Ryu Hyun-jin, Triumphant Starting Win After Surgery and Rehabilitation in 444 Days

'Korean Monster' Ryu Hyun-jin (36, Toronto Blue Jays) added a win on the Major League mound for the first time in 444 days.

On the 14th (Korean time), Ryu Hyun-jin started as the starting pitcher in the home game against the Chicago Cubs in the 2023 Major League Baseball at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He pitched 5 innings, allowing 2 runs (unearned), and became the winning pitcher. He gave up only 2 hits and 2 walks, striking out 3 batters with precise control of his changeup.

Ryu handed the mound over to Heneisis Cabrera in the 6th inning with the team leading 8-2. The team ultimately won decisively 11-4, and Ryu enjoyed the joy of becoming the winning pitcher for the first time in 3 games since returning from elbow surgery.

Ryu had previously recorded his last Major League win on May 27 last year against the Los Angeles Angels. After becoming the winning pitcher with 5 innings, 6 hits, and 2 runs allowed, he underwent left elbow ligament reconstruction surgery on June 19. After more than a year of rehabilitation, he made his comeback on the 2nd against the Baltimore Orioles. At that time, he gave up 9 hits including 1 home run and 4 runs in 5 innings, resulting in a loss. He then pitched in the game against the Cleveland Guardians on the 8th, pitching well without allowing a hit until the 4th inning but left the mound early due to an unexpected injury. In the bottom of the 4th inning with 2 outs and a runner on first base, he was hit on the inside of his right knee by a 157 km/h hard hit ball from Oscar Gonzalez and was replaced.

Fortunately, it was only a simple bruise, and Ryu pitched as scheduled in the Cubs game on the 14th, securing an emotional victory.

Ryu Hyun-jin became the winning pitcher with a strong performance of 5 innings and 2 runs allowed (unearned) in the home game against the Chicago Cubs in the 2023 Major League Baseball held at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on the 14th (Korean time).
[Photo by Yonhap News]

In the 1st inning, with 2 outs and runners on first and second, Ryu gave up a 2-run double to Dansby Swanson that went past the third baseman. This run was due to an error by Toronto first baseman Brandon Belt and was not charged as an earned run to Ryu.

Ryu retired the 7th to 9th batters in order in the 2nd inning. The Toronto offense turned the game around in the bottom of the 2nd inning, scoring 5 runs led by a 3-run homer from Dalton Varsho.

Ryu gave up one hit in the 3rd inning and one walk in the 4th inning but finished the innings without allowing a run, and retired the lower part of the order in the 5th inning with a strikeout in order again.

With the team leading comfortably, Ryu did not overexert himself and finished the game with 86 pitches. Ryu's career Major League win total increased to 76, and his ERA this season dropped significantly from 4.00 to 2.57.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.