“I need to get up to speed quickly to be helpful”
Toronto Blue Jays’ Hyun-jin Ryu made his return to the big league mound 426 days after undergoing Tommy John surgery against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on April 2 (ET). The result was a loss, allowing four runs (four earned) on nine hits (one home run) with three walks and one strikeout in five innings.
Considering his performance in his rehab starts in the minors (2-0 with a 2.00 ERA in four games), Ryu’s comeback pitching certainly left something to be desired. Five of his nine hits went for extra bases, he had 10 hard contact balls over 95 mph (152.8 km/h), and he only retired the leadoff batter once in his six innings of work.
But the results weren’t too bad considering his year-plus hiatus. The fact that he was able to finish the game with the least amount of runs allowed despite giving up nine hits, which is no small feat, is a testament to the discipline he has developed in the big leagues. His fastball and average velocity were 91 mph (146.6 km/h) and 89 mph (143.2 km/h), respectively, which was clearly an improvement over his rehab start.
Most local media outlets have taken a “not perfect, but not terrible” approach to Ryu’s return. However, not all eyes are on him. “The morale in the clubhouse was probably at an all-time low. How could it not be? The return of a popular veteran like Ryu made it feel like Toronto had made a trade to bolster its starting rotation,” while also noting that “Ryu’s long-awaited 2023 debut left Toronto disappointed. For fans hoping for a pickup, Ryu’s return didn’t give them the boost they desperately needed.”토스카지노
The Jays Journal first pointed to the timing of his pitching change as a result. “Relying on command over velocity, Ryu never appeared to fool Baltimore hitters, but he kept the game tied 3-3 through five innings. Manager John Schneider should have shaken Ryu’s hand after the fifth and let him finish the game to a roar, but unfortunately, Ryu was sent to the mound in the sixth to face the hottest hitter in the game, Gunner Henderson, and he was hit by a changeup and ended the game in dismal fashion.”
The story went on to talk about redemption. “Ryu is not yet at major league velocity,” the Jays Journal wrote, “The offense hasn’t given Ryu enough opportunities to work with him, but the results show that he’s not yet at major league velocity. Four of his pitches were down from previous years. His fastball topped out at 91 mph and averaged 89 mph. His cutter seemed to be the most ready.”
Ryu’s four-seam fastball averaged 89.9 mph (144.7 km/h) in 2021 and 89.3 mph (143.7 km/h) last year, after Tommy John surgery.