Kim Ji-seop now?”

“Ah, Secretary Yang.”

On that eerily quiet day at KH Cannons Field, the first person Ji-seop encountered was none other than Secretary Yang.

“Secretary Yang, it seems you’ve become a full-fledged member of the baseball team in the short time we haven’t seen each other.”

Secretary Yang, who always wore perfectly pressed suits, was now dressed in a thick team jacket.

With a shrug, Secretary Yang asked, “Does it suit me?”

Secretary Yang, who usually didn’t waste words, seemed to have grown somewhat accustomed to Ji-seop.

“How is Vice President Park doing?”

Ji-seop inquired about the well-being of Vice President Park Hong-ju, also known as ‘Sakhalin Park.’

“He’s doing well.”

Secretary Yang nodded.

“He’s extremely busy. It seems even more hectic than when he was at KH Global.”

He added that although they were currently in the baseball stadium’s CEO office, they would be heading to the airport in the afternoon.

“The KH first team’s spring camp is set to be held in Okinawa, Japan… He’s heading there for a final inspection of the preparations. Naturally, I’ll be accompanying him.”

“You seem busy.”

Ji-seop tilted his head.

“Then shouldn’t you be busy preparing for departure as well… What brings you here?”

“It’s your first day at work, Mr. Kim Ji-seop.”

Before Ji-seop even realized it, Secretary Yang’s tone had subtly shifted to a more formal one.

“The Vice President didn’t ask me to say anything, but I couldn’t help but be concerned.”

“…Ah.”

Ji-seop began to grasp what Secretary Yang was getting at.

“You’re here to give me a warning.”

“More like advice than a warning.”

Secretary Yang continued.

“The fact that you were hired on the Vice President’s orders is only known to the baseball team’s management support team.”

It was somewhat amusing, but hearing the term ‘management support team’ made Ji-seop realize that he had truly started his corporate life.

“I’ve made sure to keep it under wraps… but it won’t stay a secret for long. In any group, these kinds of rumors spread quickly.”

“I suppose they would.”

“If anyone asks about your relationship with the Vice President, just say you’ve met him a few times.”

“Is there no need to outright deny it?”

When Ji-seop blinked in surprise, Secretary Yang replied with a short, “Yes.”

“The more you deny such rumors, the more embellishments they acquire. If you say you’ve met him a few times, people won’t dare to pry further.”

“I see.”

“And one more thing…”

Secretary Yang opened his mouth again.

“When you first start working at the company, there will likely be situations where you need to talk about your past career, Mr. Kim Ji-seop.”

Ji-seop had anticipated that much.

“I think it would be best if you only mention your experiences in the independent leagues in the United States and Japan.”

“Ah.”

This time, Ji-seop fully understood what Secretary Yang was implying.

“You mean there’s no need to mention China and risk being looked down upon.”

“Exactly. The Vice President hopes you’ll get acclimated to your role in the baseball team as smoothly as possible.”

Secretary Yang added one more thing.

“And that… is also what I want.”

* * *

After parting ways with Secretary Yang, Ji-seop took the outdoor elevator to the third floor of the stadium.

He arrived at the ‘First Conference Room,’ as indicated in his acceptance letter, shortly after 10 AM.

As soon as Ji-seop entered the conference room with his suitcase, he felt the gazes of the new recruits who had arrived earlier focusing on him.

‘About ten people, I guess?’

Shortly after Ji-seop found an empty seat and sat down, two people wearing team jackets, like Secretary Yang, entered the conference room.

One was a stout man with a round face, and the other was a woman who looked exhausted, with dark circles under her eyes.

“…”

“…”

As the new recruits, clearly tense, watched the two individuals, it was the stout man who spoke first.

“Nice to meet you all. I’m Jang Kyung-woo, a manager in the KH Cannons Operations Team.”

The woman then introduced herself.

“I’m Jo Woo-hee, an assistant manager in the same Operations Team.”

Ji-seop wasn’t familiar with how a professional baseball team operated in Korea.

However, he had watched an interesting drama a few years back, so he roughly knew what the ‘Operations Team’ was responsible for.

‘Player recruitment, contracts, training… they oversee the overall management of the team.’

A manager and an assistant manager from such an Operations Team.

It seemed that the two busiest people at KH Cannons had entered the room.

“First of all, I want to congratulate you all on making it here through intense competition.”

Judging by his appearance, Manager Jang Kyung-woo looked more suited to going straight onto the field and swinging a bat, but he turned out to be quite the eloquent speaker.

“As you all know, baseball teams rarely hold large-scale open recruitments. The teams are relatively small, and at most, there are only three or four openings per year…”

Manager Jang continued, rubbing his hands together as if feeling the chill.

“In that sense, I believe that those of you who are here today have seized a great opportunity to enter the baseball team’s front office.”

The mention of ‘baseball team front office’ made the new recruits’ eyes turn serious.

“Your official contract period is exactly three months. It starts now and lasts until the season opens, more or less. But that’s not all.”

Manager Jang flashed a sly grin.

“Over the next three months, you’ll be working as assistant trainers for the second team. However, based on your performance, some of you may be promoted to the first team, or take on other roles. More importantly…”

Manager Jang scanned the room.

“A few of you with the best evaluations will be selected to join the KH Cannons front office when the season opens. Isn’t that right?”

At this moment, Manager Jang shifted his gaze to Assistant Manager Jo Woo-hee.

“Wasn’t Assistant Manager Jo one of those who joined as an assistant trainer during spring camp and then got hired full-time?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

The conversation was clearly rehearsed.

However, seeing an actual case of someone who went from being an assistant trainer to a full-time employee made the new recruits’ eyes sparkle with anticipation.

“Well then, we still have some time before lunch, so let’s start with some brief introductions…”

Just as Manager Jang was about to look at the list of assistant trainers on the table.

“Hmm?”

Assistant Manager Jo checked her phone and spoke urgently.

“Manager, this…”

She showed the phone screen to Manager Jang, whose eyes widened in surprise.

“Wouldn’t it be better if you went? I can handle things here…”

Assistant Manager Jo suggested.

But Manager Jang shook his head.

“No, Jang-ho sent the message to you, didn’t he? Then I think you should go as well. As for here… well, it can’t be helped.”

Manager Jang clicked his tongue in frustration.

He looked around the room before speaking.

“I wanted to spend some time with you all before lunch, but something urgent has come up, so I have no choice.”

Assistant Manager Jo had already started packing her bag.

“Please wait here for a moment. Once we’ve taken care of the matter, I’ll guide you all to the lunch venue… Alright then!”

Manager Jang and Assistant Manager Jo hurried out of the conference room.

The rumor that the Operations Team of a baseball club never has time to eat lunch seemed to be true.

* * *

“…”

“…”

The sudden departure of the staff who were supposed to guide them left the new assistant trainers feeling quite bewildered.

Some blinked in confusion, some mumbled under their breath, and others, expecting something like this, took out their phones.

Just as the atmosphere in the room began to grow awkward and uncertain, a man who had been sitting casually in a corner of the room suddenly stood up.

“I think… they went because of Jang-ho’s contract renewal.”

One of the new recruits asked, “Are you talking about player Ryu Jang-ho?” to which the man nodded.

“Yes, it hasn’t been reported in the media, but… it seems Jang-ho has been in a bit of a tug-of-war with the club over his contract renewal.”

The new recruits nodded along.

However, soon their expressions shifted to ones of suspicion, as if wondering, ‘How do you know that?’

The man seemed to enjoy their reaction as he continued.

“I’ve known Jang-ho for a while, so…”

Then he added.

“Anyway, instead of just sitting around idly… wouldn’t it be better for us to introduce ourselves? We’re going to be seeing each other for at least the next three months.”

The man didn’t seem to be waiting for anyone’s approval.

He just puffed out his chest and said, “I’ll go first.”

“Nice to meet you all, colleagues. My name is Oh Young-jin, and I’m from Namyeong High School.”

Judging by his need to mention his high school, Ji-seop instinctively knew that this ‘Oh Young-jin’ had a background as a baseball player.

Baseball players tended to mention their high school above all other credentials.

And sure enough.

“I graduated from Namyeong High School and played as a pitcher at Jinbuk University. Four years ago, I was also drafted in the 8th round, 76th overall, in the KBO rookie draft.”

The confidence on Oh Young-jin’s face was unmistakable as he mentioned his draft position.

Being drafted in the 8th round might not be considered highly in professional circles, but among those vying for a spot in a baseball team’s front office, it was an impressive credential.

Perhaps Oh Young-jin had stepped up first as a way to establish dominance.

“Due to an injury I sustained during my school years, I had to retire early, but I’m determined to give my all to this second chance in the baseball team’s front office. I look forward to working with you!”

Oh Young-jin’s booming voice, befitting his background as a former athlete, concluded his self-introduction.

It seemed his attempt to establish dominance had been somewhat successful.

The assistant trainers who followed with their introductions appeared visibly less confident.

“Hello, my name is Song Joo-hyun, and I majored in…”

“Hi, I’m Maeng Seon-kyu. I’ve been a long-time fan of the Cannons…”

One by one, they stood up to introduce themselves.

As most of the new recruits finished their introductions, the attention naturally shifted to Ji-seop.