After successfully completing his fourth rehab start since undergoing elbow ligament reconstruction surgery, Ryu Hyun-jin, 36, of the Toronto Blue Jays, is closing in on a return to the major leagues.

Starting for Toronto’s Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, Hyun-jin Ryu pitched six innings of three-hit ball (two home runs) with one walk and five strikeouts in a quality start against the Syracuse Mets at NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse, N.Y., on April 22, leading Buffalo to a 4-2 victory.

Gave up two runs on two solo home runs to Jonathan Arauze and Jose Peraza in the fifth inning, but retired the next five without further damage. Upped his total to 85 pitches (58 strikes, 27 walks) to earn the win.

With the win, Ryu improved to 2-0 in four minor league rehab starts, allowing 13 hits (three home runs), one walk, 16 strikeouts and four runs in 18 innings with a 2.00 ERA.

Ryu’s return to form: 18 innings, 1 walk, 16 strikeouts

After a year-long rehabilitation following his left elbow ligament reconstruction surgery on June 19 last year, Hyun-jin Ryu made his first real appearance this month. After reporting for duty in a Rookie League game on June 5 with three innings of four-hit ball, five strikeouts and one run, he pitched four innings of three-hit ball in Low Single-A on June 10 with one strikeout and no walks.

He was then promoted to Triple-A, the level just below the majors. On the 16th, he got off to a quality start with five innings of three-hit ball (one homer), striking out five and walking one. Before giving up a walk to Ronnie Mauricio in the sixth, Ryu showed off his command with 17⅔ consecutive strikeouts.

Ryu, who upped his pitch count to 85, threw his four-seam fastball (39), changeup (23), cutter (13), and curve (10). His four-seam fastball velocity topped out at 90.8 mph (146.1 km/h) and averaged 88.4 mph (142.3 km/h), down from his 89.9 mph (144.7 km/h) average in 2021, the season before the surgery.

But he still had a four-seam fastball that poked right-handed batters in the body and a cutter that dipped outside. He fanned seven batters with his main weapon, a changeup, signaling that everything was back to normal except his velocity.

“I need to raise my fastball…but the most important thing is back”

Keegan Matheson, the Toronto reporter for MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, shared the news of Ryu’s appearance on social media, saying, “Toronto wanted to see how much he had recovered physically. All of his rehabilitation has gone well, and now it’s time to make a decision,” adding that he is ready to return.

According to Mathieson, Ryu steadily increased his pitch count to 42, 37, 66, and 85 in his four rehab starts. His four-seam fastball has also been getting faster, topping out at 88 mph (141.6 km), 88.4 mph (142.3 km), 89.3 mph (144.5 km), and 90.8 mph (146.1 km).

Matheson continued, “For Ryu, restraint is the key. Toronto expects his velocity to improve when he throws in a major league stadium. Ideally, he needs to add another mile or two (1.6-3.2 kilometers) to his velocity.” “Ryu threw 15 changeups on the day, inducing seven swings and misses. His feel for his most important pitches has returned. He was referring to the effectiveness of Ryu’s changeup, his main weapon.

Possible return against the Angels on April 29-31, but will face Ohtani again

Initially, Ryu was expected to make one more appearance at Triple-A next week before returning to the majors. However, he pitched a clean game today and is pushing for a return. Toronto needs Ryu, too. The Jays have a 17-game road trip that starts on April 29 against the Los Angeles Angels and ends on April 14 against the Chicago Cubs.

Ryu’s return would allow the team to use a six-man starting rotation with extra rest for the existing starters. Toronto general manager Ross Atkins has also hinted at a six-man rotation. With the current schedule, Ryu could be back in action for a three-game series against the Angels on April 29-31. He could be matched up against Shohei Ohtani, who leads the league in home runs (35).카지노사이트

Ryu faced Ohtani three times last year against the Angels on May 28, holding him to two hits, one walk and one RBI. Ryu also won a start against Ohtani (5 innings, six hits, one walk, one strikeout, two runs), who took the loss (6 innings, six hits, two home runs, one walk, 10 strikeouts, five runs).