Korean Monster Ryu Hyun-jin (36, Toronto Blue Jays) has finally returned. He took the mound for the first time after surgery and vigorously sprayed his ball. It was the first time in about a year and a month that Ryu Hyun-jin played in 398 days.
Ryu Hyun-jin started the game against the U.S. Minor League Rookie League FCL Tigers at the Toronto club’s spring camp training facility in Dunedin, Florida, on the 5th (Korea Standard Time) and recorded four hits, five strikeouts, and one run in three innings. He checked his physical condition by dealing with a total of 13 batters.
Ryu Hyun-jin got off to a fresh start in the top of the first inning by inducing the leadoff hitter Samuel Gill to a fly ball to first baseman. He then struck out Iverson Leonardo with a swing and quickly caught two outcounts. However, after two outs, Ryu Hyun-jin faced a crisis of losing a point as Brisseno hit a double in the left field by his assistant. In the end, No. 4 hitter Clayton Campbell allowed a timely double to the center field, while second baseman Jo Su-e stepped home. It was the moment when Ryu Hyun-jin scored his first run on the day. Fortunately, he finished the inning by striking out the next batter, Leylin Perez.
Ryu Hyun-jin also gave up a double in the second inning and got off to a difficult start. Leadoff hitter Austin Schultz hit a double to left field and got on base. However, Ryu Hyun-jin’s crisis management skills have since shone. After leading the follow-up Daneuris de la Cruz to a grounder to third base, he put Tyler Johnson out with a straight hit to left field. He then overcame the crisis of losing a point by cooking Nomar Pana with a ground ball to second base.
Ryu Hyun-jin, who also took the mound in the 메이저사이트추천 third inning, recovered one run in the bottom of the second inning. He showed a gradual rise in life. He struck out three. After freezing the leadoff hitter Gil with a lockout strikeout, he struck out Leonardo again. He then gave up a heavy hit to Brisseno, but struck out Campbell to finish his pitch on the day.
◆ Local Canadian media are also very interested in Ryu Hyun-jin’s first pitch after surgery, saying, “Return after the All-Star break, it will be a great help to the Toronto mound.”
Local media in Canada also expressed great interest in the news of Ryu Hyun-jin’s first return to the game. Canadian media TSN said on the 5th, “Ryu Hyun-jin pitched for the first time since he played in the last game of the Major League in June last year. He allowed four hits, three of which were doubles. Ryu Hyun-jin said in an interview in the past that he plans to return after the All-Star break, which took a little more than a year after undergoing surgery in June last year.
“At that time, Ryu Hyun-jin said, ‘My goal is to be a member of the team in the second half of the season.’ Ryu Hyun-jin, who signed with Toronto in December 2019, is the last year of a four-year, $80 million contract. “Ryu Hyun-jin, a native of Incheon, started 49 games in three seasons in Toronto and marked a 4.07 ERA,” he explained.
Another media outlet, Toronto, also said, “Ryu Hyun-jin pitched well in his first game after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Of course, there is no need to expand and interpret what was thrown against young prospects. However, veteran Ryu Hyun-jin, who was Toronto’s starting pitcher for the opening game in the 2020 and 2021 seasons, is taking a strong step in the right direction. If he continues to take the current stage, he is likely to return to the Major League at the end of July. “This will soon be a great help to Toronto’s weak mound,” he stressed.
Ryu Hyun-jin is stepping up efforts to return to the Major League. Ryu Hyun-jin focused on checking his injuries through the mound. It was the first time in about a year and a month that Ryu Hyun-jin played in the actual game since the Chicago White Sox’s Major League home game on June 2 last year. The fact that Ryu Hyun-jin threw the ball in practice means that his return to the Major League is imminent.
Ryu Hyun-jin signed a four-year contract of $80 million (about 105.2 billion won) with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2020 after entering the Major League, the stage of his dream, in 2012. The 2020 season, the first year of the transfer, was a shortened season due to COVID-19. Ryu Hyun-jin had a good record of 5 wins and 2 losses (12 games) and a 2.69 ERA. He then pitched in 31 games in the 2021 season, 14 wins, 10 losses, 4.37 ERA, and 6 games in the 2022 season, with 2 wins and no losses, 5.67 ERA, respectively.
Ryu Hyun-jin left the lineup early in June last year after undergoing elbow ligament joint surgery. After that, he devoted himself to rehabilitation for one year. The rehabilitation process is also going smoothly. At the end of May, he performed bullpen pitching for the first time, signaling his return in good health. In particular, Ryu Hyun-jin’s appearance was revealed through the Toronto club’s official social media (social network service), drawing fans’ attention by losing weight. According to Toronto coach John Schneater, Ryu Hyun-jin has lost nearly 30 pounds (about 13.6 kg).
Since then, Ryu Hyun-jin has played live pitching with a batter standing up twice in June. He also filled three innings by playing simulation games. Now that he has made his first appearance in the minor leagues, he is expected to play in the top levels such as Double A and Triple A games in stages. And if no special abnormality is found in his physical condition, he is expected to play in the big leagues after mid-July, when the All-Star break (July 11-14) ends. The return of “Korean Monster” is gradually approaching.