The “Korean Monster,” Ryu Hyun-jin (36, Toronto Blue Jays), appears to be on track to return.
According to local media outlets such as Sportsnet, Toronto manager John Schneider said, “Hyun-jin Ryu will pitch in a minor league Single-A or Florida Complex game on the fifth.”
It will be his first game since his surgery. Ryu underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow last June. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan revealed inflammation of the pronator teres and a sprain in the elbow.
Since his surgery, Ryu has been on a steady rehabilitation path. He quickly completed basic rehabilitation, including playing catch at a distance of 10 meters last December, and recently threw live pitches at the team’s training facility in Dunedin, Florida. According to TSN’s Scott Mitchell, he also recently lost 30 pounds (about 13.6 kilograms), showing his determination to return to full fitness.
When Ryu takes the mound on Friday, it will be his first time in 397 days since his start against the Chicago White Sox on June 2 last year (four innings, three runs, two earned). If he makes it through his first start without any issues, he’ll be sent to Double-A and Triple-A to get his feel for the game before returning to the major league mound.
Ryu made his big league debut in 2013 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and has appeared in 175 career games (174 starts), compiling a 75-45 record with one save and a 3.27 ERA. Last season, he appeared in six games with a 2-0 record and a 5.67 ERA before an injury cut his season short.바카라
It’s clear why Ryu is so eager to make a comeback. He signed a four-year, $80 million contract with Toronto ahead of the 2020 season. His contract expires at the end of this year. He’s only eligible to return in the middle of the final season of his four-year deal, so he’ll need to impress the rest of the way to keep his big league career alive.
Toronto needs him to be healthy, too. While all four starters – Kevin Gausman (7-4, 3.01 ERA), Jose Berrios (8-6, 3.74), Yusei Kikuchi (7-3, 4.08), and Chris Bassett (8-5, 4.06) – have performed well in regulation, the team is hoping that a replacement will emerge sooner rather than later as the highly touted Alec Manoa (1-7, 6.36) has struggled.