A Rookie in the Baseball Team is Too Good

Chapter 6: No Backing Down (2)

Sakhalin Park, Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju.

He approached Kim Ji-seop.

“Do you have something to say to me? Why are you staring at me like that?”

Up close, “Sakhalin Park” was indeed a man worthy of being called a big shot.

First of all, his physique was enormous.

Although he seemed slightly shorter than Ji-seop, who stood at 187cm, his broad shoulders and bulging trapezius muscles were certainly intimidating.

His hair, slicked back with pomade, and his sharply tailored suit were no ordinary sight either.

Above all, his fierce gaze, as if he were about to devour the person standing in front of him, was the most striking feature.

‘Even after surpassing seventy years of age… Hehe, back in the day, even the Russian President must have broken a sweat dealing with him.’

But Ji-seop was not someone to be intimidated by appearances.

He had the ability to read the inner thoughts of others.

No matter how “big” someone seemed, their inner thoughts were often no different from anyone else’s.

This time,

was no exception.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? If you were staring at someone, you must have had a reason!”

“Sakhalin Park” growled like an old tiger.

Facing the legendary figure who once negotiated with the Russian President, Ji-seop spoke without a change in expression.

“Vice Chairman.”

“What?”

“Why are you making things so difficult?”

The moment Ji-seop finished speaking, everyone in the training hall widened their eyes in shock.

They never expected that a guy who at most used to sell ‘custom gloves’ would speak so boldly to the almighty Sakhalin Park.

“W-Wait a minute… Coach Kim!”

Director Oh Su-man of [Superstar Baseball] tried to stop Ji-seop, but Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju raised his hand to hold him back.

“What did you just say?”

Vice Chairman Park narrowed his eyes.

“Did you say I’m making things difficult?”

“Isn’t that the case?”

Ji-seop continued.

“You’re yelling that a man over seventy can’t play baseball… but the truth is, you’re right.”

“What?”

“When you get older, your reflexes slow down. When your reflexes slow down, various dangerous situations can arise while playing baseball.”

“You might not be able to dodge a flying ball, or you could sprain a joint while making a sudden turn while running.”

It was a statement that was practically common sense, yet Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju didn’t seem to accept it easily.

“That applies to the ordinary old men sitting in senior centers! I’m different!”

Vice Chairman Park thumped his chest with his palm, as broad as a cauldron lid.

“I’m someone who won’t lose to anyone when it comes to health management! Even the doctors say my physical age is in my mid-fifties! How could someone like me not be able to play baseball?!”

Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju clenched his fist, seemingly to show off his still-intact strength.

Ji-seop, thinking that he looked somewhat like a child, spoke again.

“Exactly. That’s exactly what I want to say.”

“What?”

“Think about it. Do you think we can’t tell? Whether or not the Vice Chairman enjoys exercising regularly?”

For the first time, Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju, who had been refuting Ji-seop’s every word, closed his mouth tightly at this point.

“We’re professionals too. We know that if you just take a light baseball lesson or two, there won’t be any major issues.”

“T-Then why…?”

“Do you really not know? It’s because you’re such an important person, Vice Chairman.”

“I-Important?”

Vice Chairman Park showed a rather surprised expression.

Has this old man never considered his own position in life?

Or has there simply been no one around him to tell him these things?

Feeling slightly bewildered, Ji-seop continued speaking.

“From the start, if you had brought a doctor’s note saying you were fit to play baseball, things would have been much easier.”

“……”

“Or, you’re wealthy, aren’t you? If you had brought along a doctor you’re familiar with, it would have been even better.”

“……”

“Coming here without any preparation, insisting that you want to play baseball—how do you expect us to take that? If you get even a small injury, our necks are on the line.”

“I-I understand what you’re saying, but…”

Although Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju seemed unable to find a specific counterargument, it appeared that his pride was still intact.

He raised his voice again.

“You, young man, I… I’m a busy person!”

It seemed he had found the right angle.

Vice Chairman Park raised his voice even higher.

“For a busy man like me, with barely any time to breathe due to company matters, you’re telling me to go through all that trouble—getting a doctor, getting a certificate—for just one game of baseball?”

It seemed that Vice Chairman Park was trying to salvage the last of his dignity, but even that didn’t faze Ji-seop.

“Did you say… ‘just one game of baseball’?”

Ji-seop chuckled.

“Who was it, again, who yelled, cursed, and kicked the consultation room door because they weren’t allowed to play that ‘just one game of baseball’?”

“W-What?!”

Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju was at a loss for words.

Staring at Ji-seop with a dumbfounded expression, he quickly called out to the middle-aged man standing beside him, “Secretary Yang.”

“Yes, Vice Chairman.”

“Get that guy’s contact information.”

That was the last thing Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju said that day.

* * *

The incident of KH Group’s Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju visiting the [Superstar Baseball] training center…

Ji-seop learned about the full story later that afternoon.

-Wow, wow…

-Our Coach Kim… wow…

The men who had been repeatedly exclaiming “wow, wow” at Ji-seop had all gone home.

-Phew, Coach Kim! My heart nearly jumped out of my chest!

-Coach Kim, are you really Kim Ji-chang’s younger brother? If you were, you wouldn’t have such guts!

After getting an earful from Coach Han Min-wook and Director Oh Su-man,

Director Oh, who had gone through a truly dynamic day, finally spoke with a long sigh.

“It’s nothing major… Apparently, KH Group will be holding an in-house baseball tournament next week.”

At that moment, Ji-seop recalled what Coach Han Min-wook had said a few hours earlier.

About how many in-house baseball tournaments are held in October.

“The tournament is originally for employees only… but this year, the executives are required to participate as well.”

“Is that why he made such a fuss?”

Coach Han Min-wook looked slightly puzzled.

“At his age, shouldn’t Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju be able to ignore such instructions?”

“Hey, Coach Han, did you not see how stubborn that old man was today? Did you not see him insisting that his physical age is still in his mid-fifties?”

Director Oh chuckled.

“Was it Secretary Yang? That guy said the Vice Chairman was planning to approach some well-known coaches he knew. But no one was willing to take him on…”

“So, after being turned down by all the coaches, he ended up at our training center.”

“Well, in a way… Vice Chairman Park’s age might not have been the real issue. Maybe it was just his difficult personality that made everyone wave him off.”

As the conversation reached this point, Director Oh and Coach Han exchanged glances and both looked at Ji-seop.

“Coach Kim.”

“Yes.”

“Did you get a call from that Secretary Yang guy earlier?”

“Yes, just as the 9 o’clock session was ending.”

The call had been about Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju receiving a doctor’s note.

It also mentioned that if Ji-seop wanted, a doctor would accompany him during every lesson.

Of course, the most important part was the request for Ji-seop to take on Vice Chairman Park’s private lessons for the next ten days.

“So… did you agree?”

Coach Han asked.

Ji-seop nodded.

“I didn’t see any reason to refuse. The Director strongly recommended it as well.”

There was no need to mention that the lesson fee had been set at a surprisingly high amount.

“They said a chauffeur would pick me up for each lesson. They’d also provide unlimited supplies for the lessons, and I’d have full control over the lesson content and style. Ah…”

Ji-seop looked at Director Oh.

“There was just one condition they asked me to compromise on.”

“Compromise? What kind of compromise?”

“They said Vice Chairman Park is an incredibly busy person, so he can’t stick to a fixed schedule. Instead, he’ll contact me whenever he has time, and I should be ready to go whenever that happens.”

“Well, someone like Vice Chairman Park might demand those kinds of terms.”

Director Oh turned his gaze to the whiteboard on the wall.

“Then for the next ten days, I’ll take you off the group lesson schedule, Coach Kim. There’s actually someone else who was scheduled for an interview, anyway.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“It’s better than having you run out in the middle of a lesson after receiving a call. For the time being, focus on Vice Chairman Park’s private lessons. After all…”

Director Oh added,

“I’m taking 20% of the private lesson fee anyway.”

“Ah…”

When Ji-seop hesitated slightly, Director Oh smiled gently and asked,

“You’re not thinking about leaving [Superstar Baseball], are you?”

“What? No, absolutely not. I would never.”

He’s a sharp old man.

Ji-seop thought to himself.

* * *

Later that day, after leaving [Superstar Baseball], Ji-seop received another call from Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju’s secretary.

-Coach Kim Ji-seop, the Vice Chairman has decided to make time tomorrow morning. Please prepare for the first lesson.

“Understood.”

After hanging up the phone, Ji-seop sat down at his desk and began to draft a personal lesson plan for Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju.

‘Even if Sakhalin Park is healthy, I can’t push him through the same training as the other men…’

In fact, Ji-seop was known at [Superstar Baseball] for his tough training.

Even just during the stretching, the members would start panting, and after the batting and fielding practice, they would be groaning in pain.

Even when Director Oh told him to go easy, this was the one area Ji-seop would never compromise on.

However, it seemed unlikely that he could maintain his coaching style with the elderly Vice Chairman Park.

‘Alright, since tomorrow is the first day, I’ll start light with some toss batting.’

So, after setting up a “mild” lesson plan, Ji-seop went to bed, but—

Brrrr— Brrrr— Brrrrr—

Less than three hours after he lay down, Ji-seop was forced to wake up by the sound of his ringing phone.

‘An unknown number… Who could it be?’

With his eyes half-closed, Ji-seop put the phone to his ear.

“Who is it?”

The voice that came next was full of energy, as if the speaker had swallowed a train engine.

-Were you still sleeping? How do you plan to be my teacher with that kind of mindset?

Ji-seop was slightly taken aback.

“Is this… Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju?”

-Do you have another personal lesson client besides me?

And then came the nagging.

-Didn’t Secretary Yang inform you? I distinctly remember saying I’d be taking the lesson this morning.

“I did hear that, but…”

Ji-seop looked at the clock.

“But it’s still 4 AM.”

-4 AM is still morning, isn’t it? The morning’s already four hours in! I’m at your place. Hurry up and get ready.

After saying his piece, Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju abruptly hung up.

“……”

Staring at the “Call Ended” sign on the phone, Ji-seop gritted his teeth.

‘Vice Chairman, today…’

He lightly tapped the “mild” lesson plan on his desk, knocking it aside.

‘Today, I’m going to push you hard.’

Tomorrow, you won’t be calling me at 4 AM.

I’m sure of it.