Ryu Hyun-jin (36, Toronto Blue Jays) took another meaningful step forward after returning from Tommy John surgery.
Ryu Hyun-jin started the ‘2023 Major League’ game against the Texas Rangers held at the Rogers Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on the 13th (Korean time) and recorded 5 hits (1 home run), 1 walk, 5 strikeouts, and 3 runs in 6 innings. It was his first quality start since returning from injury and 480 days since the game against the Cincinnati Reds (6 scoreless innings) on May 21 last year. However, they did not receive any scoring support from the batting line, and Toronto lost 3-6, suffering their third loss of the season. Ryu Hyun-jin’s season ERA slightly increased from 2.65 to 2.93.
Ryu Hyun-jin finished his appearance after throwing 82 balls in 6 innings. His highest fastball speed was 90.6 miles (145.8 km), and his average speed was 88.9 miles (143 km). He showed off his versatility by throwing a variety of pitches, including fastballs (25), changeups (18), cutters (18), curves (16), and sinkers (5).
Although Ryu Hyun-jin suffered defeat, he had no doubts about Toronto’s fall baseball season. In an interview with local Canadian reporters after the game, he said, “There are not many games left in the season. I know we lost two games in a row, but that is also part of the game. Tomorrow is another day. We will work harder for tomorrow’s game. “I have to concentrate so I can write,” he said, showing strong faith in his colleagues.
#Texas nuclear strike line?… Ryu Hyun-jin responded with a 100 km slow curve.
Ryu Hyun-jin faced the Texas batting line for the first time since returning from Tommy John surgery. It was no exaggeration to say that Texas had the most powerful batting lineup in the American League. Before the game, Texas was ranked first in the American League with a team batting average of 0.267, team OPS of 0.794, and team RBI of 753. Ryu Hyun-jin’s former colleagues, including Corey Seager and Marcus Siemian, took the lead and sparked the fire.
Texas hitters, conscious of Ryu Hyun-jin’s control, swung their bats aggressively in fast counts. Ryu Hyun-jin maintained his own pace without being swayed by his opponent’s psychology. He throws slower curveballs to fast-paced batsmen, taking away their timing. The speed of the slowest curveball thrown that day was 62.5 miles (100 km).
Major League Baseball’s official SNS also paid attention to Ryu Hyun-jin’s curve. In the top of the 4th inning, with 1 out and 1st base, Nathaniel Rowe hit a 63 mph curveball on the 4th pitch with the ball count of 0-2, resulting in a looking strikeout. Here, an explanation was added that ‘Ryu Hyun-jin dropped a 63 mph ball that completely froze the batter.’
# It was disappointing to not have a home run in 4 consecutive games.
Ryu Hyun-jin, who was cruising without allowing any runs, lost the first run in the top of the 4th inning. It was the second turn of the batting order. The leadoff hitter Seager got on base with a heavy hit, causing a twist. As soon as Ryu Hyun-jin allowed his first hit of the day, he was hit by a left-handed two-run gun from the next batter, Robbie Grossman. Grossman intentionally targeted Ryu Hyun-jin’s first pitch, and Ryu Hyun-jin chose a cutter, but he had to watch the batted ball go over the fence. It was Ryu Hyun-jin’s sixth home run this season and his fourth consecutive home run.
Ryu Hyun-jin has an ERA of 2.92 this season. Considering that he did not pitch more than 5 innings in the previous 7 games, he is holding on well with few runs allowed. The problem is that most runs are quickly given up as home runs. In order for Ryu Hyun-jin to contribute to Toronto’s wild card race at the end of the season and even to the short-term playoffs, he needs to reduce the number of home runs as much as possible.
# Ryu Hyun-jin threw 62 pitches in 5 innings… Ryu Hyun-jin, the first QS of the season to appear on the mound in the 6th inning,
was on the mound in the 6th inning as he had only thrown 62 pitches through the 5th inning. It was a good opportunity to pitch his first 6 innings since his injury, but he was hit by a double to center field from leadoff hitter Seager. Seager intentionally aimed for Ryu Hyun-jin’s slow curve to the body and caught it, and center fielder Kiermaier tried to catch it with a diving catch, but it was not enough.
Ryu Hyun-jin faced Grossman, who suffered a home run that day, when he was on second base with no outs. A fierce full-count battle unfolded, and Ryu Hyun-jin threw a chain-up that fell exactly into the lower outer corner on the 6th pitch, resulting in a looking strikeout.
It wasn’t a Texas batting line where you could feel reassured that you had just climbed a mountain. With one out and runners on second base, Garber hit a right-handed hit, leading to a crisis with one out and runners on first and third base. He then allowed Haim to hit a sacrifice fly to right field, making it 0-3. Ryu Hyun-jin achieved his first quality start of the season by striking out Rowe on a swing and miss.
#Coach Schneider said, “I was able to trust Ryu Hyun-jin until the 6th inning.”
Toronto manager John Schneider positively evaluated Ryu Hyun-jin’s overall pitching that day. At a press conference with local Canadian reporters after the game, Coach Schneider praised Ryu Hyun-jin for his first 6 innings of the season, saying, “First of all, the number of pitches was small, and the pitch was good. He had good control, so he pitched well as planned.”
He continued, “I would like to take back the cutter he threw to Grossman, but he threw a good ball against a really good batting lineup. He didn’t allow strong batted balls well. Considering Ryu Hyun-jin’s throwing from the mound, the scoring situation, and the number of pitches, 6 “I decided I could trust and leave it up to the end,” he added.
It is believed that the quality start achieved in 480 days will serve as a stepping stone for Ryu Hyun-jin to pitch longer innings in the future. Since Ryu Hyun-jin’s return, Toronto has avoided pitching more than five innings to protect and manage his elbow. Another reason was that Ryu Hyun-jin, who had just returned to the big league, did not improve his pitch status completely.
Coach Schneider said, “(Pitching long innings) is what everyone wants in every game. We have to look at the number of pitches and the score situation, but ultimately, the goal will be to pitch more than 100 pitches and 7 to 8 innings. Today (13th) ) also probably threw about 83 pitches, but I think Ryu Hyun-jin can throw more than that. Everyone hopes for a starting pitcher to lead long innings,” he said, looking forward to Ryu Hyun-jin helping ease the burden on the bullpen in the future.
# Canadian media outlets pointed out the lethargic batting lineup that failed to help Ryu Hyun-jin.
Local Canadian reporters rushed to point out the Toronto batting lineup that was helpless and failed to help Ryu Hyun-jin. Canadian media ‘Sportsnet Canada’ said, ‘After Brandon Belt was out due to injury, Spencer Horwitz came into Toronto’s main lineup. Horwitz is one of the 10 hitters in Toronto’s main lineup this year. He pointed out, “Toronto’s central batting lineup, which has not been stable throughout the season, is ultimately leading to very fluctuating offense.”
Next, ‘Before the game, Toronto’s fourth hitter’s batting index was 0.249 batting average, 0.336 on-base percentage, and 0.424 slugging percentage, ranking 15th in the major leagues. OPS was only 0.759, and home runs were 19, ranking 20th. He added, “The number of RBIs is only 66.”
Keegan Mattison, MLB.com’s Toronto reporter, said, ‘Toronto’s batting line was not at all strong until Texas starting pitcher Max Scherzer retired early due to a right triceps injury. The door to Texas’ obvious weakness, the bullpen, was opened early, but (Toronto’s chasing runs) were too little, too late. As a result, Toronto was once again placed in the position of chasing Texas (in the wild card race),’ he criticized.
Before his injury, Scherzer pitched 5 ⅓ innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, and no runs, providing no opportunity to catch up. Toronto’s batting lineup exploded late in the bottom of the 7th inning, trailing 0-5. Leadoff hitter Horwitz reached base with a double hit directly against the right wall, and Davis Schneider advanced to third pitch when he retired with a fly ball to right field.
Toronto needed to create a big inning here, but in the ensuing opportunity with one out and 2nd and 3rd bases, pinch hitter Ernie Clements scored an RBI with a grounder to first base, and only managed to get within 2-5. And in the bottom of the 9th inning, when the team was down 2-6, Schneider hit a left-handed solo shot, but it was not enough to turn the game around.
One of the reasons why it was difficult for Toronto to win was the fact that Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who were supposed to spark up the main batting lineup, were silent with 0 hits in 4 at-bats.
Another Canadian media outlet, ‘Toronto Sun’, said, ‘Toronto showed confidence in this series with Texas, but was no match for them at all. Although there were two games left, the first two games were not close due to Texas’ one-sided flow. He criticized Toronto sharply, saying, “Toronto’s offensive power was almost non-existent.”
# Toronto, which lost despite Ryu Hyun-jin, must win the remaining two games against Texas.
With today’s loss, Toronto recorded a season record of 80 wins and 65 losses, losing second place in the American League wild card to Texas (80 wins, 64 losses) and falling to third place. Toronto aimed to secure at least three wins in this series against Texas, but had to swallow their disappointment as they lost the second game. Toronto, which entered this series with a 1.5 game lead, is now behind Texas by 0.5 games.스포츠토토
Toronto should have succeeded in reviving the atmosphere in the game in which Ryu Hyun-jin took the mound, but fell into two consecutive losses due to a batting lineup that was not easily revived. It appears that they will do their best to somehow secure two wins by sending out Yusei Kikuchi and Kevin Gausman in order for the remaining two games against Texas.
Director Schneider said, “It will be a very fierce battle. We have to control what we can and try to build up the number of wins. We will go until the end. There is no pressure, but it is important. I know very well that it is a really important series.” and predicted a rebound.