Chapter 27. A Trivial Proposal
Sasaki.
He had made me a fairly interesting proposal, but it wasn’t really any of my concern.
The head of a snake?
Back then, I had calmly replied that I would rather become the head of a dragon, and apparently there had been a Japanese reporter nearby.
Because that remark ended up becoming major news in Japan.
Korean Rookie Who Defeated Hoshino Yuki Declares, “I’ll Become the Head of a Dragon in America”
Why Did a Yomiuri Scout Seek Out a Korean Rookie?
Hoshino Yuki: “Choi Seong Was a New Kind of Stimulation… Right Now, He’s My Only Rival”
Articles with rather provocative and entertaining headlines poured out across Japan.
Korean reporters were busy copying and reporting them as well.
Why?
Because the moment I returned to Korea, I used practice as an excuse to turn down every interview request.
The media was important, sure.
But announcing my grand ambition to transfer teams a few years later when I had only been with my current club for a month...
I decided that wouldn't exactly help team chemistry.
“You enjoying all this attention or what?”
Kim Hakseong said as he showed me the articles that were making headlines everywhere.
I simply smiled.
“Even if Yomiuri offered me ten billion yen, I wouldn’t go.”
“Ten billion yen... I think that might actually be worth considering.”
That was roughly 94 billion won.
There probably wasn’t even an American team willing to pay that much.
At that point, it might honestly be faster to use that money to buy another baseball team.
“Anyway, I’m avoiding interviews as much as possible, so don’t worry. I don’t want to ruin the team atmosphere right before Opening Day over something unnecessary.”
Our practice games were going smoothly.
By smoothly, I meant we were smoothly sitting in last place.
We won every game I pitched in, but the other players still hadn’t completely found their form.
Personally, it was disappointing.
Opening Day was right around the corner, yet they still looked unprepared.
If I were captain...
I calmly looked at Kim Hakseong.
He was listening to me with a serious expression.
“Thanks. I like you, but if one rookie keeps causing issues for the whole team, the guys inside the clubhouse aren't going to react very well.”
He was indirectly telling me that some players would become jealous.
If I were the captain, I probably would've grabbed a bat and whipped everyone into shape by now.
The team still wasn't prepared.
Under Manager Rodriguez's voluntary training system, the players were taking things easy instead of making the most of their opportunity.
The manager never said anything about it.
Still, I could feel it.
Some kind of major change was probably coming.
Our preseason record was two wins and seven losses.
We were overwhelmingly in last place.
Naturally, with me receiving so much attention, jealousy from some of the other players was unavoidable.
Young Breadwinner Choi Seong Records Quality Start... But Receives No Run Support [Sajik Report]
Choi Seong Draws Massive Interest From Japan... But the Busan Oceans Continue to Struggle...
Maybe it was because most articles kept comparing me to the club.
I noticed that some of the senior players had started treating me a little more coldly.
But what could I do?
This was who I was.
“Today, we will be playing against the team that won both last year’s Korean Series and the regular season.”
Right before Opening Day, Manager Rodriguez slowly gathered the first-team players and began giving a speech.
This was the first time he had done something like this.
No.
He'd probably keep doing it from now on.
After all, he had always treated practice games rather casually.
“As previously announced, Choi Seong will be our Opening Day starter. He is currently our hottest and most consistent rookie.”
He had deliberately emphasized the word rookie.
Probably because the other players hadn't lived up to his expectations.
“From now on, if I decide that someone is not helping this team, I will remove that player from the lineup without hesitation. You are professionals.”
It was an obvious statement.
And the reaction was predictably cold.
No.
Some of them actually looked nervous.
That was only natural.
In professional baseball, you eventually had to prove yourself through skill.
“I want you to show the fans a level of play that you won't be ashamed of. It may be difficult for us to beat Gwangju this time, but regardless of the result, we must at least play like professionals.”
Manager Rodriguez looked at each player one by one.
Then he continued.
“Once all of you regain your proper form, I believe we'll be somewhere near the top of the standings. This year, we can definitely make the postseason.”
Not a championship.
His benchmark was merely reaching the postseason.
Yes.
This was exactly the Manager Rodriguez I remembered.
He was realistic enough to assume that our first three games of the season would be difficult.
I looked forward with burning eyes.
This was my first official start.
There was no way I could allow it to end in defeat.
“I'll announce the lineup.”
Rather than hope, an uneasy tension filled the room as Opening Day approached.
Manager Rodriguez was giving everyone a warning.
A manager held the authority to decide the lineup, yet instead of talking about victory, he was talking about defeat.
That alone proved he wasn't satisfied with the current players.
Busan Oceans Opening Day Starting Lineup vs. Gwangju Jaguars
Starting Pitcher: Choi Seong
1st Batter: Kwon Geonwoo (Center Fielder)
2nd Batter: Park Hyeonghwan (Left Fielder)
3rd Batter: Daniel Sanchez (Third Baseman)
4th Batter: Kim Hakseong (First Baseman)
5th Batter: Yoon Jaejun (Catcher)
6th Batter: Yoo Gam (Right Fielder)
7th Batter: Park Seunga (Second Baseman)
8th Batter: Kwon Seonho (Shortstop)
9th Batter: Choi Seong (Pitcher)
I had been placed ninth in the batting order.
For now, the starting lineup had mostly remained the same, but there was no telling how it would change later.
Especially someone like senior Park Seunga, whose limitations were already beginning to show.
Manager Rodriguez unfolded the lineup sheet and slowly began explaining his decisions to the players.
“Yoo Gam still hasn't completely recovered his batting form. That's why Yoon Jaejun, who has recently been rated slightly higher in terms of extra-base hitting, has been moved up in the batting order.”
“Yes, sir!”
The players answered loudly.
Manager Rodriguez continued.
“As for Choi Seong, there's nothing wrong with putting him higher in the batting order based on his current performance. However, it's still early in the season, and giving him too many plate appearances would increase his risk of injury. That's why, for now, I'm batting him ninth.”
Once the manager finished explaining, the players went outside to warm up.
The familiar Sajik Baseball Stadium.
