The events unfolded a bit too quickly, leaving Lin Guanglai still not fully grasping the situation—he found himself muddled, shaking hands with Miyata Shinku and then sitting down in a daze. He still hadn’t figured out why a professional baseball team’s scout would co looking for him at this mont.
Indeed, Lin Guanglai did have plans to directly enter professional baseball after graduating high school, but in any case, that was sothing to consider only after the Sumr League in August of this year—after all, it was only March now and his senior season in high school hadn’t even started yet!
Once all three people present were seated, Izumi Minoru was the first to speak, asking Lin Guanglai a question in a gentle tone:
"Guanglai, you’re in your third year this year—have you thought about your future path?"
"Are you planning to follow in the footsteps of your predecessor Saito Yuuki by choosing to continue your studies and hone your skills in university baseball, or... are you considering entering the professional draft directly after graduating high school?"
This question caught Lin Guanglai off guard, as he hadn’t even ward his seat yet; seeing Izumi’s serious and earnest expression, Lin Guanglai was compelled to consider the question seriously.
He did not keep the two waiting long. A mont later, Lin Guanglai gave his answer:
"Yes, Coach—I want to go directly into the professional baseball draft after graduating, to quickly improve my skills, and compete with stronger opponents... If possible, I want to make an early mark and then go across the ocean to compete with the strongest players in the world!"
The boy’s words were filled with sincerity, and his tone suggested this was a well-considered decision; the confidence and spirited youthfulness implied in his speech made Miyata Shinku silently marvel, no wonder several baseball teams had their eyes on this prospect.
Lin Guanglai’s response was expected by Izumi Minoru, or rather, a player of his caliber should have such confidence—however, confidence is one thing, but Izumi feared his protégé might not fully understand professional baseball, so he felt compelled to voice so harsh truths to ensure Lin would not regret his decision in the future.
"Guanglai, your decision doesn’t surprise at all; however... the road to professional baseball is not easy, you should have so expectations about that, right?"
Lin Guanglai understood that the coach was concerned for his future. He nodded and replied:
"Yes, Coach—I have witnessed the hardships of professional baseball over the past two years, and I am well aware of how tough this road is."
Through two years of high school baseball gas, Lin Guanglai had made many friends, and just from his regular interactions with them, he had a rough idea of the harsh realities in the world of professional baseball.
Even geniuses like Yamada Tetsuro, who commanded the high school baseball scene, made notable achievents in the Yakult Second Team last year yet still had a long way to go before officially entering the first team; Matsuno Shima, a high school powerhouse as both a pitcher and a hitter, couldn’t even make it onto the starting list of his professional team’s second squad.
What outsiders see is only the glamorous side of professional players, while the pressure, risks, and enormous sunk costs are seldom ntioned.
To be frank, Lin Guanglai was not from a poor family needing to rely solely on his entry into professional baseball to change his family’s fate; on the contrary, his ho situation was quite good, and his parents respected his choices.
Based only on the performance of the past two years, he could easily secure a starting position on Waseda University’s baseball team upon graduation, and entering the professional draft after four years of college might even increase his market value, making his life more secure.
But Lin Guanglai asked himself, is that the life he wanted?
If his goal was rely Nippon Professional Baseball, then there is not much difference between entering the draft after high school or after college. Going to college might even allow him to enjoy the rosy youth he missed out on during high school, and then quickly establish himself as an imdiate force upon entering professional baseball—if he perford well, he could earn a substantial salary and several endorsent deals, ensuring a comfortable retirent.
But Lin Guanglai knew that such a life might be comfortable and secure, but it’s not what he truly wanted—what he wanted was to stand on the highest stage, bask in the attention of a global audience, compete against players from around the world who could be called the "strongest" and then defeat each one to beco the "strongest" himself.
Japan’s baseball system is comprehensive, and Nippon Professional Baseball is one of the top leagues worldwide, but nobody calls players who play in Japan the "strongest"—Lin Guanglai knew that to prove his abilities, only the United States, only the Major League, could help him achieve such a dream.
Thus, if his goal is the Major League, he definitely shouldn’t waste ti lingering in the semi-professional, semi-amateur student leagues after graduating high school—the sooner he undergoes professional training, the more beneficial it will be for his future developnt.
With this thought, Lin Guanglai pivoted in his speech: "But, Coach, I’ve already made up my mind—the world of professional baseball may be tough, but I am confident I can make my na there!"
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