The Dodgers open their 2024 common season with two video games in Seoul. Additionally returning to South Korea is one in every of their former pitchers, and probably the greatest that ever got here overseas. Hyun-jun Ryu is coming residence to pitch as soon as once more for the Hanwha Eagles, in response to a number of stories.

Ryu's cope with Hanwha, his unique crew within the Korea Baseball Group, is value about $12.7 million over 4 years, in response to Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap Information, which would be the largest contract in league historical past. .

Son Hyuk, common supervisor of Hanwha, advised Naver Sports activities on Monday, “We now have been shut mates with Hyun-jin for a very long time and talked loads, and just lately we fashioned an excellent consensus. If Hyun-jin comes again, we’d naturally keep contemplating an quantity near the utmost, and we’ve got made a suggestion and we’re ready.”

Ryu, who turns 37 in March, made $20 million final yr with the Blue Jays within the closing yr of a four-year, $80 million contract with Toronto. Counting his earlier time with the Dodgers, Ryu made simply over $122 million in his 11 seasons in MLB.

Former main league catcher Erik Kratz in Foul Territory called Ryu“clearly, simply the most effective Korean pitcher ever, probably the greatest, high two gamers in Korean Main League Baseball.”

Ryu is second within the majors amongst Korean-born pitchers in innings (1,055⅓), strikeouts (934) and wins (78), trailing solely Chan Ho Park in all classes. Each pitched extensively for the Dodgers.

With Hanwha, Ryu gained the pitching triple crown as a 19-year-old rookie in 2006, main the KBO in wins, strikeouts, and ERA en path to successful Rookie of the Yr and league MVP. He pitched seven years with the Eagles earlier than being posted to MLB after the 2012 season.

The Dodgers signed Ryu that December to a six-year, $36 million contract, for which the Dodgers paid a posting payment of $25,737,737.33 to Hanwha. This posting payment, which on the time was groups bidding towards one another for unique negotiating rights with the participant, relatively than a proportion of a market-driven contract, stays a report for a Korean participant.

Ryu was a gentle drive within the Dodgers' rotation instantly, serving to the Dodgers return to the postseason in 2013, beginning a streak that has since develop into 11 straight playoff video games and counting.

Shoulder surgical procedure to restore a torn labrum worn out Ryu's 2015 season in addition to a part of 2016. He returned for one begin in 2016 earlier than elbow debridement surgical procedure ended that yr as nicely. He missed half of 2018 when a groin muscle torn the bonethough he posted a 1.97 ERA in 15 begins that season.

After accepting a $17.9 million qualifying provide to return to the Dodgers, Ryu put all of it collectively in 2019, main the majors with a 2.32 ERA in his 29 begins and putting out his MLB 163 batters in 182⅔ innings. .

Ryu in 2019 hit his solely skilled residence run, inspiring one of the memorable calls of Joe Davis' broadcasting profession with the Dodgers.

Ryu completed second within the Nationwide League Cy Younger voting in 2019, then completed third within the American League in 2020 after signing a four-year, $80 million contract with the Blue Jays.

His first two years with Toronto had been wholesome and productive, however Tommy John surgical procedure in 2022 restricted Ryu to only 17 begins over the previous two seasons with the Jays.

Ryu is a superb character with a dry humorousness. I’d watch a comedy film and/or documentary that simply adopted Ryu and Juan Uribe round.

When he first signed with the Dodgers, Ryu's health was in query after the 6'3, 250-pound pitcher lagged in sprints in a backfield at Camelback Ranch.

“The opposite gamers don't take heed to what the trainers say,” Ryu snapped. “The trainers advised us to run it in 35 seconds; why will we run it in 26 seconds? I ran it in 35 seconds.”

When wholesome, Ryu was a unbelievable pitcher. His 129 ERA+ with the Dodgers is tied for sixth in franchise historical past amongst pitchers with at the very least 100 begins. He returns to Hanwha with a 3.02 ERA with 2,172 strikeouts in 2,324⅓ innings between the KBO and MLB. He additionally has 176 profession wins, with a four-year contract now to climb towards 200 wins.



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