‘Korean Monster’ Ryu Hyun-jin (36, Toronto Blue Jays) faces a formidable opponent in his return from injury.
Ryu Hyun-jin was predicted to be the starting pitcher for the home game against the Baltimore Orioles, which will be held at the Rogers Center in Toronto on the 2nd (Korean time). After undergoing Tommy John surgery (elbow ligament joint surgery) in June of last year, Ryu Hyun-jin, who devoted himself to rehabilitation treatment, checked his condition by making four minor league appearances. 4 runs in 18 innings. On the 30th, the final rehearsal was completed with bullpen pitches (29 pitches) in harmony with Danny Jansen, the main catcher, at the home stadium while Toronto coach John Schneider watched.메이저사이트
It is interesting that the opponent before returning is Baltimore. Baltimore is one of the strongest teams in the Major League (MLB) this season. As of the 30th (Korean time), it recorded 63 wins and 41 losses (0.606 win rate), and is the only American League (AL) 15 team to maintain a win rate in the 60% range. The overall win rate in MLB is second only to the Atlanta Braves (66-36, winning rate 0.647). With the structure of the batting line where the generational change took place, they aim to advance to the postseason for the first time in 7 years since 2016. Ryu Hyun-jin’s overall performance against Baltimore was 9 games, 5 wins, 1 loss, and an average ERA of 4.35 (24 earned runs in 49 and 2/3 innings). He started 6 games in 2021 and won 4 wins (1 loss), but his earned run average was not good at 5.12. For Ryu Hyun-jin, who is facing Baltimore for the first time in two years, there are not a few batters to be wary of.
MBC Sports Plus commentator Song Jae-woo, an MLB expert, said, “Baltimore, which has had poor team performance, has been consistently making high-ranking picks in the rookie draft. He said, “Especially, you have to be careful with batters 1 to 3, which lead to Adley Luchman, Gunna Henderson, and Anthony Santander. . Considering that it is before returning from injury, Ryu Hyun-jin’s number of pitches in the game may be limited. Commissioner Song emphasized, “I think the number of pitches will be cut at around 70 to 80, but if you calculate that, it can be more important how to handle the top batting line, the 1st to 3rd batter.”
Baltimore has only five batters with double-digit home runs. Santander (18 home runs), Henderson (16 home runs), and Rouchman (14 home runs) are the core of the batting lineup. Santander and Luchman are even trickier in that they are switch hitters. Santander and Austin Hays have the experience of hitting a home run against Hyun-Jin Ryu in their September 2021 confrontation. Attention is also focused on the results of the confrontation with the Lutchman, who was selected as the first overall pick in the first round of the 2019 rookie draft. Commissioner Song Jae-woo said, “Rogers Center is a hitter-friendly stadium that pulled the fence forward ahead of this season.” “Ryu Hyun-jin’s speed didn’t come up perfectly in the minor leagues, but the control was still good. If you catch only the first to third batters well, I think it will go smoothly,” he predicted.
Ryu Hyun-jin, who finished pitching in the bullpen on the 30th, said in an interview with the local media, “As a starting pitcher, I want to prepare a platform for the team to win.” said. Toronto recorded 59 wins and 46 losses (0.562 win rate), and is in third place, 4.5 games behind Baltimore, the leader of the AL East. To raise hopes for fall baseball, a head-to-head victory against Baltimore is desperately needed.