episode_0022

“Ugh. How can the scouting team be so incompetent?”

Cheon So-young, the young operations manager of AT Thunders and the heiress of the AT Group, sighed as she covered the documents. The papers she was looking at were for the upcoming first draft that would determine the fate of the club for the next 10 years. However, the most crucial player documents were missing.

“Tsk. Incompetents. We have no one in the team because they pick players with their own eyes.”

So-young shook her head and clicked her tongue.

“How can they recommend players whose potential is not even above 35?”

She wanted to fire the entire scouting team who listed these trash-like players as first-round picks.

So-young was a special person. Of course, being born a woman in the prestigious Cheon family was special enough, but in the realm of baseball, she was even more exceptional. Ever since she touched some strange trash at the World Series she went to with her grandfather in her childhood, she could see the value of baseball players.

“Grandpa! The Cardinals won!”

“This victory marks the first Cardinals win since 1982.”

“Really? They’ve been around longer than our team?”

“That’s right. It takes a long time for teams to win in Major League Baseball because there are many teams. So-young.”

“Huh?! Who left this trash here! I should pick it up. Eeek!”

“So-young! So-young! What’s wrong all of a sudden? Manager Kim! Manager Kim!”

“Chairman!!”

The chilling memory of that day still haunted her. The ghostly old man floating and the devil whispering to sign a contract. Even now, the memory of that day remained a trauma, making So-young avoid setting foot in the St. Louis region even when traveling to the United States.

“It was terrible.”

Since that day, So-young lost something in exchange for gaining the ability to assess a baseball player’s skills. Because she touched that trash and saw the ghost. To a 9-year-old girl, ghosts were terrifying beings. Naturally, chaos ensued in the household.

Although she received treatment at a mental hospital for seeing ghosts, they continued to appear. Eventually, after receiving talismans from a shaman, the ghosts stopped appearing. But due to that incident, her reputation suffered, leading to her failure to inherit other subsidiaries.

Her grandfather and uncles liked So-young, but they hesitated to appoint a mentally ill So-young as a CEO. All that was left was the baseball team, which was her chairman’s hobby. Despite any failures, it was a suitable position for So-young, who enjoyed watching baseball games with Chairman Cheon.

Chairman Cheon was pleased to give one subsidiary to his granddaughter, who wouldn’t feel burdened by it, so So-young ended up inheriting AT Thunders without much objection.

Fortunately, the side business she started at twenty was earning her some money, so she had no major complaints. Still, it was a bit regretful that she couldn’t show her abilities to her grandfather.

“I can do well too…”

Thus, So-young, who graduated from college last year, was a team member in the operations team this year and became the team leader. She was on track to become the CEO in a few years.

“Anyway, let me become the CEO. I’ll change everything.”

Still, Soyoung and AT Thunders were a good match. Soyoung had been a die-hard fan of AT Thunders since she was young, influenced by her grandfather. Moreover, although Soyoung seemed useless in society, her abilities on the baseball field were fantastic.

Last year, she could not change teams as a mere team member, but now she is the operations team leader. It was a good position to change the team. The position of operations team leader had more influence on the team than the president did in modern baseball teams because the president was just there for approvals.

And gradually changing the team from the operations team leader to the president, she would lead a team that hadn’t won the fall baseball in 20 years to victory. That was Soyoung’s plan.

“I may only receive subsidiaries like Thunders now, but if I succeed here, won’t my father and uncles look at me differently? Then the succession structure…”

Currently, there was no one in the family who saw themselves as a successor. However, if she led the failed AT Thunders to victory, her evaluation might change. And…

“I wish Grandfather could see Thunders win…”

She would give the victory to her beloved and respected grandfather lying in the hospital bed. Since baseball was what her grandfather loved throughout his life, it would surely help with his treatment.

“To do that, the draft is important. Those bastards.”

The sight of Soyoung getting angry made it hard to believe she was the same person as the cold beauty from earlier.

-Ddok Ddok.

As she cursed, a knocking sound was heard at the door. Soyoung quickly composed herself and returned to her usual businesslike and cold demeanor.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and a man entered.

“Team leader, preparations are complete.”

The man nervously conveyed his message to Soyoung’s cold demeanor. The first-round selection meeting. Starting next year, it would be a crucial first-round draft due to the switch to a full draft system.

“I understand. Let’s go together.”

Knowing the importance, Soyoung prepared herself and walked to the meeting room. In the meeting room, the operations team, scout team, operations director, and chairman were already seated.

“I am Team Leader Cheon Soyoung.”

The chairman and operations director didn’t mind Soyoung being the last to arrive. She would be the future president. Perhaps the person they needed to impress the most was Cheon Soyoung.

“Now that Team Leader Cheon is here, let’s begin.”

At the chairman’s words, the lights in the meeting room went off, and the projector illuminated the screen. Despite the dim environment, everyone in the meeting room focused on the screen illuminated by the projector. No one here was unaware of the importance of this meeting.

“Hello. I’m Hong Hyeoncheol, the scout team leader.”

“Let’s skip the formalities and get to the point.”

At the chairman’s words, Scout Team Leader Hong Hyeoncheol nodded and gestured. The screen immediately switched to the next slide at Hyeoncheol’s gesture. Concise proceedings. It showed the changed meeting style of AT Thunders suggested by Soyoung, who joined last year.

“First, the first pick candidate is Kim Wonho from Korea Sports High School. Height 193cm, weight 83kg. He is a right-handed pitcher. His highest pitch speed was 154km/h thrown in this Golden Lion Cup, with an average speed of 148km/h. He throws two types of sliders in the 140s, and occasionally throws a splitter as a third pitch. His control is top-tier in high school baseball.”

“Any chance Shinla won’t select him?”

“At the moment, no. He has a history of injuries, but he has stepped up his game since then. Besides, these days, Tommy John surgery isn’t a big deal, right?”

Although he was a likely first-round pick, ever since a player who was excluded from the draft due to Tommy John surgery made it big in the Major Leagues, scouts avoided excluding players based on Tommy John surgery during the draft.

The people gathered in the conference room had erased the possibility of naming Kim Won-ho from their minds.

“Among pitchers, he was the only one with a 30/55 stat. It’s a shame. He won’t drop to the second round, right?”

Soyoung also quickly erased Kim Won-ho’s name from her mind.

“Moreover, even if Shilla rejects him, there is a high chance he will be selected in Hanchul.”

“Just my luck to be assigned as the third choice at a time like this. Sigh.”

“Well then, let’s move on to the next player. Pitcher Park Ji-hwan from Yongsan Internet High School. Height 191cm, weight 90kg. It was confirmed in the last tournament that he threw 150km/h even after throwing over 100 pitches. The average speed is 142-144. The highest speed is 153. Plus, his strength lies in throwing various breaking balls. The drop on his curveball is quite significant.”

“Sigh. 30/40. He’s a good player, but… it’s not enough, not enough.”

With each pitcher’s name mentioned, Soyoung’s sighs grew deeper. Until the end when the player with a potential of over 35 did not appear.

“…That’s all.”

As all the listed players’ names were called out, Soyoung sighed inwardly and turned on the microphone.

“I’m Operations Team Leader Cheon Soyoung. Isn’t Jimaengho from Hanchego on the list?”

Jimaengho, the only player Soyoung personally checked and was surprised by. When she first checked Maengho’s stats, she couldn’t help but be amazed. A player who had no name until now showed talent unseen in the KBA league.

“It was 35/80, right?”

When evaluating players in the Major League, a score of 80 represents the top 0.1% of talent. A talent representing an era where at most one or two players emerge. Furthermore, Soyoung’s standard was not the KBA league but the Major League. A player destined to make a mark in the Major League someday.

She wanted to fire the entire scouting team who couldn’t recognize such a player. Although she was mentally prepared for it due to his absence from the documents, during the actual meeting, when Jimaengho’s name didn’t even come up, steam rose in Soyoung’s head.

Moreover, his current stats were sufficient to compete in the first team. With 50 as the benchmark for eyes, an average player in the Major League. 45 would be a starter for a weak team, 40 would surpass AAA level but fall short in the Majors, known as a Quad-A player. Equivalent to players coming to Korea as mercenaries. Around 30-35 could be considered the average player level in the KBA league.

“To think they can’t even recognize such a player.”

“Oh, Jimaengho from Hanchego. He received the Best Player Award at the Golden Lion Cup.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Team Leader, all the players we listed have been promising prospects we’ve been watching since their first year of high school. Jimaengho didn’t even compete in his first or second year, and he only showed that kind of performance in one tournament. The scouting team is internally considering the possibility of a fluke.”

“Are you considering a fluke when his current size is around 188cm and in the late 80kg range?”

“Haha, maybe because you haven’t played baseball, Team Leader. Baseball isn’t just about physicality.”

The scout team leader presenting laughed warmly and said so. Beneath that smile was the typical disdain of a former player, saying, “What does a layman know, just observe and go.”

“Oh, Director Hong, you’re in a good mood too. To Director Cheon.”

“Well, it’s the truth.”

Ignoring the murmurs that could be heard, Soyoung spoke up again.

“I am aware of that as well. But isn’t Jimaengho’s status as the Best Player of the Golden Lion Cup enough to include him in the list?”

“Haha, there are players who get released after struggling in the minor leagues even after enduring injuries like Lee Byung-min. There’s no pro who hasn’t received the Best Player Award. Do we not have Kang Ju-hyun on our team? Kang Ju-hyun won MVP at three tournaments. But what’s the result? He can’t get out of the minor leagues.

“Unlike Kang Ju-hyun, Ji Maeng-ho has good physicality and has already hit 10 home runs.”

“So it’s not just about physicality. Moreover, consistently showing performance matters, excelling in one tournament isn’t significant.”

“Awards, physicality, records. If none of these matter, what are the scout teams looking for?”

“Haha. For hitters, swing mechanics are primarily observed. Ji Maeng-ho hits too many pull balls. It could be seen as a lack of bat control. Furthermore, Ji Maeng-ho, being an uppercut swing type aiming for home runs, doesn’t fit well with Jamsil Stadium.”

“And he has a history of injuries. Ji Maeng-ho was on leave for a year, you know? He had a major accident. He had injuries to his right shoulder and thigh, requiring serious surgery. How can you draft a player with such uncertainty in his shoulder and leg?”

Each word was a mockery. Ji Maeng-ho’s shoulder, evaluated by So-young, was already at a Major League level with a strength rating of 55/60.

“And the most important speed is already at 80/80, considered top speed even in the Major Leagues!”

The most crucial factor in evaluating speed is reaching first base. So-young measured Ji Maeng-ho’s time to first base at 3.98 seconds, comparable to Trout’s level. Ji Maeng-ho’s biggest strengths were his Major League-level physique and potential for further power development.

“Do you know that it takes Ji Maeng-ho 3.98 seconds to reach first base?”

“Well, we… but due to injury risks, he can’t sprint full force at every plate appearance. Also, if a 190-pounder runs at that speed, wouldn’t the risk of re-injury be high? We need a player with the perseverance to sprint to first base at every plate appearance.”

In the old-fashioned baseball world, So-young’s head spun. That perseverance! The gaze, the gaze!

“Moreover, this player used to play shortstop in middle school but now plays second base. His athletic abilities have decreased since the injury. That’s how we evaluated him.”

“Hmm. Based on what? Just changing positions?”

“…Yes.”

“Why not try a medical test then! Check Ji Maeng-ho’s condition.”

So-young was frustrated. Ji Maeng-ho’s physique was exceptional, even among Asians. A physique that could only be seen in the Major Leagues, and even there, in very few players.

“These narrow-minded people! Unable to recognize talent right in front of them!”

“But you know that conducting a medical test before the draft is a violation, don’t you? Surely you’re aware of that?”

“No! Just pick him and then do the medical test!”

The people gathered in the conference room were slightly taken aback by the unfamiliar sight of So-young. They thought she was cold, but here she was raising her voice. And this new demeanor provoked Hong Team Leader’s pride. Thirty years in baseball, too proud to be overshadowed by a newcomer.

“Then, are you saying that you want to take on the responsibility of the first pick for the next 10 or 20 years as such a risky gamble?”

“This is not a gamble… Jimaengho doesn’t have the physique of an Asian!”

“Hahaha. Jimaengho was good at losing weight like a model. He had a handsome face too. Oh, by the way…!”

You’re not trying to pick him because he’s handsome, right? Sooyoung wasn’t so foolish as to miss the subtle question. Rather, she was quick-witted enough to graduate from Seoul National University.

“Manager Hong! Are you joking right now? I’m trying to pick a baseball player, not a model!”

“Haha. Still, we plan to pick Jimaengho around the second or third round. He also has a history of injuries, so he might come down to that level. Of course, if he maintains this performance until the rookie draft!”

Sooyoung’s voice rose as she blushed, and Manager Hong’s voice also grew louder.

“Okay, okay.”

As the atmosphere seemed to be getting heated, the director, who held the highest position in the room, intervened.

“I understand both team managers’ thoughts about the team well. Manager Cheon, don’t think too highly of Manager Hong just because he cares about the team. Hong, calm down a bit. You’re on the same team.”

“I’m sorry.”

“……”

The atmosphere calmed down for the time being with Manager Hong’s apology.

“What do you think, Director?”

But Sooyoung wasn’t finished.

“What do you mean?”

“The first pick candidate. What do you think?”

“Haha. Since it’s still the first meeting, let’s calm down for now. I lean towards the pitcher side. After all, we play at Jamsil, the largest stadium in Korea.”

“…Then I will write a report on Jimaengho myself.”

“Manager Cheon?”

“Yes. And I hope you make a decision based on my report.”

“Ah, I see. Understood for now.”

Sooyoung finished saying what she had to say and left the meeting room. Several members of the operations team followed her out, leaving only former baseball players among the front office staff in the conference room.

“Ha. A woman who has never played baseball before.”

“That’s true.”

“Director! Don’t be too lenient. AT Thunders is our team. Even if he’s the chairman’s direct family, he has no right to ruin our team!”

“Manager Hong. Calm down a bit, there are also operations team members here, right?”

“Hey, are you picking a fight, Kim Munhyun?”

“Oh, senior. Am I picking a fight?”

“Manager Hong, you should understand if the operations team leader is annoyed. He’s going to be the CEO in a few years.”

“Can I even stay here until then?”

“Be careful so you can. But it’s nice to have a hometown team, right?”

“Yeah… Well, that’s true. Since I’ve spent my entire career at AT.”

“Yeah. Try to get along like that. The operations team leader wants everything to go well, right?”

“It’s not going to go well. It’s probably just picking players based on their faces like an ordinary female fan. Well, at least the uniforms will sell well when they come.”

“But if the operations team leader wants it, shouldn’t we go in that direction? After all, this team is the chairman’s toy…”

“So that’s why we haven’t made it to the fall baseball for 20 years?”

“Calm down a bit. I’m equally frustrated. But let’s face reality.”

While the remaining employees were gossiping, Sooyoung had already started her car and was driving away.