Ryu Hyun-jin’s Future with the Toronto Blue Jays: A Potential Return to the Mound?

The Career of Ryu Hyun-jin: Toronto Blue Jays Consider Keeping the South Korean Pitcher

Toronto Blue Jays General Manager Expresses Interest in Ryu Hyun-jin as a Mound Reinforcement

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin (36) has made a significant impact in the major leagues with his exceptional skills. Previously, it was anticipated that Ryu might return to Korea after the 2023 season, but the recent comments made by the Toronto Blue Jays’ general manager have raised the possibility of him staying in the big leagues.

Canadian media outlet ‘Sportsnet’ reported on the 8th (Korea time) about Toronto’s efforts to rebuild their team for the upcoming season. Under the leadership of general manager Ross Atkins, the Toronto Blue Jays are working hard to address the weaknesses that led to their elimination in the Wild Card Series against the Minnesota Twins.

Ryu Hyun-jin’s journey with Toronto came to an unfortunate end when the team was knocked out of the Wild Card Series. Despite not being able to pitch in the fall baseball season, Ryu’s performance throughout his four-year tenure with the team has been commendable. In the 2020 season, Ryu led the team to their first postseason appearance in four years, earning five wins, two losses, and an average ERA of 2.69. His stellar performance even earned him a third-place finish in the (American League) Cy Young Award voting.

However, Ryu faced challenges in the following years, with injuries affecting his performance. In 2022, he struggled with a 5.67 ERA and only secured two wins in six games. To make matters worse, he underwent left elbow ligament fusion surgery in June, cutting his season short.

Entering the final year of his contract, Ryu managed to bounce back and achieve three wins with an average ERA of 3.46 in 11 games. Despite his resilience, there were concerns about his inconsistency, especially after his disappointing performances against the Tampa Bay Rays.

While local media undervalued Ryu Hyun-jin after the season, the Toronto team held a different perspective. General Manager Atkins acknowledged the departures of Matt Chapman, Brandon Belt, and Kevin Kiermaier, stating that opportunities would be sought internally and externally to fill their positions. Surprisingly, he hinted at the possibility of Ryu Hyun-jin serving as an alternative.

Currently, Toronto has a formidable starting rotation comprising Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassett, and Jose Berrios. However, the team lacks stability in their fourth and fifth starting spots. With his impressive breaking balls and professional fielding, Ryu Hyun-jin could potentially be the best candidate to fill these roles even if his innings may be limited. This could be the reason why the team is considering him as an option.

Only time will tell whether Ryu Hyun-jin will continue his success with the Toronto Blue Jays or explore other opportunities in his upcoming free agency. Nonetheless, his talent and experience make him a valuable asset for any team in major league baseball.

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The career of Ryu Hyun-jin (36, Toronto Blue Jays) continues to be highly regarded in the major leagues. A possible return to Korea after the end of the 2023 season was anticipated, but the Toronto Blue Jays general manager directly mentioned Ryu Hyun-jin as an alternative to mound reinforcements, increasing the possibility of him remaining in the big leagues.

Canadian media outlet ‘Sportsnet’ reported on the 8th (Korea time) the news of Toronto’s powerhouse reformation, saying, “The Toronto Blue Jays are working to uncover flaws this year under the leadership of general manager Ross Atkins.”

Toronto, which received a fall invite as the 2nd seed in the American League Wild Card, suffered 2 losses in the Wild Card Series (best of 3 games) against the Minnesota Twins and was eliminated.

Ryu Hyun-jin, who was eliminated in the Wild Card Series entry, ended his four-year association with Toronto without even being able to stand on the mound in the fall baseball season. Ryu Hyun-jin will qualify as a free agent (FA) in the upcoming Stove League.

Ryu Hyun-jin, who became Toronto’s 4-year, $80 million ace, led the team to the postseason for the first time in 4 years with 5 wins, 2 losses, and an average ERA of 2.69 in 12 games in the 2020 season, when the number of games was reduced due to COVID-19. He had a successful first year of his contract, finishing third in voting for the (American League) Cy Young Award, the highest honor for a major league pitcher.

The following year, Ryu Hyun-jin suffered a severe fall at the end of the 162-game full-time season, disappointing Toronto fans. After that, in 2022, he suffered a slump with 2 wins in 6 games and a 5.67 ERA, and the season ended early after undergoing left elbow ligament fusion surgery in June.

Entering the final year of his contract, Ryu Hyun-jin recorded 3 wins, 3 losses, and an average ERA of just 3.46 in 11 games. Due to the result of surgery on his elbow last year, he only returned in August this year, and until mid-September, he was called a man of will and voyager, and then he lost 5 runs in 4⅓ innings against the Tampa. Bay Rays on the 24th and against the Tampa Bay Rays on October 1st (2 runs in 3 innings) continued to perform poorly. That’s why Ryu Hyun-jin was eliminated from the Wild Card Series entry.

After the end of the season, the local media continued to undervalue Ryu Hyun-jin. However, the Toronto team had a different perspective. With Matt Chapman, Brandon Belt, Kevin Kiermaier, and Ryu Hyun-jin eligible for free agency, there was a suggestion that Ryu Hyun-jin was the only player to negotiate to stay.

“We will miss Chapman, Belt and Kiermaier,” General Manager Atkins said. He said, “We will look for opportunities internally and externally to fill the positions they leave in the future,” but as for Ryu Hyun-jin, he said, “It may be another choice for us.”

Toronto has a solid starting 3rd, including Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassett, and Jose Berrios, but the 4th and 5th starters are more of a variable than a constant. Japanese pitcher Yusei Kikuchi must prove that his performance this year was not flashy, and Alec Manoa, once an ace, must find the cause of his inexplicable downfall this year.

From Toronto’s perspective, Ryu Hyun-jin could be the best pitcher to take on the 4th and 5th starting spots. Although he cannot play a long innings, he is still recognized locally for his sharp breaking balls and professional fielding. It’s easy to go 5 innings, and that’s the role of the 4th and 5th starters. This may be the reason why Ryu Hyun-jin was chosen as an alternative.

/backlight@osen.co.kr

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