Ryu Hyun-jin (35, Toronto Blue Jays), who left due to an injury, returns to the MLB mound.
Hyunjin Ryu is scheduled to appear in the Tampa Bay Rays on the 15th. [USA투데이=연합뉴스]
Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo announced in an interview with local media on the 11th (Korean time) that “Ryu Hyun-jin will start in Tampa on the 15th.” With this, Hyunjin Ryu will play his comeback match once morest the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA on the 15th.
On this day, Hyun-Jin Ryu’s appointment method may be different from usual. As manager Montoyo announced a while ago, there is a possibility of passing the mound to another pitcher following only throwing 2-3 innings according to the ‘piggyback’ strategy. Under the judgment that it would be unreasonable to pitch more than 5 innings before returning, he is responsible for splitting the innings with Ross Stripling, who played as a starter instead of Ryu Hyun-jin. Piggyback is a strategy in which two starting pitchers to throw in a short time are played in one game, and in Korea, it is sometimes expressed as ‘1+1 starting’.
Previously, Hyun-Jin Ryu was sacked following failing to complete five innings in all two games of the regular season this year. He allowed 11 runs in seven and one-third innings, so his ERA soared to 13.50. He was placed on the Injured List (IL) on the 18th of last month following complaining of pain in his left forearm following his second appearance.
Ryu Hyun-jin, who successfully played catch ball, bullpen pitching, and live pitching during the rehabilitation training process, appeared in a match once morest the Minor League Triple A Durham Bulls (under the Tampa Bay Rays) on the 8th and struck out 5 hits (1 homer) in 4 innings 74 pitches and 6 strikeouts safely. He finished preparing for a comeback with 5 runs (2 earned runs).
Ryu Hyun-jin’s comeback opponent, Tampa Bay, belongs to Dongsan High School junior Choi Ji-man (31). Hyun-jin Ryu and Ji-man Choi met for the first time in MLB on May 24, 2021, and recorded one hit (doubles) in three at-bats.
Reporter Kim Sik