The return of Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Hyun-jin Ryu is just around the corner. He’ll join the big league roster on the 25th against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and it won’t be long before we see the ‘Korean Monster’ pitching on a major league mound. As Ryu Hyun-jin nears his return, someone is going to see blood.
Ryu made a start against the New York Mets’ Triple-A Syracuse Mets at NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse, N.Y., on 22 June (local time) and went six innings, throwing 85 pitches, allowing three hits (two home runs), one walk, five strikeouts and two runs (two earned).
Ryu, who underwent Tommy John surgery last season, is currently on track to return to the major leagues after a lengthy rehabilitation. Ryu began his rehabilitation with three innings of four-hit, five-strikeout, one-run ball in the Rookie League on the 5th, followed by four innings of four-hit, 37-pitch, one-strikeout ball in Single-A on the 10th.
After skipping Double-A, his performance against the Detroit Tigers’ Triple-A team on the 16th was even better. In five innings, Ryu threw 66 pitches, gave up three hits (one home run), walked five, struck out five and allowed one run (one earned), while his fastball touched 89.8 mph (144.5 km/h). He was perfect until his final start on the 22nd.
He gave up two home runs, but they didn’t get in his way. Ryu didn’t get any help from his defence in the first inning, allowing a leadoff single but getting the next batter to pop out to end the no-hitter. In the second inning, he struck out the Syracuse Mets’ top of the order for his first career triple play, and in the third, he gave up the first hit of the game, but again got a double play to end the inning. He retired the side in order in the fourth.
It was the fifth inning that left something to be desired. Ryu gave up a solo home run to leadoff hitter Jonathan Arauze, and after two outs, he gave up a run-scoring single to Jose Peraza to tie the game at 2-2. Ryu was unfazed, however, and took the mound in the sixth inning and got out of the jam without any further damage.
All set for a comeback. According to local media in the United States, Ryu’s fastball reached 90.6 mph (146.1 km/h) on the day and his average velocity was 88.4 mph (142.2 km/h). Ryu’s average fastball in the 2021 season is 89.9 mph (144.7 km/h), and last year it was 89.3 mph (143.7 km/h), so he’s slowly getting back to where he was when he wasn’t sick. His pitch count is also on target at 85 pitches.
Ryu’s successful rehabilitation outing was met with excitement in Korea. As MLB.com’s Keegan Mathieson wrote, “Ryu’s control is an important factor. Toronto expects him to get better when he returns to the majors, but ideally he’ll have another mile or two to go,” said Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, adding, “He’s made a full recovery. It’s time to make a decision.”
The changeup also received rave reviews. Keegan Mathieson wrote, “Ryu’s changeup generated seven swings and misses out of 15 swings in Triple-A today. “Ryu’s changeup was overwhelming,” wrote Keegan Matheson, while Sportsnet Canada gave a thumbs-up to Ryu’s changeup, noting that “Ryu threw 23 pitches with his changeup and induced seven swings and misses on 15 of them.”
Ryu’s return is certainly welcome news, but with his return comes the need for Toronto to create a spot on the 40-man roster. He is currently on the 60-day disabled list (IL), which means he is not on the big league roster. Therefore, when he returns, the “40th” player currently on the 40-man roster will be designated for assignment (DFA). Once a player is DFA’d, he can be traded if a team comes forward with an offer during the week. If no team comes forward, he becomes a free agent or is assigned to an affiliated minor league.바카라사이트
“Toronto is facing a serious roster crisis as it expects Hyun-jin Ryu to return as early as next week,” according to the Jays Journal of America’s FanSided, noting that Mitch White, Trent Thornton and Thomas Hatch are candidates to become DFAs to make room for (trade acquisitions) Genesis Cabrera and Hyun-jin Ryu.
Trent Thornton was designated for assignment by Toronto on the 22nd due to the acquisition of Cabrera. That leaves Mitch White and Thomas Hatch, who is known to fans in Korea for his resemblance to “Korean Express” Chan Ho Park. White has struggled this year with a 7.30 ERA in eight games, while Hatch has a 2.25 ERA but has only appeared in four games.
Meanwhile, according to ‘MLB.com’, Hyun-jin Ryu will be at Dodger Stadium on the 25th to face the Los Angeles Dodgers.