Chapter 10

Chapter 9

After the first game.

Lee Jung-woo played in all three home games against the Green Jacks.

"Lee, get ready. You're up next."

"Yes."

In the second game, he came in as a pinch hitter and played in two at-bats, just like in the first game.

'The pitcher is losing his grip. Let's wait.'

"Ball four!"

In the first at-bat, he patiently waited and drew a walk on a low fastball.

'There it is, the splitter.'

"Whoosh—"

In the second at-bat, he hit a splitter for a two-run, game-winning double.

"Oh? You're starting today? Well, you've been hitting .1000 so far, in three at-bats. Ah, by the way, Lee, do you want to play another mini-game with me after you? I want to try throwing a horizontal slider. I want to test it in a real game. But what kind of bat do you use? It's so black, what kind of wood is it made of?"

'I must be crazy. I should have told him to go away when he approached me. Now I've brought this upon myself.'

As a reward for hitting the game-winning hits in both games.

In the final home game of the series, he started as a designated hitter.

He also showed his potential in that game.

'With good results in the previous games, he's probably feeling more confident today.'

Against the Green Jacks, who had given him a tough time.

They had a hard-fought battle, and he struck out twice.

But he also hit two clean doubles, driving in two runs.

Three consecutive game-winning RBIs and two consecutive game-winning hits.

As the secret weapon of the Rome Braves.

No one looked down on him anymore, as he had effectively dominated the series.

Even the batters who had initially disliked him now truly found him bothersome.

Needless to say, the designated hitter who had lost his spot to Lee.

This was evident in other areas as well.

"The ball speed is fast, and the angle is good..."

"The bat speed is average, but his natural wrist strength is excellent. He could be a good pull hitter, but with proper coaching, he could also be a good spray hitter."

"His base running is stable. No risky plays, just solid."

"His plate discipline... I can't quite tell. Is he hitting what he sees, or is he guessing? We need to observe him more."

The scouts, who had come down to write reports on the players as the season was coming to an end, took notice of Lee Jung-woo's unexpected performance.

This showed potential.

His ceiling was high.

This information was also relayed to the front office.

'6 for 7, 1 home run, 5 RBIs, 1 walk. A batting average of .667, an on-base percentage of .625, and a slugging percentage of 1.500. Is he crazy?'

Seeing these monster-like stats, General Manager Pratt whistled.

This level of performance was worthy of a series MVP.

In fact, Lee had hit the game-winning RBIs in all three games.

"Should I be happy or upset about this?"

Pratt felt conflicted.

It was a joy to have a new, promising hitter, but.

It also meant that the $2.5 million first-round pitching prospect was gone for good.

As someone who had brought him in, he couldn't help but feel a bit bitter.

'Baseball is a game where the best players perform the best, so he's really something.'

Putting aside his disappointment, he tried to think positively.

After all, the Braves had an abundance of pitchers, so having a new, promising hitter was a good thing, right?

It was too early to make a final judgment, but.

Lee's performance during the series was undeniable.

With these results, he had shown his potential as a hitter.

This made him view the switch to hitting a bit differently.

"According to the scouts' reports, his ball speed is good, and the angle is ideal. He has good power. They gave him a 70 for the series, and they say he could reach 80 with more development."

"His slugging percentage is just ridiculous."

Pratt chuckled again.

Lee's slugging percentage was absurdly high.

It was something you'd only see in a baseball video game, or even then, only with the use of an editor.

"However, he does swing and miss at some ridiculous pitches. But that's a common trait among sluggers, so it's okay."

The assistant GM mentioned the scouts' evaluations, and Pratt's expression softened.

He had let go of his regrets.

Instead of a disappointing pitcher, he now saw a promising hitter.

"Even though he's only played three games, I think he shows potential."

"We should keep an eye on him, but at this level, it would be a waste to send him to the rookie league, wouldn't it?"

The assistant GM nodded in agreement.

Originally, they had planned to keep him in Single-A for this season and then send him to Dunville in the rookie league next year.

But if he continued to perform well for the remainder of the season.

It might be okay to keep him in Rome next year.

"Also, according to the defensive coach, he shows potential in defense. He could play both infield and outfield once he adapts to a position..."

"An infielder? Like third base?"

"They say they'll start by teaching him second base. It's a bit of a waste."

Pratt pursed his lips.

Second base is an important position.

Along with shortstop, it's a core part of the infield defense.

Especially for the Atlanta Braves, who still lack position players due to the previous GM's decisions.

This makes the value of a second baseman even higher.

But in the current situation, even this seems like a waste.

Given his 80 power rating, he was a slugger.

"If he maintains this level of performance, second base might be a bit of a waste. If we're going to develop him as an infielder, shortstop or third base would be better."

"Yes. They say they're just teaching him the basics for now. We can discuss it further after seeing his performance. But, where do you plan to send him for the winter league?"

Winter league.

It's an important decision.

Especially for a player like Lee, who is rapidly improving, every game counts.

So Pratt had to be cautious.

Sending him to a higher level might limit his opportunities and slow his growth.

Sending him to a lower level might make him complacent.

"I'm considering Australia or Colombia. If possible, I'd send him to Australia."

Both Colombia and Australia are rated as Single-A, but.

There was a language barrier to consider.

If he were Hispanic, Colombia would be fine, but.

Lee probably only speaks English.

Adding the burden of a new language to a player already struggling with baseball abroad wouldn't be ideal.

Sending him to Australia, where he can communicate in English, would be better.

Of course, having an interpreter would help, but.

Since it's not a high-level Latin American winter league.

Both Australia and Colombia are similar in level, so.

There was no need to go through the extra effort.

So Pratt decided on Australia, but.

"We'll have to see. If his performance is poor, we might have to send him to Panama."

The decision wasn't final.

Everything would depend on the player's performance.

At least, that's how Pratt saw it.

xxxx

After the series against the Green Jacks.

Lee Jung-woo could be said to have found his groove.

His unique talent for hitting breaking balls, especially curves, which are thrown by seven out of ten pitchers, shone through.

Because of his good results.

The manager trusted him.

As Lee's playing time increased, the defensive coach became increasingly anxious.

The hitting coach, Scott, had shown clear results.

But the defensive coach had yet to produce any.

'He just needs to adapt, he just needs to adapt. He's a ready-made player... why do I keep getting impatient?'

His throwing isn't slow, but.

He's not a strong thrower, so.

They had decided to develop him as a second baseman instead of a shortstop.

With good reflexes, they focused on teaching him the basics, including footwork.

But as Lee showed potential as a power hitter, they revised their plan.

'A power-hitting shortstop, that would be cleaner, wouldn't it?'

Second base is a position that requires good athleticism and is prone to injuries.

It's also a position that handles a lot of balls, like a pitcher.

So it's usually occupied by players who are small, have good reflexes, and are fast.

This is why it's rare to see a power hitter at second base.

While defense is important.

Ultimately, hitting home runs is the best.

'Should I develop him as a shortstop? He has the potential.'

He pulled at his hair.

The problem was that he showed potential.

While strong throwing is important.

Ultimately, as an infielder.

A shortstop needs accuracy in his throws.

Lee, being a former pitcher, had excellent throwing accuracy.

This made him a good candidate for shortstop.

With good athleticism, he could easily field balls hit by right-handed batters.

'The problem is the lack of time.'

There was less than a month left.

He had to teach him everything in that time.

While there was next year, it was uncertain if Lee would still be in Single-A.

He might start in the rookie league.

'If that happens, all my efforts will be for nothing.'

If this season ended with him as a pinch hitter and designated hitter.

And if he started in the rookie league next year and developed his position.

All the efforts he had put in would go to the defensive coach in Dunville.

So he wanted to at least give him a chance to play as a position player in one game.

But as he struggled with the basics and his impatience.

Lee consistently played in games and built up his stats.

While not as amazing as during the series against the Green Jacks.

He established himself as one of the top hitters in the team.

Seeing this, Scott's smile grew even wider.

xxxx

Lee Jung-woo, who had been influencing the two coaches, was lost in happy thoughts.

"Who?"

-It's Andrew Rubin. He doesn't have much experience, but he's highly rated. He's great at correcting batting stances.

"Is it Rubin, not Robin?"

-Oh, it's Rubin. Why? Is he not good? Should I find someone else?

-No, no, I like him. Let's go with him. Thanks, Mark. Really.

-You're welcome... I'll take care of everything. You just focus on playing hard. Your performance has been great.

After finishing the call with Mark, Lee Jung-woo was excited.

The hitting trainer he had found was no ordinary person.

'Andrew Rubin? Is it really that Rubin?'

Andrew Rubin.

About ten years later, he would become a famous trainer in the major leagues.

Originally a regular hitting coach, he met Pedro Castillo through a friend's recommendation.

'An archenemy of the Phillies. Considering their nature, it's a miracle he's still alive.'

Pedro Castillo was a superstar.

He consistently hit .300 with 30-30 (30 home runs and 30 stolen bases) and had an OPS of .9.

He was also a solid defender.

But the Phillies' $315 million, 14-year contract with him ruined everything.

It seemed the Phillies had forgotten about the historic contract disaster with Joc Pederson and even gave Castillo a no-trade clause.

They had high hopes for him as a local franchise star.

But it was a mistake.

'A complete disaster.'

From the first year, injuries ruined his season.

From the second year, he became a complete contract disaster.

He was so bad that he earned the nickname "Archenemy of the Phillies."

When Castillo, thinking of retirement in the 10th year of his contract, met Andrew Rubin.

'And he made a comeback.'

While he couldn't show the 30-30 speed due to knee injuries.

He showed even better hitting than before.

His batting average dropped compared to his prime, but his home runs increased significantly.

Castillo hit 40 home runs every season for four years, dominating the league.

He also performed well in the postseason, receiving applause from fans as he retired.

The overall change in his batting stance worked well.

After it was revealed that Andrew Rubin was behind this.

He received calls from many stars, and even teams with contract disasters wanted him.

He continued to produce good results and even had a documentary made about him.

Lee Jung-woo knew his name.

'He's the best trainer for me now. There's a lot to improve.'

With no information and beginner's luck.

While he was currently performing well.

Lee himself was a beginner with many weaknesses.

So a good hitting trainer was essential.

And he had found the best one available.

'The question is whether this Rubin is the same Rubin I know. People can be the same, but are their skills the same?'

That's the biggest issue.

The Castillo he fixed had missed half a season due to injuries.

And was in the middle of his first year.

So there was a time difference between the Andrew Rubin Lee knew and the current one.

'I hope he still has at least 80% of the skills he had when he fixed Castillo.'

Lee desperately hoped.

After all, this winter could determine his baseball career.