Baseball: A Two-Way Player

Chapter 690 29: Explosive Popularity (Part 3)

The most important sponsorship for a hitter is the baseball bat, and Nomura Katsuhiko accepted an offer from Chandler, a brand founded in 2009. Although it's a young brand, it has gained popularity among baseball players due to its outstanding quality, and its market share in Major League Baseball is continuously increasing.

The choice of this brand mainly stemmed from the irresistible offer they presented, which far exceeded those from industry giants like Marucci and Victus. Additionally, Nomura Katsuhiko saw potential for growth with this brand, and signing with a high-end custom bat brand like Chandler would also help enhance Lin Guanglai's brand value.

As for other equipment including cleats, protective gear, sleeves, and training clothes, Nomura Katsuhiko packaged them all together and signed a multi-year sponsorship contract with the American brand Nike.

As the undisputed giant in sports brands, the benefits of signing with Nike are obvious. Nike has a huge advantage in terms of promotion and exposure across North America and even globally.

If Lin Guanglai can continue to stand out, Nike might even offer him opportunities to appear in ads alongside superstars like LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Rafael Nadal.

Moreover, this decision also involved a bit of Nomura Katsuhiko's own strategy: As an agent, his ultimate goal is to secure a lifelong independent product line for Lin Guanglai under a brand. It would be ideal if this brand is the financially powerful Nike. If Nike is unwilling, he can leverage their promotional resources over several years and then approach resource-limited brands like Puma and New Balance for cooperation after the contract ends.

Additionally, Nomura Katsuhiko's team in Japan is also continuously negotiating with local sponsors. Once the contracts are finalized, Lin Guanglai will head back to Japan during the offseason to complete related advertising shoots and promotions.

A week before the All-Star game, aside from the remaining few games in the first half of the season, most of Lin Guanglai's time was devoted to signing ceremonies and promotions with related brands. During this process, his distinctive Asian appearance gradually became well-known in the North American market.

On the afternoon of July 9, 2017, as the home team Yankees defeated the visiting Milwaukee Brewers, their first-half season record was finalized at 49 wins and 30 losses. They temporarily topped the American League East Division with a two-game lead and ranked second overall in the American League, trailing the Astros by six games.

In terms of various statistics, the Yankees demonstrated true all-around performance: their pitchers ranked third in the league of 30 teams in overall ERA, and their offensive power topped the charts, especially with lineup core Aaron Judge, who hit 30 home runs with only half the season over.

For the Yankees, who have only reached the playoffs once in the past five years, this was a perfect half-season.

Meanwhile, Lin Guanglai was on a flight to Miami, ready for his first MLB All-Star game.

Arriving at the hotel where players were staying, Lin Guanglai walked in the door and immediately felt numerous gazes converging on him—

The All-Star starting lineup had been finalized, and being 22 years old made Lin Guanglai the youngest starter in MLB history. Coupled with his recent perfect game, he was undeniably the center of attention.

"Lin, you finally made it!" Bryce Harper ran up to Lin Guanglai just as he stepped into the door, his eyes gleaming with competitiveness. "I've been waiting for this day for a long time!"