A Rookie in the Baseball Team is Too Good

Chapter 3: The Coach from Qingdao (2)

The Superstar Baseball Academy in Gangnam, Seoul.

It was the third day since Kim Ji-seop had started working at this academy.

“Hello, Coach!”

“Yes, welcome! How are you feeling today?”

It was nearing 7 PM.

As the members who had come for baseball lessons began to arrive one by one, someone tapped Ji-seop on the back.

“Coach Kim.”

“Oh, Coach Han.”

The person who had approached Ji-seop was Coach Han Min-wook.

He was two years older than Ji-seop.

With some professional experience and as the longest-serving coach at the academy, he had taken on the role of Ji-seop’s mentor.

“Is something wrong?”

“I overheard something from the director… Coach Kim, you took the Tabota glove, didn’t you? The Nakamura Hideo limited edition.”

“Oh, yes. The director said he’d make sure I got a decent margin, so I thought I’d give selling it a shot.”

“Well, it’s good that you’re trying hard since you’re new here, but….”

Sssup.

Coach Han took a deep breath.

“Don’t overdo it.”

“Sorry?”

At first, Ji-seop thought it was the usual “old-timers” trying to put a new recruit in their place.

But when he looked into Coach Han’s eyes, he realized that he genuinely seemed concerned for him.

[This Qingdao guy might end up paying for the glove out of his own pocket if he’s not careful.]

Being able to read other people’s thoughts comes in handy at times like these.

It makes it easy to tell whether someone is being friendly or not.

In any case, Coach Han was a well-meaning person. Ji-seop relaxed slightly and replied.

“What do you mean by ‘don’t overdo it’?”

“Coach Kim, who are you planning to sell that Tabota glove to?”

Coach Han wore an expression that suggested he already knew the answer.

“Shall I take a guess? You’re planning to sell it to Mr. Choi, who comes for the 7 PM slot, aren’t you?”

He was right.

“Wow, you’re like a psychic.”

“Heh, I’ve been working here for years. I can read things like that easily.”

President Choi Kyung-min of the 7 PM slot.

He was a man who ran a large studio apartment rental business near Daechi Station and was one of the most noticeable figures at Superstar Baseball Academy.

From the clothes he wore, to the watch on his wrist, and even the car he drove away in after lessons.

But what stood out the most was his obsession with baseball equipment. Every time he came to the academy, he brought a variety of colorful baseball gear.

“In terms of wealth and interest in baseball, if you were to sell that Tabota glove to anyone, it would definitely be President Choi. The only problem is….”

Coach Han lowered his voice.

“No coach who’s worked here has ever managed to sell even a single batting glove to President Choi.”

“Why?”

“Why? Because none of the stuff we have here is good enough to satisfy his refined taste.”

“Refined… taste?”

At that moment, the “President Choi” in question appeared at the entrance of the academy.

After giving him a slight nod, the two began to whisper again.

“Look at that. See that wooden bat he has on his shoulder? That’s the one Giancarlo Stanton used.”

“Giancarlo Stanton? The cleanup hitter for the New York Yankees?”

“Yes, everything that man uses is like that. Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, Derek Jeter… He’s covered in gear that either Major League players used or was supplied to them.”

‘An older man who showed up wearing items that ranged from several hundred thousand to millions of won.’

‘And yet here I was, trying to interest him in a mere one million won limited-edition glove.’

“In my opinion, you’d better give up on that Tabota glove. Or maybe find another buyer.”

Coach Han offered his advice with a worried look, but Ji-seop just slowly shook his head.

“I appreciate your concern, but I’d like to try it my way first.”

“Your… way?”

[I’ve seen people go broke trying that.]

That’s what Coach Han’s eyes seemed to say.

* * *

The baseball lessons at Superstar Baseball Academy generally proceeded in this order:

Warm-up and stretching.

Infield defense training.

Batting practice.

Since the academy was located in the basement of a building, outfield defense training was usually conducted separately on weekends when they rented a field.

Given this schedule, Ji-seop decided to start his “glove sales pitch” during infield defense training.

“Alright, I’m going to hit some fungoes! When I hit the ball, just catch it and throw it into the net as hard as you can!”

“Got it, Coach!”

“Fungo! Fungo!”

Infield fungo training, led by Coach Han, was underway.

Ji-seop approached today’s “target,” President Choi, after they had gone through the drills a few times.

“Mr. Choi.”

“Oh, Coach Kim! What’s up?”

At that moment, President Choi looked slightly deflated.

It was only natural. By that point, he had missed all three of the balls hit toward him.

Ji-seop had timed his approach perfectly.

“You don’t seem to be in great shape today.”

“That’s right, huh? Ugh, maybe it’s because of this gut… I just can’t keep up with the balls.”

With a bitter smile, Mr. Choi fidgeted with his glove.

Ji-seop seized the moment.

“Well, it might be partly due to your build… but I think it might help to switch gloves.”

Ji-seop offered him the glove he was holding.

The Tabota limited edition glove.

It was the very glove Ji-seop had painstakingly broken in over the past three days.

“Why don’t you borrow this for today? You should think about getting a new glove soon.”

“A new glove? Maybe it is time for that.”

A strange smile spread across Mr. Choi’s face at that moment.

“Coach Kim, I’m a bit disappointed.”

“Sorry?”

“Didn’t Coach Han tell you? I don’t even look at anything unless it’s top-notch.”

“….”

“And don’t you think I wouldn’t recognize this glove? This is that Tabota limited edition from the office, isn’t it? What’s it, around a million won? You’re trying to sell me something that low-level? That’s kind of insulting, you know?”

At some point, the fungo training in the academy had come to a halt.

As Mr. Choi’s voice rose, everyone’s attention was naturally drawn to them.

Among them, Coach Han Min-wook wore an expression that said, “He’s messed up.”

But,

“….”

Ji-seop calmly opened his mouth, as always.

“Mr. Choi, I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Hmm?”

“Yes, this is the Tabota limited edition from the office. But I don’t recall saying I was trying to sell it to you.”

“I said I’d lend it to you.”

Ji-seop continued.

“And if we’re talking about ‘levels’… I’d say this Tabota is of a much higher level than the glove you’re using now.”

“What, what did you just say?! Ha, haha, hahahaha.”

Mr. Choi laughed as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.

“Coach Kim, are you sure you know what you’re talking about? Do you even know what this glove is?”

Mr. Choi thrust his glove under Ji-seop’s chin.

“Well? Do you?”

‘Of course, you don’t.’

‘How could you know?’

Mr. Choi looked at Ji-seop with a triumphant expression.

But Ji-seop simply gazed back into Mr. Choi’s eyes and finally spoke.

“Andrelton Simmons.”

“Hmm?!”

“It’s the glove Andrelton Simmons, considered one of the best shortstops in Major League Baseball, used during the 2021 season. Isn’t that right?”

“How, how did you…?”

Mr. Choi was taken aback, and the others around them reacted with exclamations of awe.

“Coach Kim, how did you know?”

“It doesn’t look much different from any other glove.”

“Wow, our Coach Kim knows his gloves, doesn’t he?”

Even Coach Han, who had been watching anxiously, now looked wide-eyed.

But that didn’t mean Mr. Choi’s spirit was completely broken.

“Well, yes… that’s right! This is Andrelton Simmons’ glove. The one he personally used! And you’re saying….”

“Yes, you know it.”

Mr. Choi looked at Ji-seop.

“How could you possibly claim that this glove is of a lower level than the Tabota? Huh?”

“Well, if you’re planning to use it as a display piece, Simmons’ glove isn’t a bad choice. But if you intend to use it in an actual game….”

Tap, tap.

Ji-seop tapped his glove.

“I’d say this glove is of far greater value.”

“Haha, are you serious?”

“Why don’t you try it out instead of talking? Catch a few balls with this….”

Ji-seop gave a faint smile.

“And you’ll see the difference for yourself.”

* * *

The glove that Andrelton Simmons, one of the best shortstops in Major League Baseball, had actually used.

And the limited-edition Tabota glove that Ji-seop had broken in himself.

It didn’t take long for baseball enthusiast President Choi to feel the difference between the two.

Of course,at first, he was extremely agitated.

“Coach Han! Make sure you hit the balls exactly like before! If you go easy on him just because you’re siding with Coach Kim, I’ll really quit this academy!”

That was how loudly Mr. Choi was shouting.

But when the first ball flew in with a sharp crack and he reached out with his glove—

“?!!”

Mr. Choi’s face showed an expression as if he had just seen a ghost.

‘What, what is this?!’

He hadn’t even put much effort into it, but the white ball was snugly nestled in the glove.

Of course, it wasn’t something he could fully grasp all at once after such a commotion.

After catching the ball, Mr. Choi tossed it away and shouted again.

“Again! That hit was too soft! Hit it just like before!”

“Yes, sir!”

And so, a few more fungoes went back and forth.

Crack— Thump!

Crack— Thump!

Crack— Thuuump!

Each time the ball flew, Mr. Choi caught it without much difficulty.

And after catching the seventh ball, Mr. Choi ran straight to the smiling Ji-seop.

“Co-Coach Kim! What is this… What is this glove?”

The angry tone from earlier was nowhere to be found.

Like a country boy who had just tasted ice cream for the first time, Mr. Choi approached with sparkling eyes.

Ji-seop raised an eyebrow slightly and asked.

“Did you feel the difference?”

“Feel the difference? It’s not just a difference! This is no joke!”

Mr. Choi began to “testify.”

“With Simmons’ glove, the ball felt like it was bouncing all over the place… but with this glove, the ball just slid right in!”

“I thought so.”

“How is this possible? How could a mere one-million-won glove be better than the one used by the best shortstop in the world?”

In truth, at that moment, Ji-seop was secretly smiling.

When he looked into Mr. Choi’s eyes, his thoughts were clearer than ever.

[I want it!]

[I want it!]

[I really want this glove!]

All that was left now,

was to strike a deal.