"Thank You for Your Hard Work in the US" Choo Shin-soo Welcomes Ryu Hyun-jin's Return... Anticipation for Return Match After 11 Years

"Thank you for your hard work in the US," Choo Shin-soo welcomes
MLB to KBO League... First matchup in 11 years realized

"I want to say you worked hard in the United States."

When news broke that 'Korean Monster' Ryu Hyun-jin (36) would be returning to his former team, the Hanwha Eagles, Choo Shin-soo (41·SSG Landers), who played with him in Major League Baseball, welcomed him by saying, "You worked hard in the United States."

Choo Shin-soo of SSG Landers and Ryu Hyun-jin, who hinted at a return to Hanwha Eagles,
[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

Earlier on the 20th, according to the baseball community, Ryu Hyun-jin has completed a financial agreement with Hanwha with a minimum guaranteed amount of 17 billion KRW, leaving only final adjustments. The total amount of 17 billion KRW is the highest ever for a free agent (FA) in the KBO League. Despite undergoing two Tommy John surgeries, Ryu showed resilience last year with a 3-3 record and a 3.46 ERA. Even after surgery, his fastball remained in the 140 km/h range, and his changeup and cutter had respectable batting averages against of 0.276 and 0.238, respectively. Son Hyuk, Hanwha’s general manager, who revealed that he had been working hard to acquire Ryu since January, even hurriedly returned from Melbourne, Australia on the 18th to finalize the contract with Ryu.

It is not only Hanwha Eagles fans who welcome Ryu Hyun-jin’s return. Choo Shin-soo, who is currently in spring training in Vero Beach, Florida, said on the 21st, "I welcome Hyun-jin’s decision to return to Korea. I want to say you worked hard during your long time in the United States. Living abroad and playing in a different cultural environment is not easy. Despite that, Hyun-jin’s excellent performance is impressive."

He continued, "I look forward to facing Hyun-jin. Considering his excellent skills and experience in a high-level league, it will lead to increased popularity and a higher level of play in the KBO League." He also emphasized that Ryu is a player who sets a great example for his teammates, encouraging, "I hope he shares what he has seen, heard, and felt in the United States with younger players in Korea. Please work hard for the development of Korean baseball."

Previously, Choo Shin-soo played in Major League Baseball from 2005 to 2022. Ryu Hyun-jin and Choo Shin-soo faced each other in a game between the LA Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds in July 2013. The result was 2 at-bats with no hits and 1 walk, with Ryu breaking Choo’s momentum with an infield groundout and a strikeout. After Choo signed with the KBO League’s SSG before the 2021 season, their matchups in MLB effectively ended. However, with Ryu returning to Korea this season, a rematch will take place in the KBO League for the first time in 11 years.

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