The clock is ticking. He is getting better and better in his minor league appearances. Expectations are high for his return to the big leagues. But there’s no rush. I have to think about a year away. I’ll just have to prepare and continue to climb like I’m doing now.
“Korean Monster” Ryu Hyun-jin (36, Toronto Blue Jays) pitched well in his third minor league rehab start. He pitched well in Rookie, Single-A, and Triple-A. On April 16 (ET), he made a start for Toronto’s Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons, against the Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers) at Salmon Field in Buffalo, New York. He pitched five innings, allowing one run on three hits with five strikeouts. He didn’t allow a walk or a hit batter and threw 66 pitches.
He also upped his velocity. He touched 89.8 miles per hour (144.5 kilometers per hour). He gave up a home run in the first inning but didn’t let it rattle him. Chewed through five innings with his trademark ease. He mixed his changeup and curveball with his fastball to cook hitters. He had good command of his pitches and was able to keep the game close. “Ryu enjoyed his rehab start,” wrote local media in the United States.메이저사이트
Naturally, there is talk of a return to the major leagues. He increased his pitch count and pitched more innings. His velocity is up, and his pitches and mechanics are still there. His team, Toronto, is in third place in the American League East. They are five games behind the second-place Baltimore Orioles and seven games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays. They’ve won three in a row and are in good shape.
Toronto will need Ryu to help them mount a late-season comeback. But there’s no need to rush him. Ryu has been plagued by injuries since entering the majors. He is now in his mid-30s. It’s easy to rush back and fall into the injury trap again. He has been preparing for his return to the major leagues for a long time. The expectation is that he’ll slowly climb the stairs back to the big leagues.
You see a chance for a comeback. You’ve been away from the big league mound for more than a year, and your reputation as an “ace” has been tarnished. He can turn that criticism into an exclamation point if he can help a team that’s struggling in the standings. For that to happen, the most important thing is for him to come back stronger and more fully recovered to take the mound in the big leagues.
As of now, Ryu’s return is likely to be in late July or early August. The timing coincides with Toronto’s seven-game series against the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox. It would be nice to see him pitch well against teams in the same division that are battling for position. He could return in late July and make a bullpen appearance or two, or he could make a surprise start right away.
After a long injury tunnel, Hyun-jin Ryu is close to returning to the big leagues. But he’s still not 100%. It’s been a long time coming, so it’s only natural that he’ll want to make sure his comeback is a solid one.