CHAPTER 348: CHAPTER 2: ANOTHER WAVE ARISES

"I will head to the United States after graduating from high school. Although I have already submitted my application of intent, I still hope that all the Japanese baseball teams will not select my name during the draft meeting—I will reject any offers from Nippon Professional Baseball!"

"Yes, challenging the United States is not a spur-of-the-moment decision. In fact, I have been considering it for a long time. It’s just that recently I happened to receive a clear offer, and after discussing it with many people, I finally made this decision."

"Yes, I think I’ve made myself very clear—I will reject any invitations from Japan. Sorry, that’s all I can say."

In the center of the TV screen was a face that was as familiar as it could get to all Japanese viewers: Ohtani Shohai, a genius boy from Iwate Prefecture, capable both in pitching and batting, and one of only two players to break the 160 km/h speed barrier during high school.

With less than two weeks before the draft meeting, Hanamaki East High School suddenly invited many baseball media to attend a conference at the school, where Ohtani, involved in the matter, expressed the above remarks to a group of confused reporters and media.

This sent shockwaves through the entire Japanese baseball community.

"Madness, pure madness! Why are the genius players we’ve nurtured all moving to America one by one? Does Nippon Professional Baseball have such little attraction now?"

"The elders of professional baseball should reflect! First Lin Guanglai, and now Ohtani Shohai, two epoch-making super talents, would rather take great risks to challenge Major League Baseball right after graduating high school, instead of staying at home—this is practically a loss of national assets! The elders should offer an apology by committing seppuku!"

"Oh dear, with two superstars suddenly missing, the most troubled now should be the upper management of each team, right? After all, this means that all their plans have been completely disrupted... Looking at it this way, it seems very likely that Fujinami from Osaka Tsubaki and Higashihama Kyo from Asia University will become even more sought-after. I feel that at least three or four companies would compete for them, right?"

Ohtani Shohai’s statement was like dropping a heavy bomb into a calm lake, quickly sparking discussions among the circle, and indeed throughout all of Japan.

Since its introduction to Japan by American Horace Wilson in 1873, baseball, an imported sport, has gradually become a national-level sporting event in Japan, the ’national game’—the Japanese have used this sport to train their mental toughness and boost their national confidence.

Although Nippon Professional Baseball still does not compare to Major League Baseball in standing, at least it is the world’s second and Asia’s top professional baseball league; however, now, the two most outstanding talents in all of Japan are unwilling to stay at home, which is quite a blow to many domestic fans.

Lin Guanglai was not much concerned with everything happening outside.

In fact, he doesn’t even have the energy to focus on what’s happening in the outside world—accompanied by his parents, Lin Guanglai merely sat there quietly, focusing intently on the two elders in front of him.

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, Honorary President, Wang Zhenzhi.

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, current manager, Akiyama Koji.

During this period, many professional teams have also tried to communicate with Lin Guanglai, but the personnel they sent were at most scouts responsible for the region, and at best, there would be staff from the A-team. However, there was never such an impressive lineup like SoftBank’s.

President Wang Zhenzhi’s status is known to all, so no need to elaborate; just having Akiyama Koji, who now serves as the A-team manager, is already a bona fide legendary figure in Nippon Professional Baseball.

The youngest single-season 40 home runs record at 23 years old, an unprecedented 30 homers and 50 steals, 11 Gold Gloves, and 18 consecutive years All-Star selections... these countless honors are the achievements this nearly fifty-year-old manager created during his playing days; if not for the absence of a posting system between Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball at the time, he would have been the first Major League player in Japan’s history.

After exchanging pleasantries, Akiyama Koji didn’t beat around the bush and directly addressed Lin Guanglai:

"Lin, I hope you choose to stay in Japan—we at SoftBank really need a player like you!"

"I know, the invitation from Major League Baseball teams is very tempting, especially for a player as talented as you—however, Lin, I want to ask you a question, what is your purpose for going to Major League Baseball? Is it money? Or fame? I believe a player like you wouldn’t be so superficial."

Without hesitation, Lin Guanglai responded forcefully to Akiyama Koji’s question: "If I choose to go to America, it would be to become the best player in the world!"

Hearing this answer, both Wang Zhenzhi and Akiyama Koji smiled—it was apparent they were very satisfied. Such a talented, hardworking player with an ever-progressing ambition was exactly the type appreciated by these conservative managers from the Showa era.

"If that’s the case, then you shouldn’t go directly to the U.S. Stay in Japan, Lin! Whether it’s the team, President Wang, myself, or the coaches and other players in the team, we can all help you become a better and even the best player in all of Japan!"

Saying this, Akiyama Koji swiftly pulled a document from his briefcase and handed it to Lin Guanglai—

"Lin Guanglai—The Road to Dreams: A Report on Young Japanese Baseball Players’ Overseas Study and Training Program."

As Lin Guanglai received the report with both hands and flipped through it page by page, Akiyama Koji’s voice rang once more in his ear:

"Lin, this is a report based on my personal experiences and the team’s staff’s on-site investigations, documenting case statistics on young players going overseas—you should know, there is yet to be a successful case of an Asian high school student challenging Major League Baseball, and Americans surely would never value you as much as we do; to them, you are currently just a player with some talent, how could you expect them to invest great resources to develop you?"

"From my perspective, even if you went to America, you’d definitely make it in the end; but considering your personal well-being, we also need to plan for the worst-case scenario—if you go to America right after graduating due to the Tazawa rule, and it doesn’t work out, it would be three years before you could reenter Nippon Professional Baseball through the draft—by then, all your youthful years would be wasted, which is a waste of your talent!"

"I have also been to America and played in minor league games, Lin, and I must tell you, even though conditions have improved a lot, the minor leagues, in terms of environment and game quality, to be honest, are far inferior to Nippon Professional Baseball! Instead of wasting years in unfamiliar territories, why not stay in Japan and use Nippon Professional Baseball as a platform to head toward the Major League."

"I promise you, if you join our SoftBank Team, I will place you in the A-team during your rookie season and guarantee you some playing time; and when you’ve matured and are determined to challenge Major League Baseball, SoftBank will go all out to support you!"

Saying this, Akiyama Koji paused, took a sip of water from the cup in front of him, and concluded with a checkmate phrase:

"Americans will never support you in becoming a dual swordsmanship player, but SoftBank can."

"Are these conditions enough to change your mind to stay in Japan?"

Akiyama Koji’s words had ended, but opposite him, Lin Guanglai was still looking down at the thick report in his hands: within the report, the SoftBank Team used numerous real-life cases and detailed data to showcase the darker side of Japanese players challenging Major League Baseball; meanwhile, Lin Guanglai couldn’t help but acknowledge that the dual swordsmanship training plan specially tailored for him was indeed appealing.

Standing up from his seat, Lin Guanglai bowed to Wang Zhenzhi and Akiyama Koji in front of him, then extended his right hand.