Chapter 37
37. Back to the Minor Leagues!
Champions.
After the final ended, Jamsil Baseball Stadium boiled like lava.
South Korea had won the 2012 U18 World Baseball Championship.
A new page had been added to Korean baseball history.
And the main author of that page was Seo Ji-tae.
“Seo Ji-tae! Seo Ji-tae! Seo Ji-tae!”
Fans filling the stands shouted his name until their throats hurt.
Nobody could deny it.
His tournament numbers were shocking.
20 innings.
0.45 ERA.
30 strikeouts.
Completely absurd.
Even someone who barely understood baseball could see how ridiculous it was.
“I didn’t know Seo Ji-tae was this good.”
“I see him differently now.”
Everyone had finally realized it.
The tournament MVP was obvious.
[Seo Ji-tae!]
The moment his name was announced, his teammates swarmed him.
The pitcher who had led Korea to the championship.
Seo Ji-tae.
The internet practically exploded.
, So that’s how switch pitching works.
, But that must be horrible for hitters, lol. Switching hands whenever he wants is too much, lol.
, You said he was a parachute pick, idiots.
, All the Seo Ji-tae haters lost their mouths, huh?
, There was a reason he went to America.
, KBO fandom is insane. A prospect goes to America and they start cursing him.
, I’m telling you, this idol-like obsession is the problem.
, Seo Ji-tae proved himself.
The praise continued.
, I was a hater, but I’m a fan starting today.
, I acknowledge Seo Ji-tae.
, Does your acknowledgment change anything? Seo Ji-tae was already good.
, It’s hilarious how all the haters suddenly shut up.
, People told Seo Ji-tae to apologize to the KBO just because he went to America. This idol behavior is getting ridiculous.
, It’s weird. If someone goes to a higher league, you don’t even have to support them, but why curse them for going?
, That’s how you stay a frog inside the KBO well.
People who had only seen Seo Ji-tae through online communities had finally watched him directly, either through broadcasts or in person.
They realized how artificial much of the hate had been.
, Does it make sense that he pitched three straight days?
, The schedule was insanely tight.
, Seo Ji-tae worked seriously hard. Didn’t the hitters play better because they trusted him?
, He’s good. Hearing about him is one thing, but watching him directly, he’s insanely good. Only the hardcore KBO fans here were throwing tantrums.
, Agreed. I watched Seo Ji-tae in person and he was insanely fun. Left-handed, then suddenly right-handed.
, Then doesn’t that mean Seo Ji-tae’s theory was right? Increasing velocity matters.
, The American pitcher really did throw 100 mph. He was an elite prospect, though.
, Higher velocity really does reduce batting average...
, KBO will ignore this anyway.
After Seo Ji-tae’s championship, reporters took his old interview comments to famous baseball veterans.
Those gray-haired middle-aged men tried to avoid the reporters.
[America has American rules. Korea has Korean rules.]
[A wren will split its legs trying to follow a stork. How can you apply American methods to Korea?]
[Seo Ji-tae is good, but his style doesn’t fit Korea.]
[KBO has to move according to the KBO way. Korea has its own training methods and rules.]
[Reality is different from ideals.]
Their answers were predictable.
No matter how they dressed it up, everything ended with one conclusion.
We will not change the current system.
But Seo Ji-tae’s methods had begun changing people’s thinking.
, By the way, doesn’t the KBO keep bringing top rookie pitchers up as relievers in their first year?
, Then what happens to their development as starters?
, Why worry? They’ll figure it out.
, Isn’t it too early? In America, college players already have mature bodies, and even high school players stay in the minors for years, right?
, Korea has less depth. Can’t be helped.
, Won’t we eventually run out of usable starters if we keep doing this?
, That’s too much of a stretch.
, Also, KBO teams do lots of group training. Wouldn’t it be better to give players more individual work or personal trainers?
, You watch KBO like a variety show.
, You seriously think that? Hmm.
, Why are you thinking about it so seriously? It’s useless worrying.
People were slowly becoming aware of the problems in KBO prospect development.
But it was still not enough to change everyone.
Two days before leaving, Seo Ji-tae asked Ian Kim for a favor.
“Hyung, do you know any expensive restaurants?”
He wanted Ian Kim to make a reservation.
The reason was simple.
[I want to treat my parents.]
Ian Kim’s cold eyes softened.
He really is still young. Asking his agent for something like this.
Seo Ji-tae naturally did not know much about luxury restaurants.
That was why he asked.
But Ian Kim knew Seo Ji-tae was not the type to treat his agent like a servant.
The boy simply wanted to treat his parents to something nice.
I can certainly do that.
Ian Kim also needed to maintain a relationship with the player’s family.
The night before leaving Korea, Ian Kim arrived at a high-end Korean restaurant in Gangnam.
He had arranged everything.
“Oh my, a place like this... Isn’t it expensive?”
Seo Ji-tae’s parents looked awkward as they took in the luxurious interior and unfamiliar service.
Ian Kim smiled.
“This is what Seo Ji-tae wanted. He just returned after leaving for America. You deserve at least this much.”
Ian Kim gave the nervous parents a soft smile.
He did not rush them.
He calmly guided the conversation.
“Please relax and enjoy tonight. Especially after winning the championship.”
Ian Kim took their orders and called over the waiter.
He moved smoothly beside Seo Ji-tae’s nervous parents.
Then he poured each of them a glass of wine.
“A red wine like this is perfect for a day like today.”
“You really didn’t have to do all this.”
