The “Korean Monster,” Ryu Hyun-jin, 37, is well on his way to returning to Major League Baseball. He has been playing in the minor league rookie league and then Single-A to get his body in shape. Of course, he hasn’t found his form yet. However, the ‘kwanrok’ accumulated from countless experiences shines through, raising the expectations of those around him.메이저놀이터

Ryu started a game against the Single-A Tampa Bay Tarpons (affiliated with the New York Yankees) of the Florida Complex League (FCL) at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Tuesday (July 10). He pitched four innings of three-hit ball. He struck out one, walked none, and didn’t hit a batter.

His pitch count is particularly impressive. In four innings, he threw 37 pitches. That’s a little over nine pitches per inning. He didn’t scare hitters with his pitches, but he used his exquisite command of his pitches and mix of pitches to pitch a no-hitter. In his heyday, he was known for averaging the fewest pitches per inning, and he did it with a “cannonball” approach.

In a Rookie League game against the FCL Tigers (affiliated with the Detroit Tigers) on the 5th, he allowed one run on four hits in three innings. He struck out five to prevent a big inning. He gave up three doubles, but extinguished the flames with his trademark command. Despite allowing three long balls, Ok et al. earned a passing grade for a solid outing as he emerged from a long injury tunnel.

His velocity was still below his prime. His fastball touched 88.2 miles per hour on the day. But it didn’t matter. He was able to utilize his mechanics and pitches to keep hitters off balance. His exquisite command of his pitches and quick timing kept his pitch count down. Considering he’s not 100%, it’s even more encouraging that his velocity has the potential to go up.

He should get one or two more minor league starts in the coming days. Increase his pitch count and innings to check his conditioning. I’ll likely take a similar approach to my last two outings. Rather than trying to go toe-to-toe with the hitters in a situation where his command is a bit off, he is expected to rely on pinpoint pitches to keep them off balance.

He could be Toronto’s ‘hidden card’ as they look to mount a late-game comeback. If he maintains his current form and builds up his velocity, a late-July comeback is possible. Currently, Toronto is in third place in the American League East. They are in the midst of a fierce battle in the AL East. They’re seven games behind the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays, so winning the division seems out of reach. The Rays have kept their hopes alive by taking the lead in the wild card race.

The return of the experienced Ryu Hyun-jin will be a big boost for Toronto. Toronto has been plagued by the inconsistency of its starters this season. They’ve been hot and cold. While the starters have recently found their footing, the addition of “veteran” Ryu Hyun-jin could provide some much-needed stability on the mound. Ryu could be the key to Toronto’s second half comeback.