admin‘Korean Monster’ Ryu Hyun-jin (36, Toronto Blue Jays) has completed his final check-up before his comeback.
According to a report by TSN and other Canadian media outlets on Tuesday (Aug. 30), Ryu pitched out of the bullpen at Rogers Centre in Toronto to check his pitching form. Ryu is scheduled to start a home game against the Baltimore Orioles on Aug. 2.
Ryu was paired with catcher Danny Jansen, who has been a regular in Toronto, to pitch out of the bullpen. “The progress he’s made in terms of his recovery has been pretty impressive,” said Toronto manager John Schneider, who watched him pitch out of the bullpen. “I’m not surprised, he’s already a great player.안전놀이터
Ryu spent nearly a year and two months rehabbing after undergoing ligament reconstruction surgery on his left elbow on June 19 last year. He’s in his mid-30s, so there were plenty of pessimists, but he made it through. Prior to this season, he showed his determination to return by traveling to the United States about a month earlier than in previous years.
He began making minor league appearances at the beginning of the month, when he was in the final stages of his rehabilitation. On the 22nd, he pitched against the Syracuse Mets of the Triple-A New York Mets organization, allowing two runs on three hits (two homers) in six innings with one walk and five strikeouts. On the 25th, he joined the Los Angeles Angels for a full-scale workout and completed his final checkup on the same day.
“The most important part of the rehabilitation process was to block out things that would stop me or frustrate me, and I think I did that very well,” Ryu told local media after his bullpen session. “My main focus was obviously getting my body back. I focused on getting my strength back, and then after that, I was just trying to get my pitch count up and get my innings under my belt so I could get back on the roster.”
This season is the final year of Ryu’s four-year contract with Toronto. It’s a crucial time for Ryu, who will have to decide where to live after the season. “As a starting pitcher, I want to create a foothold for my team to win,” he said ahead of his return.
Baltimore, Ryu’s opponent in his comeback game, has been on a roll this season. The Orioles are 63-41 on the year and are in first place in the American League (AL) East. The team’s offense has slowed down a bit recently, but it could be a tough matchup for Ryu in his return. “It’s important to be able to do what a starting pitcher can do. It doesn’t really matter what team you’re facing,” he said.