Ryu Hyun-jin (36, Toronto Blue Jays) failed to make quality starts in all six games after returning from an elbow injury. But why is the American media always amazed by his pitching? 스포츠토토
Ryu Hyun-jin started the 2023 MLB away game against the Colorado Rockies held at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, USA on the 2nd (Korean time) and pitched 5 innings, 4 hits (1 home run), 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, and 2 runs, leading the team to 13. -9 supported the victory. Although the victory was canceled due to a poor bullpen, he continued his upward trend after returning from injury by showing excellent pitching at Coors Field, known as the graveyard of pitchers.
It was refreshing from the start. In the first inning, when the score was 0-0, he faced Charlie Blackmon, Ezekiel Tovar, and Elias Diaz in a three-way strike with two strikeouts, and then used six balls in the second inning to hit Ryan McMahon, Brandon Rogers, and Hunter Goodman in a row. As always, he gained the upper hand in the timing battle by combining a four-seam fastball in the low 80s with a variety of breaking balls such as a cutter, curve, and change-up at the right time.
Ryu Hyun-jin gave up his first run in the third inning when the score was 0-0. With no outs due to leadoff Nolan Jones’ right-handed hit, first baseman Elephuris Montero gave up the first two-run shot to the opponent’s left field. In a favorable count of 1B-2S, the 4th pitch low change-up headed over the left wall. Fourth home run of the season.
Ryu Hyun-jin later walked Blackmon and sent Tova out with a double, putting the team on second and third base with one out, but he struck out Diaz with a pitcher’s grounder and McMahon with a missed swing to prevent additional runs.
Ryu Hyun-jin’s career continued. Amid controversy over the umpire’s misjudgment in the 4th inning, Goodman’s hit and Nolan Jones’ walk led to runners on first and second base with one out, but Montero’s double play, who had previously hit a home run, overcame the crisis, and in the 5th inning, with the score tied 2-2, Brenton Doyle and Black. Mon and Toba were eliminated in an 8-ball triple strike.
Ryu Hyun-jin was replaced by Garcia in the 6th inning with a 4-2 lead, and finished the game in good spirits. The number of pitches is 76. Garcia’s victory requirement was lost when he hit a reverse three-run shot against Jones, but the game ended with Toronto’s 13-9 victory. The victory was possible thanks to Ryu Hyun-jin’s role.
American media ‘CBS Sports’ focused on Ryu Hyun-jin’s impressive performance after the game under the title, ‘Ryu Hyun-jin was solid against the Rockies.’ The media said, “Ryu Hyun-jin showed off his solidity in the difficult Colorado expedition. The only run allowed was a home run hit by Montero in the third inning. He was full of praise, saying, “It was a pitch that minimized damage.”
Ryu Hyun-jin returned after undergoing elbow ligament joint surgery and is contributing greatly to Toronto’s wild card competition with a strong pitching record of 3 wins, 1 loss, and an ERA of 2.48 in 6 games. He has not yet had a quality start, but except for the game against the Cleveland Guardians on August 8 (4 scoreless innings) when he was replaced after being hit by a batted ball, he filled 5 innings, which is the basic requirement for a starting pitcher, and collected 3 valuable wins among them. Ryu Hyun-jin is surviving on the major league stage with the so-called ‘aesthetics of slowness’.
Even though he cannot play 6 innings like in the past or the ball is not fast, Ryu Hyun-jin’s pitching is consistently recognized locally. CBS Sports said, “Ryu Hyun-jin has never given up more than 2 earned runs in the last five games. During this period, he had an ERA of 1.50 and struck out 20 batters in 24 innings,” he said, admiring Ryu Hyun-jin’s veteran pitching.
Ryu Hyun-jin’s outlook for the remainder of the season also looked bright. CBS Sports said, “Ryu Hyun-jin’s next appearance is likely to be against the Oakland Athletics. He analyzed, “It seems likely that the next starting game will also maintain the current good trend.”