Ace of Ace

Chapter 13 - People Scratching at Lottery Tickets 02

Gun Choi called the system as he moved to hotel with David.

‘Abilities.’

-Displaying the user’s basic abilities.

Physical strength: A

Muscular strength: B

Agility: B

Reaction: B

Reliability: C

Fortune: B

Mental strength: A+

Over the last few weeks, Gun Choi succeed in improving his physical and mental strength rank to A. They were very important to a starting pitcher.

‘I have a low rank in reliability. I hope this won’t affect my relationship with a catcher.’

He checked the next abilities.

-Displaying pitcher abilities

Ball Speed: B+

Movement velocity: B+

Ball control: B+

Movement: B

1st Grip: Four-seam fastball B

2nd Grip: Slider B

3rd Grip: Changeup C+

4th Grip: Knuckleball C

Skill: Blood of the wild animal Level 2

Most of the abilities improved through live pitching.

‘I have a rank C knuckleball, this will be enough.’

Gun Choi was confident about his knuckleball in spite of David’s negative opinion.

After they arrived at the hotel, Gun Choi just relaxed on the bed due to jet lag.

‘I can only use the ring for two hours during such a long trip.’

Gun Choi researched records of minor league players who were on the same plane.

Some of them became a main player in the Major League but some of them gave up baseball.

Gun Choi checked the record of Don Blesso, a rival of his, and was surprised.

Don Blesso played actively while Gun Choi was in Korea. He won 31 games for 3 years. 10 wins per year.

He had a large role in the Major League.

“Already 3 years. His salary will be raised a lot next year.”

A player became eligible for negotiating their salary after 3 years, which meant that he would not get minimum salary anymore.

Gun Choi thought that he could play as well as Don Blesso, as long as he didn’t get injured.

’10 wins in the Major League. It’s too hard. He might have a hard time right after entering the Major League and be degraded to AAA’

There was no “if” in baseball.

Gun Choi needed to be able to judge his current situation perfectly.

“I have brace my mind. I need to focus on the showcase.”

He had a deep sleep to recover from his jet lag.

Alex didn’t obtain good results at the winter meeting.

‘I didn’t know I was going to be here.’

His team, Baltimore, had a problem with pitching power during the last season. Alex wanted to find a good pitcher during this winter meeting.

But he couldn’t make a contract until the last day of the meeting, due to insufficient funds.

At the last day of winter meeting, he made his final move with permission from the team owner.

He made an offer to Greg, who won 17 games.

Greg and Gun Choi’s agent was the same David.

David made a counteroffer with amount of fifty million for three years.

Alex gave up on Greg because of his high counteroffer.

“He’s 36 years old next season, it’s not worth it to invest fifty million in him.”

He described David as an exorbitant trader and criticized him.

But Alex is back in Arizona to see him.

‘I need to see him again.’

Pitching power at Baltimore was in a terrible condition, so Alex needed to see David, however unpleasant it would be.

As he opened a door onto the field, he saw a familiar face.

It was Gordon, Strategy Analysis Manager of the Chicago Cubs.

Gordon saw him and waved.

“Alex, you’re here.”

They were in the Minor Leagues before, as players.

Alex shrugged his shoulder.

“I had no choice but to come, I couldn’t find any pitchers during the winter meeting. By the way, why are you here? You already selected all your pitchers.”

Gordon sighed slightly.

“One of our bullpen pitcher got injured.”

“Hmm, you need a backup.”

Gordon didn’t come to the showcase to just find a backup. He had lots of options from AAA.

The reason he’s here due to his interest to Gun Choi.

Gordon had an interest in Gun Choi when he was in Boston.

‘He had a nice pitch three years ago. I’m not sure about today.’

The teams at the showcase were Chicago, Baltimore, Houston, and Colorado.

The four teams were evenly split between the National and American leagues.

They were here to gather a lottery, Gun Choi.

‘This lottery is literally a lottery. Little chance for the jackpot.’

Anyway, he wanted to see the showcase.

David spoke loudly after he saw the PIC (Person In charge) from each of the four teams.

“It looks like everybody is here, let me start the showcase. Here is Gun Choi.”

Gun Choi lightly stretched his shoulders and entered ontothe mound.

He already done his warmups.

As Gun Choi ascended the mound, David introduced him again.

“Gun Choi finished his mandatory military service in Korea. Is there anyone worried about his injury? If so, please don’t worry about that. If he got injured, how he could finish his service?”

Serving in the military is respectable in America, so each scout gave Gun Choi a high score on that. But nobody knew how and where he finished his service.

David looked at Gun Choi and spoke.

“Now, Gun Choi will pitch 20 balls. If you want to check their speed with speed gun, please stand behind the fence.”

After his words, 3 of the four scouts moved to the fence.

Alex asked to Gordon as he saw that he hadn’t moved.

“Can you tell the speed just by seeing the pitch?”

“You guys can check the speed. I just want to see his pitching. Frankly, I didn’t bring a gun.”

“Ok.”

Alex shrugged his shoulders and moved to the fence.

‘It’s been a while since I used a speed gun.’

He aimed the speed gun at Gun Choi.

Gun Choi felt little frustrated due to the small number of team at the showcase.

‘Only 4 teams? This is a really tiny showcase.’

He threw his first ball after exchanging a sign with a catcher.

The ball flew through the air and entered into the mitt.