“Kikuchi Ilji” Ryu
Hyun-jin, the ‘Korean Monster’, suffered a major injury during the season in June last year. At the time, Ryu Hyun-jin had been showing ups and downs due to forearm muscle pain, but as a result of the examination, he was found to need Tommy John surgery. In the case of Tommy John surgery, it is a major surgery that usually requires more than one year of rehabilitation until returning to the mound. From the pitcher’s point of view, Ryu Hyun-jin’s Tommy John surgery was more shocking because it could be directly related to the player’s life.온라인카지노
At the time, after the news of Ryu Hyun-jin’s second Tommy John surgery was delivered, the local media poured out voices of concern. In particular, there was a pessimistic view at the time when Ryu Hyun-jin started to make a full-fledged comeback. However, the atmosphere began to change little by little as Ryu Hyun-jin lost a whopping 13 kg through rehabilitation and fought hard with 4 hits, 5 strikeouts and 1 run (1 earned) over 3 innings in the Minor League Rookie League under the Detroit Tigers on the 5th.
Ryu Hyun-jin, who had a good start in the rookie league, continued cruising. Even as his league level increased, his pitching content was ‘steady’. On the 10th, Ryu Hyun-jin marked 37 pitches, 4 hits, 4 hits, 1 strikeout, and no run against the New York Yankees minor league single A in 4 innings.
As Ryu Hyun-jin’s comeback got closer and closer, fans also showed high expectations. “It will be interesting to see what happens from now on,” said Bluebird Banter, a Toronto fan page of “SB Nation” in the U.S. “The Toronto starting lineup was barely holding on after Alec Manoa was demoted to the Rookie League just a month ago. But with Ryu Hyun-jin on his wings, the starting rotation suddenly looks thick.”
Ryu Hyun-jin, who started with 3 innings and played until 5 innings. His innings and pitches have risen to an appropriate level. There aren’t that many things to check now. The only thing left is redemption. Ryu Hyun-jin’s highest speed was only 88 miles (about 141.6 km) in his first appearance in rehabilitation, but he raised his speed to 89.8 miles (about 144.5 km) in the previous appearance (16 days). But it’s still not enough.
Ryu Hyun-jin is not a “fastball” pitcher, but in the 2021 season, the “average” speed of his four-seam fastball was 89.9 miles (about 144.7 km) and last year was 89.3 miles (about 143.7 km). Currently, Ryu Hyun-jin marks his average speed as the highest speed. In order to have a little better competitiveness, you must raise your velocity. Currently, Toronto expects Ryu Hyun-jin’s redemption to rise a little more.
Ryu Hyun-jin faces the Tampa Bay Rays Triple A Durham Bulls on the 22nd. Looking at the contents of pitching so far, if Ryu Hyun-jin does not reveal any special problems in pitching, it is highly likely that the Korean Monster’s next pitching will be the big leagues after the pitching on the 22nd. Ben Nicholson-Smith of Canada’s ‘Sportsnet’ said that if Ryu Hyun-jin throws more than 80 pitches in the mound on the 22nd, “there won’t be much more to confirm.”
With Ryu Hyun-jin’s return approaching, Natsuki Une, who served as editor-in-chief of the major league magazine ‘Slugger’ in the past and is currently active as a Japanese sports writer, expressed concern about Yusei Kikuchi’s future. Kikuchi, who signed a three-year, $36 million (approximately 46.2 billion won) contract with Toronto prior to last season, is having his best year with a 7-3 record and 4.13 ERA this year. But he hasn’t been able to keep up with the exorbitant pace of the exhibition games and early season.
Kikuchi was very good with a 2.28 ERA in 27⅔ innings in five appearances in June. However, in his first appearance in July, he gave up 5 runs in 4⅓ innings against the Boston Red Sox and 4 runs in 5 innings (4 earned) against the Chicago White Sox. And on the 17th, in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he left a regret with 2 runs in 4⅔ innings. He didn’t concede many goals, but he showed anxiety with his jagged throw.
On the 21st, Natsuki Une contributed a column titled ‘Is Yusei Kikuchi excluded from the starting rotation due to Ryu Hyun-jin’s return?’ Une Natsuki said, “Ryu Hyun-jin’s return is imminent. Ryu Hyun-jin, who underwent Tommy John surgery in June last year, started rehabilitation this month. He struck out 11 and did not walk at all,” pointing out Ryu Hyun-jin’s smooth rehabilitation.
Natsuki Une also had time to point out players who are likely to be excluded from the starting rotation following Ryu Hyun-jin’s return. He commented, “Looking at the average ERA, it seems natural that Alec Manoa will be left out of the rotation following Ryu Hyun-jin’s return. However, Manoa has just returned as a starter earlier this month. It seems too early to be excluded from the rotation.”
Toronto coach John Schneider hints at the possibility of running a six-man rotation in case of Ryu Hyun-jin’s return in preparation for the ’17 series of death’. Natsuki Une said, “The rotation, including Ryu Hyun-jin, can be packed with 6 people, but Manoa has no experience in pitching after debuting in the major leagues in 2021. Chris Bassett will only start after 2020,” he said.
‘MLB.com’ Toronto manager Keegan Matheson also hinted at the possibility that Kikuchi will be removed from the starting rotation after Kikuchi’s recent slump. And Natsuki Une seems to have similar thoughts. Kikuchi, like Ryu Hyun-jin, will be on the mound on the 22nd. If Ryu Hyun-jin fights hard and Kikuchi leaves a disappointment once again, the possibility is expected to increase.