It’s an unexpected twist.
The word that connotes the 2023 season of ‘Korean Monster’ Ryu Hyun-jin (36, Toronto Blue Jays) is ‘resurrection.’ After undergoing elbow ligament joint (Tommy John) surgery in June of last year and entering a long rehabilitation tunnel, his future was uncertain. It was even the second Tommy John surgery of his career, after his freshman year at Dongsan High School. This is why a downhill slope was expected.바카라
It was unfortunate. After returning to the big leagues step by step, he shows off his best performance. He has 3 wins and 1 loss in 6 games, with an earned run average of 2.48 (8 earned runs in 29 innings). While striking out 23 batters, he walks only 7 and is dealing with batters using his ‘proprietary’ command.
His presence was significant even in the away game against the Colorado Rockies on the 2nd, which was his previous appearance. It is especially meaningful that he overcame the pressure of Colorado’s home stadium, Coors Field, known as the ‘pitcher’s graveyard’.
Coors Field, located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains and reaching an altitude of approximately 1,600 meters, has low air density, allowing batted balls to travel much better. It is a major league (ML) representative hitter-friendly stadium, and Ryu Hyun-jin also struggled here with a total of 1 win and 4 losses in 6 games and an ERA of 7.06 (21 earned runs in 26⅔ innings).
Even this was overcome. He pitched 5 innings, allowing 4 hits (1 home run) and 2 runs. He was flawless other than failing to avoid the risk of long shots and allowing a two-run gun. In the bottom of the 6th inning with a 4-2 lead, he met the victory requirement and went down the mound with only 76 pitches, but failed to achieve his 4th win due to the bullpen’s arson. The team won 13-9. If you recall that the game turned into a slugfest as soon as he went down, you can see how great his pitching was.
Praise is also pouring in for him. Toronto gave him a thumbs up, calling him a ‘living legend’ through the club’s official SNS. Canadian media outlet Sportsnet also gave a favorable review, saying, “Ryu Hyun-jin’s 2 runs in 5 innings at Coors Field is the same as 7 no runs in 7 innings (at another stadium).”
Even the second FA (free agent) qualification that will be achieved after the season is already in the spotlight. This year is the final year of Ryu Hyun-jin’s four-year, $80 million free agent contract. Initially, the outlook was not bright. This is because a considerable amount of age, injuries, and surgery history were obstacles. His possibility of returning to the KBO league was also predicted.
Evaluations change along with the veteran record he boasts. Sportsnet predicted that he would remain in the big league, saying, “He is an attractive pitcher no matter which team he signs with.” Even though it may not be as ‘a hit’ as his first contract, he is proving himself to be competitive enough to make the starting rotation with a one-year contract of one to two years.