Ryu Hyun-jin, rumored to be hopeful of remaining in MLB… Will you play in the big leagues next year?
On the 5th (Korean time), Ryu Hyun-jin (36, Toronto)’s eventful 2023 season came to an end as the Toronto Blue Jays were eliminated from the American League Wild Card Series of the Major League Baseball (MLB).
Toronto, which excluded Ryu Hyun-jin from the wild card list, lost 0-2 in the second game of the wild card against the Minnesota Twins on this day, ending the season with its second consecutive loss in the series.
Ryu Hyun-jin, who signed a four-year contract with Toronto for a total of $80 million ahead of the 2020 season, has officially become ‘free’ due to Toronto’s elimination.
There are two main paths Ryu Hyun-jin can choose from now.
The best case scenario is that he signs a contract with another major league club in the upcoming Stove League.
For this purpose, Ryu Hyun-jin underwent elbow ligament fusion (Tommy John) surgery and completed rehabilitation with great effort before returning to the major league mound in August of this year.
After his return, even though he has not yet fully recovered his velocity, he has proven his competitiveness by achieving 3 wins, 3 losses, and an average ERA of 3.46 in 11 games with his sophisticated control and game management ability.
Above all, it is encouraging that he was always on the mound without ever missing the starting rotation due to injury.
The second path is to return to his original team, the Hanwha Eagles.
He entered MLB through the posting system (private competitive bidding) when he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013, and must return to Hanwha when he returns to the KBO League.
Ryu Hyun-jin said in an interview with a media outlet earlier this year when he was in the midst of his rehabilitation, “He wants to return to Hanwha when he can throw well.”
Ryu Hyun-jin has not yet officially announced any future plans.
However, a story emerged locally that gives insight into Ryu Hyun-jin’s true intentions.
On the 5th, Canadian sports media ‘Sportsnet’ reporter Ben Nicholson-Smith wrote on his X (Twitter), “Ryu Hyun-jin has expressed his desire to sign with a major league team.”
Locally, there is a prediction that Ryu Hyun-jin can play as a starting pitcher in the major league for one to two more years.
This season, Ryu Hyun-jin showed that he is worthy of being a starting pitcher even though he only recently returned from rehabilitation.
Although there is only one quality start (within 3 earned runs in 6 or more innings as a starter), the number of innings pitched by starting pitchers is decreasing recently in the major leagues.
If he builds up his body properly this winter and meets the demands of the market next season
and the player’s own will, it is highly likely that we will be able to see Ryu Hyun-jin playing in the major leagues next year.스포츠토토
Hanwha, the original team, is also reviewing the possibility of Ryu Hyun-jin’s return from various angles.
However, realistically, it is not easy to immediately recruit Ryu Hyun-jin, who has shown his intention to remain in the big league.
In the baseball world, there is talk that Ryu Hyun-jin’s return will be promoted in line with the completion of Hanwha’s new stadium, ‘Baseball Dream Park’, which is scheduled to open in 2025. (yunhap news)
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