Chapter 27
27. U18 World Baseball Championship
Corpus Christi Blue Ghosts player housing.
When people imagined minor league housing, the image was usually obvious.
Old motels.
Old apartments.
Four or five players packed together.
Corpus Christi was not much different.
Most player housing was old and shared.
Seo Ji-tae was different again.
“Good thing I negotiated housing too.”
There was a reason he had placed so many options into the contract.
Housing was one of them.
Same as Single-A.
The location had changed.
The room had not.
He lived alone.
Using a single room by himself was extremely unusual in team-provided minor league housing.
Seo Ji-tae stretched and got out of bed.
The first thing on his mind was recovery training.
Before that, he reached for his phone.
“Why is the battery dead?”
The phone was completely off.
Seo Ji-tae frowned and grabbed a 110V adapter.
“Huh?”
The moment the phone turned on, he froze.
Thousands of notifications covered the screen.
“What is this…?”
A social media account Seo Ji-tae had created long ago and forgotten had exploded.
“People from Texas?”
Countless English comments appeared.
, Choosing Houston was the best decision. Get called up and save this garbage team immediately!
, A switch monster has appeared! Savior of the Apollos!
, When are you coming to Minute Maid Park? We’re dying here!
“Minute Maid Park? Ah, right. In this era it isn’t called Daikin Park yet.”
The fact that it was really 2012 hit him again.
Korean comments had exploded too.
, Hyung, sorry for cursing you before.
, Proving everything with skill, amazing.
, So skipping the KBO and going straight to America wasn’t arrogance. He really could do it.
Apollos fans and Korean fans had flooded his notifications.
“Double-A naturally gets more attention.”
This was where real prospects waited.
From here, the fight was about how quickly they could climb.
While Seo Ji-tae enjoyed the rising attention, he noticed a call from Ian Kim.
“Hello?”
“Seo Ji-tae, even after only one game, your recognition is rising everywhere. Personal sponsorships for Asian minor leaguers are unusual. Especially because you’re a switch pitcher, equipment sponsorship could help a lot.”
“I’ll leave that stuff to you, agent hyung. Get me a good deal.”
Sponsor offers were already coming.
Seo Ji-tae found negotiations annoying.
He was still an athlete who needed to focus on growth.
“More importantly, I’m busy building my body in the minors. I still have a long way to go. I’ll enjoy this kind of cheering after I reach the Major Leagues.”
Silence came from the phone.
He had played only one Double-A game.
But it had been a successful day.
“You can enjoy praise and attention a little more. Desire for that joy is also useful for a player’s growth.”
“Well, I am happy. I’m just saving most of it for when I reach the Majors.”
“Exactly. That hunger for improvement matters. Make sure today’s recovery training is done safely.”
Seo Ji-tae ended the short call and stood.
Before heading to the stadium, he stopped at a nearby market.
Sports drinks and protein bars. Keep it simple.
While pushing the cart, he noticed people looking at him.
“Hmm?”
He turned and understood.
Several wore shirts with Houston logos.
They looked between Seo Ji-tae and the store shelves, whispering excitedly.
“It’s Seo! Isn’t that the Asian pitcher who debuted yesterday?”
“Who? I don’t follow the minors.”
“You know switch pitchers? He throws with both hands.”
“Seriously? That’s possible? You’re joking.”
“Let’s go see a game.”
“I don’t watch Double-A!”
Seo Ji-tae had not arrived in America as a famous super prospect known across the country.
More people still did not know him than did.
But one game had clearly made an impact on hardcore baseball fans.
One of them approached carefully with a baseball and pen.
“Excuse me, could I get your autograph? Your pitching yesterday was incredible.”
“I’ve only pitched one Double-A game. I should be the one thanking you.”
Seo Ji-tae felt genuinely happy receiving his first autograph request in America.
I have fans watching me now.
On the way to recovery training, his body suddenly felt lighter.
Several days later.
Seo Ji-tae’s second Double-A appearance began.
The opposing hitters still had little experience with him.
“Boooo!”
Road fans booed loudly.
Seo Ji-tae’s expression remained flat.
He was only a prospect with one good game.
A strong debut could happen.
The opposing crowd wanted to show him the bitter reality of Double-A.
Instead, they faced 156 km/h fastballs and splitters.
Those two pitches alone overwhelmed the second team.
“Out!”
The umpire’s calls kept coming.
