Ryu Hyun-jin pitched out of the bullpen against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday (June 24) at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. In front of manager John Schneider and his coaching staff, Ryu looked healthy and threw the ball.
Afterward, he spoke to the local media. 스포츠토토 According to the Toronto Star, Ryu said, “Throwing on the mound was what I missed the most,” adding, “It felt really good to see my teammates, and it helped me feel energized.”
Ryu underwent elbow ligament reconstruction (Tommy John surgery) last June. He has been working on his rehabilitation process with the dream of getting back on his feet, and he is slowly improving his condition with the goal of returning in July.
Even his bullpen pitches were pain-free. He had no trouble throwing his offspeed pitches, including his curveball and changeup. Ryu hopes to return around the All-Star break, most likely as a starter.
The media said, “If Ryu goes through the rehab process as planned, he could be back in the second half of the season. Ryu also wants to be a starter. “I want to be a part of Toronto by the second half of the season, that’s my goal,” Ryu said.
If Hyun-jin Ryu can stay healthy, Toronto will be able to bolster its mound with an ace-level starter. With Alec Manoa and Yusei Kikuchi struggling, Ryu could be a solid option.
