“I want to be a part of Toronto and help win.”
Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin (36) showed confidence ahead of his return to the big league mound. Ryu Hyun-jin underwent Tommy John surgery in June of last year, and has been focusing on rehabilitation for 13 months. His physical condition has fully recovered, and he has been rehabilitated in four recent minor league games, raising his pitches and innings step by step. Toronto manager John Schneider was satisfied with Ryu Hyun-jin’s rehabilitation process, and is preparing to put him into the starting rotation soon.메이저놀이터
Ryu Hyun-jin said in an interview with the Canadian media ‘Sportsnet’ on the 28th (Korean time), “The rehabilitation process is very smooth. Both the control and speed are really satisfactory. Every time I go to the rehabilitation, my speed continues to increase, and now it has risen to the level I want. I’m happy.
Sports Net said, ‘Ryu Hyun-jin is gradually increasing his speed, and his curveballs, changeups, and cutters are getting better and better. Ryu Hyun-jin, who was nominated for the Cy Young Award twice, is now expected to throw a ball in the series with the Baltimore Orioles at the Rogers Center (Toronto’s home stadium) next week.’ Toronto will play 4 home matches against Baltimore from the 1st to the 4th of next month, and Ryu Hyun-jin is expected to start in one of them.
Hyun-jin Ryu signed a four-year, $80 million (approximately 102.3 billion won) contract with Toronto ahead of the 2020 season. This year is the last year of my contract with Toronto. Ryu Hyun-jin plans to do his best for Toronto’s fall while resolving the regret of not being able to stand on the mound due to surgery for the next two months. If Hyun-jin Ryu leads Toronto to fall baseball by taking on an axis of the starting lineup for the rest of the season, he can expect another free agent contract. In the major leagues, a veteran starting pitcher like Ryu Hyun-jin is rare, so opportunities can come at any time.
Ryu Hyun-jin recorded a fastball speed of 90.8 miles (146 km) and an average speed of 88.4 miles (142.2 km) in his last minor league appearance on the 22nd. He is on a similar level to his restraint before surgery. This is where Ryu Hyun-jin’s best condition can be expected.
Sportsnet said, ‘Ryu Hyun-jin is not a style that overwhelms with pitches on the mound. His fastball velocity topped out at 90.8 mph. But he’s a great pitcher. If only Ryu Hyun-jin’s breaking ball goes up on the right track, his restraint can be enough,” he looked at positively.
Ryu Hyun-jin said, “I want to do what a starting pitcher should do. That’s why I’ve prepared so far, and I’m ready to start. I just want to help my team win somehow.”
Even if Ryu Hyun-jin joins the starting rotation, no one will be left out of the existing starting lineup. Since Toronto is fighting a deadly 17-game series, it is trying to operate a 6-starter system including Ryu Hyun-jin. It may be possible to organize the starting lineup when it returns to the 5th starting lineup, but now the issue of transfusing Hyunjin Ryu into the starting lineup is more important.
Ryu Hyun-jin said, “All my colleagues are doing their best (to advance to the playoffs). I want to become a part of the team and help the team win.”