Chapter 16
16. Welcome to the Houston Apollos
[Which team is Seo Ji-tae negotiating with right now? Someone leak something.]
, It’s been two months without news. Is he really going to America?
, No way. How does a first-year high school kid go straight to the Major Leagues?
, Impossible. He has to start in the minors.
, Didn’t I see an article saying the Stars and Bronx made huge offers?
, Stop joking. The Stars and Bronx spending big money on one high school kid when they already have players worth hundreds of millions? LOL.
, I heard rumors about the Orcas and Signal too. Where is he going?
, There are suddenly rumors linking him with the Houston Apollos too, LOL.
, What if he refuses the KBO draft and ends up with nowhere to go? LOL.
After the Golden Lion Tournament, Seo Ji-tae’s presence became even stronger.
Even while he left everything to his agent and quietly focused on building his body, baseball communities argued about him every single day.
A first-year high school student was challenging Major League Baseball.
It was an unprecedented situation.
Instead of excitement, rumors filled with doubt and mockery continued spreading.
[Did the Stars contact Seo Ji-tae?]
The rumors coming from behind the scenes were specific and shocking.
There were stories that the wealthy LA Stars and New York Bronx were preparing huge offers.
There were stories that the Tampa Bay Signal, famous for developing pitchers, and the Seattle Orcas had entered the race.
Even the last-place Houston Apollos, currently in a complete rebuild, were mentioned as a possible destination.
, Are the rumors true? I heard Seo Ji-tae is arrogantly making demands to Major League teams?
, Who the hell does he think he is?
Seo Ji-tae’s rumored contract demands caused even more controversy.
Stories spread that he was asking Major League organizations for conditions such as strict guarantees on his minor league pitching schedule and unlimited use of the newest training facilities.
Public opinion became even harsher.
, So what if a freshman throws 154? If he can’t command it, he’ll just become batting practice in America.
, His agent is doing crazy media play. Why would Major League teams accept demands from some arrogant kid?
, He’ll get mentally destroyed and come crawling back to the KBO within three years, LOL.
There was more distrust and ridicule than congratulations.
His previous statement that he wanted to play on a bigger stage than the KBO had already made much of the Korean baseball world dislike him.
Then a column written by a famous Korean baseball coach poured more oil on the fire.
[A young player rushing directly into Major League Baseball is poison. His velocity is impressive, but in my opinion, his command is lacking. In Korea, his fastball worked because of its speed, but if he relies only on velocity without fixing his command, injuries may end his career.]
The Korean baseball world looked at him coldly.
The KBO already attracted eight million spectators and would someday pass ten million.
And Seo Ji-tae had said Major League Baseball was at a higher level and left for America?
“It’s true that Major League Baseball is at a higher level, but he’s arrogant. A kid who might not even survive in the KBO…!”
To them, Seo Ji-tae’s actions felt like an insult to the KBO.
But Seo Ji-tae did not care.
At that exact moment, he and Ian Kim were celebrating a signing bonus of 1.5 million dollars.
[Seo Ji-tae signs with the Houston Apollos! A huge 1.5 million dollar signing bonus!]
A short while later.
Camera flashes exploded across a crowded press conference room.
Ian Kim and Seo Ji-tae sat side by side at the podium in clean suits.
“How did you get them up to 1.5 million dollars? Houston originally offered the least at one million.”
“Anything can happen until the final stage of negotiations.”
Ian Kim had secured not only their demanded conditions, but also increased the signing bonus to 1.5 million dollars.
However, instead of openly celebrating, he calmly watched the press conference room with a cold expression.
“From this point on, this is a press conference. This will be your final Korean press conference before going to Houston, so do not make a mistake.”
“Of course.”
Seo Ji-tae looked toward the reporters with a body that had grown noticeably thicker.
Two months of systematic training and diet management had clearly changed his physical condition.
He had grown to 182 centimeters.
His shoulders and core had developed enough to handle the explosive force of his pitching.
But the reporters did not notice those details.
The moment questions began, sharp questions filled with confusion and jealousy came before any congratulations.
“I’m Reporter Park from Sunwoo Sports. Experts are concerned that Seo Ji-tae’s pitching form is still incomplete. Wasn’t it too hasty to declare that you were going to America based only on your 154 km/h velocity?”
“American rookie ball is famous for its terrible environment. Aren’t you worried that your pitching form will break down while trying to survive there?”
The atmosphere felt less like an interview and more like adults interrogating an immature child.
Ian Kim reached for the microphone.
“I’ll answer that…”
“Ian Kim, I’ll do it.”
Seo Ji-tae pulled the microphone toward himself first.
Even in front of countless camera lenses, his expression was as calm as still water.
“Reducing velocity just because people keep complaining about command is an outdated method. First, command and control should be treated as different things.”
The room instantly became quiet.
“The spin rate and vertical movement of my fastball are already above the Major League average.”
“But your command…”
“If a 154 km/h pitch keeps that spin, hitters can swing and miss even if I throw it down the middle instead of forcing it onto the corners. I’d rather develop my velocity further. There is no need to obsess over pinpoint command. A pitcher who can’t throw into the strike zone at all would never become a professional pitcher in the first place.”
He answered only with facts supported by numbers.
Seo Ji-tae pointed toward a trend in advanced baseball that Korean baseball still refused to accept.
“You may not understand it yet, but Major League Baseball, no, every baseball league, will eventually enter an era ruled by biomechanics and data.”
“Seo Ji-tae, you speak well, but aren’t you still just a frog who has only played inside Korea? The U18 World Baseball Championship starts at the end of August this year. Shouldn’t you at least test yourself there first?”
Before Seo Ji-tae could answer, another reporter snorted from the side.
“Who says they’ll even select him?”
“Hahaha.”
Mocking laughter spread.
Seo Ji-tae remained calm.
“Honestly, I don’t care if I don’t go. But if they want to win, calling me is the safest choice.”
“Huh.”
Arrogant.
It went beyond confidence.
The reporters became even more aggressive.
“Student Seo Ji-tae. You keep talking about data, but many Korean baseball prospects challenged America and failed. Do you not look at that data?”
One reporter asked angrily.
Seo Ji-tae gave an amused snort.
“I already told you what kind of pitches I throw. They are pitches that can work even in the Major Leagues. My situation is different from an ordinary rookie.”
“Then are you saying you are more talented than all the Korean players who previously challenged America?”
Ian Kim flinched.
It was a textbook trap question.
A bad answer could make the entire country hate him.
But Seo Ji-tae did not hesitate.
“Yes.”
“!”
The press room stirred.
The reporters were even more shocked.
Normally, someone should hesitate or soften their answer to a question like that.
Seo Ji-tae did neither.
“You truly believe you are superior? Don’t you think that is arrogant?”
“You can just watch. Whether I can succeed in Major League Baseball or not, arguing here is meaningless. Also, do you have any more questions about the data showing that my pitches can work in the Major Leagues?”
“…”
He was telling them to judge the future by the result.
But the reporters and baseball officials remained cold.
They did not understand what he was saying.
More accurately, they had never intended to seriously listen to baseball data coming from a first-year high school student.
Clicking tongues and open whispers spread beneath the podium.
“Baseball isn’t only about data. People play the game. That kid is obsessed with looking fancy. He won’t make it.”
“A freshman saying command doesn’t matter? He doesn’t even understand the basics of baseball. He’s finished.”
