The “Korean Monster,” Ryu Hyun-jin, 36, has flapped his resurrection wings. He pitched with a consistency that belied his year-plus absence. His four rehab starts in the minors were flawless. His recovery was on track, and he was on the verge of returning.
Slowly built up his velocity to return to the big leagues. I played Rookie League, Single-A, and Triple-A (twice) to get my feel back. He gradually increased his pitch count, throwing up to 85 pitches a game, and upped his velocity to 90.8 miles per hour (about 146 kilometers per hour).
His pitches and game management are unparalleled. Of course, the minor league level is not the same as the big leagues. But there are a lot of hitters with one-hit power, and a lot of individual skills and potential. If you let your guard down or get out of shape, you’re in for a rough ride. With that in mind, Ryu”s rehab starts have been nothing short of perfect.
His return to the major leagues is imminent. Initially, he was scheduled to make one more minor league appearance, but the possibility of being called up to the big leagues once he’s fully recovered has been raised. His most likely return is against the Los Angeles Angels on April 29. His return could come just when Toronto needs it most, as they are battling for position in the standings.
Through 22 games, Toronto is 54-44 and in third place in the American League East. They are 5.5 games behind the Baltimore Orioles (59-38) and Tampa Bay Rays (61-40) at the top of the division. It’s not an insurmountable gap. It’s a lot closer than it was in the first half when they were 10 games behind. If they continue to rack up wins, they have a chance to move into the lead.
They’ll play 17 straight games starting on the 29th against the Angels. They’ll have to push hard without taking a day off. The four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles and the three-game series against the Boston Red Sox starting on August 1 are especially important. They’ll need to perform well against two teams from the same division to move up in the standings. Against first-place Baltimore and a Boston team that has lost six games in a row this season, Ryu could be a versatile card.바카라사이트
For now, Ryu is expected to return to the majors in late July. The timetable could be adjusted based on his physical condition. He could start his big league debut, or he could work his way into the starting rotation from the bullpen. Toronto will need to do everything in its power to avoid depleting its mound stamina during the 17-game road trip. The return of “veteran” Ryu Hyun-jin will be a welcome one.
After more than a year away, he’s back on a big league mound. There’s nowhere to back down. He needs to come back when the team needs him most and protect the mound like he used to. Ryu has a chance to redeem himself.