MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reports that free agent pitcher Hyun Jin Ryu is increasing the intensity of his summer training in Korea.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2022, the soon-to-be 37-year-old left-hander rejoined the Toronto Blue Jays rotation
in August of the same year. Ryu finished 2023 with 11 games and 52.0 innings pitched before hitting free agency in November.
Ryu has been having a typical winter so far, according to Morosi, which makes it possible for teams to sign him.
When the Los Angeles Dodgers offered the Korean southpaw a then-record $36 million deal in 2013, Ryu made his MLB debut. In the
NL Rookie of the Year voting, he came in fourth place with a 3.00 ERA and 1.203 WHIP while winning 14 games.
A shoulder injury kept Ryu out of the 2015 season after he won 14 more games in 2014 with a 3.38 ERA and 1.191 WHIP. In July 2016,
he made a comeback for a single start, but he ended up missing the entire season due to elbow pain.
Despite pitching 209.0 innings in total in 2017 and 2018, Ryu was able to start Game 2 of the 2018 World Series against the Boston
Red Sox due to his health. Ryu participated in his first career All-Star game in 2019.
Before having Tommy John surgery in 2022, Ryu’s ERA was 5.67. His output had declined in 2021, when he had a 4.37 ERA. Ryu had
a strong comeback in 2023, posting a 3.46 ERA.
When healthy, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound veteran has shown that he can be a reliable starting pitcher, and Morosi’s most recent
information appears to indicate that he is physically ready for one more season in the major leagues. Ryu would almost certainly
accept a short-term deal given his age and history of injuries; the only question now is which organizations are ready to take a chance
on him.
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