The Toronto Blue Jays’ Hyun-jin Ryu, 36, is healthy and on the mound. Regardless of the outcome of the game, everyone was happy to see him back. Fans were also happy to see the clubhouse leader back.
Ryu started against the Baltimore Orioles in the 2023 Major League Baseball World Series at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on Sunday. He threw 80 pitches in five innings, allowing four runs on nine hits, one home run, one walk, and three strikeouts. Ryu was the losing pitcher in his return as Toronto fell to 3-13.
Ryu hasn’t pitched since June 2, 2022, against the Chicago White Sox. An elbow injury landed him on the operating table, and he began a rehabilitation process that lasted 426 days. His age – he’s in his late 30s – raised some eyebrows, but he returned to the mound looking healthy.
Considering it was his first start in 14 months, he has a bright future ahead of him. In the beginning of the game, both his velocity and his pitches were unsatisfactory. His fastball was in the low 80s, and his changeup and cut fastball weren’t where he wanted them to be. He struggled with his changeup and cut fastball.
But as the games went on, he began to show signs of being a pitch master, especially with his curveball. His curveball was sharper than before, and the opposing batters were caught off guard. His fastball was clocked at 91 mph (146 km/h). Ryu saw hope in his comeback game against Baltimore, the first-place team in the American League.
Regardless of his performance, Toronto is just happy to have him back. The clubhouse leader’s return was welcomed with open arms. Toronto manager John Schneider told the media after the game, “Ryu Hyun-jin got hit early in the game. That’s to be expected considering the opposing lineup. He got better as the game went on,” expressing satisfaction with his performance, “Ryu was a big part of the clubhouse. Everyone is happy to have him back,” and welcomed Ryu to the team.
In the meantime, Hyun-jin Ryu has been playing the role of “big brother” for Toronto. He’s brought the Korean “big brother culture” to the major leagues. He has played the role of a veteran, giving advice to younger players and treating them to meals off the field.카지노
MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, wrote, “Toronto players call Ryu ‘older brother’. He’s more than a mentor,” highlighting Ryu’s status in the Toronto clubhouse. Pitcher Alec Manoa has been hanging out with Ryu, picking up game tips and enjoying Korean food with him.
The return of the “big brother” is good news for Toronto, and the team has high hopes for Hyun-jin Ryu. If he can not only be a leader, but also a regular in the starting lineup, he could be the six-man rotation Toronto envisioned. The clock is starting to tick on Ryu again.
As Ryu walked off the mound, the home fans at Rogers Centre gave him a standing ovation. More than 40,000 Toronto fans attended the game and were on hand to witness Ryu’s comeback.