“A multi-year contract seemed unlikely”
Ryu was 2-0 with a 5.67 ERA in six appearances last year when he felt pain in his forearm and was told he needed Tommy John surgery. As a result, he underwent elbow surgery with Dr. Neil Elatrazze, a renowned elbow and shoulder surgeon who had performed his own surgeries in the past. And so began a long “battle.
An operation that would require more than a year of rehabilitation for Tommy John. The Korean Monster made good use of his time off. Ryu put a lot of effort into his return to the big leagues, losing about 13 kilograms of weight in addition to rehabbing his elbow, and raised expectations by going 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA in four minor league appearances.
The process and outcome of his first start were certainly disappointing. Ryu made his big league debut on March 2 against the Baltimore Orioles, a “powerhouse” team that had surged to the top of the American League East, and in five innings of work, he gave up four runs (four earned) on nine hits (one home run). However, it was encouraging to see him get through his first start without getting sick.
It didn’t take long for Ryu to get back on track. Ryu suffered a “mishap” during the game when he was hit on the inside of his right knee by a 97.7 mph (157.2 km/h) fastball, but in his second start since returning, he pitched a four-inning “no-hitter” against the Cleveland Indians. Since then, Ryu has been perfect.
Hyun-jin Ryu tasted his first win in 444 days when he pitched five innings of two-hit ball with two walks and three strikeouts against the Chicago Cubs, his third opponent since returning from Tommy John surgery, and continued his “winning streak” against the Cincinnati Reds, a team whose prospects have exploded with potential and are in contention for a postseason berth via the wild card.
The good run continued. Ryu faced Cleveland again, where he was unable to pitch long innings due to an “accident,” and once again, he pitched five innings of two runs (two earned) to earn his third win of the season. He also pitched five innings of two-run ball at Coors Field, one of the most challenging venues of his career, and proved that it wasn’t just a flash in the pan.
His most disappointing outing to date was against the Oakland Athletics on the 7th. The A’s are considered one of the worst teams in the majors. I had my sights set on four wins and a quality start (6 innings, 3 earned runs or less). However, a combination of unexpected blows and poor batting support led to his second loss of the season, but he still managed to hold the A’s to two runs over five innings in five consecutive games.
In fact, this is a very important season for Ryu. As he enters his late 30s, he can exercise his free agency rights for the last time. So far, so good. It’s a shame that he hasn’t gone the full six innings yet, thanks to Toronto’s careful management, but there’s no doubt that he’s at least a solid five-inning reliever.
The American media is not unaware of this. MLB.com published a list of “9 free agents who should finish 2023 on a high note,” and Ryu’s name came up. “It usually takes pitchers a long time to get back on track after returning from Tommy John surgery, but not Ryu,” the publication wrote.
“In seven starts since coming off the disabled list, Hyun-jin Ryu has a 2.65 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 34 innings pitched,” MLB.com wrote, “filling a void in Toronto’s five-man rotation after Alec Manoa was sent down to the minors for a second time due to struggles.” Thumbs up for Hyun-jin Ryu.토스카지노
MLB.com believes that at this rate, he could be in line for a good contract. “At 36, Ryu probably won’t get the same four-year, $80 million deal he got in free agency,” the outlet said, “but if he keeps this up, he could land a lucrative multi-year deal that seemed unlikely a month ago.”
When Ryu pitched five innings of two-run ball, local media in Toronto were calling for him to be re-signed. If he can continue to pitch at least five innings per game and maintain his minimum earned run total through the end of the season, he will be able to regain the value he lost due to his Tommy John surgery and secure a lucrative contract.