When Ryu Hyun-jin (36, Toronto Blue Jays) succeeded in making a comeback, the major league (MLB) scene poured out praise. This is because it is a splendid feat achieved by undergoing surgery twice and overcoming the rehabilitation treatment period of more than a year each.
Ryu Hyun-jin started the home game against the 2023 MLB Chicago Cubs held at the Rogers Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on the 14th (Korean time) and pitched well, recording 2 hits, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts and 2 runs in 5 innings. Toronto, which Ryu Hyun-jin led the early momentum fight, won 11-4. Ryu Hyun-jin became the winning pitcher 444 days after the Los Angeles Angels match on May 27 last year. His first win came in the third game of his comeback. 꽁머니사이트
The ups and downs of Hyun-jin Ryu’s baseball life were greater in the Major League (MLB) than when he was playing in the KBO League. In the KBO League, the modifier ‘lonely ace’ was attached due to the weak team power, but he did not miss the title of the best pitcher in the league. In MLB, he also hit the peak, such as starting the All-Star Game for the final candidate for the Cy Young Award (three players) given to the best pitcher, but underwent surgery and rehabilitation twice. He underwent shoulder surgery in 2015 and elbow surgery last year.
Ryu Hyun-jin’s age has far exceeded the middle of his 30s. The veteran player’s fighting spirit toward his return and the result of his return to victory, etc., seem to have left a strong impression in the US as well.
Buck Martinez, who works as a commentator in charge of the Toronto game on sports broadcasting ‘Sportsnet’, said, ‘Considering that there was a bad news in the last game (against the Cleveland Guardians on the 8th), the right knee was hit by the batted ball, the pitching against the Cubs that day was really impressive.” He said, “He showed a ‘vintage style’ with only two hits.”
The local newspaper ‘Toronto Sun’ said, “Ryu Hyun-jin did the pitching that the team needed. He stepped up to the (injury recovery) confirmation stage against the Cubs.”
Cubs coach David Ross, the “enemy captain,” said, “He is a pitcher who has a hard time scoring a lot if he loses the lead. His velocity is still not at the normal level, but he is still a pitcher who can throw (win). The changeup on this day was especially good.”
Toronto coach John Schneider also said, “I showed the image before the injury again in three games. It’s never easy to do that at his age, but it doesn’t seem to be for him. He threw a really good ball.”
With the victory, Ryu Hyun-jin broke the record for the oldest Korean pitcher in the big leagues. The previous record was 35 years, 10 months and 13 days, which was left by ‘Korean Express’ Park Chan-ho, who won a multiplier against the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 13th. Ryu Hyun-jin is 36 years, 4 months and 20 days as of the 14th.
The Toronto club welcomed the return of the Ace by posting a number of photos and videos through official social media (SNS). ‘There was patience and hard work for 444 days. Congratulations on your victory and welcome.” He also added a greeting saying ‘Congratulations’ in Korean.
Ryu Hyun-jin showed confidence after the game, saying, “(Now) I think I have returned to the point I want.”