Before the opening of the professional baseball league this year, Sports Trends asked five commentators of the broadcaster about Ryu Hyun-jin (37, Hanwha)’s expected performance.
Prospects were similar. Most predicted double-digit wins and an earned run average of two points. Returning to the KBO League for the first time in 12 years, Ryu also felt pressure from such expectations. “At first, I thought a lot about showing something,” Ryu told reporters at the SSG Landers Field in Incheon on Wednesday.먹튀검증
Ryu allowed six hits and five runs (two earned runs) in 3.2 innings in the opening game against the LG Twins in Jamsil on March 23. The result of his return game to the league was unexpectedly poor. Still, many had expectations for his next game rather than doubting his performance. Ryu had a quality start (more than six innings and less than three earned runs) by allowing two runs in six innings in the match against KT in Daejeon on March 29.
This pattern continued for a while. The situation has ups and downs. In the game against Kiwoom in Gocheok on April 5, Ryu had nine hits in 4.1 innings, and allowed the most nine runs in a single game. Leaving behind the shock, Ryu reported his first win at the game against Doosan Bears in Jamsil on April 11, his next game. At the game against NC in Changwon on April 17, he pitched seven innings (three runs), the longest since his return, and pitched well for two consecutive games. However, at the game against KT in Suwon on April 24, he allowed seven runs (five earned) in five innings, significantly falling.
Not only KBO league hitters but also ABS, which was newly introduced this season, Ryu has also failed to adapt himself to the new system. After losing a lot of points against KT on April 24, Ryu publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with the ABS strike decision.
However, he has been gradually finding his form since the match against the Daejeon SSG on April 30, when he achieved his 100th career win in the KBO League. Ryu found a problem with himself, saying, “Looking back, I paid attention to the ABS decision and gave up a walk, and I had a difficult game.”
Lee Do-yoon of Hanwha Ryu Hyun-jin, who was hit by a monster kiss, is hitting behind shortstop Lee Do-yoon, who made a defensive mistake in the bottom of the sixth inning against SSG in Incheon on the 25th. Courtesy of Hanwha Eagles
Ryu Hyun-jin has continued his streak of good pitching in three consecutive games since he slowed down with five runs in five innings against Lotte in Busan on the 8th. In the match against NC in Daejeon on the 14th, he threw 110 pitches in six innings, allowing two runs, and in the match against Samsung in Daegu on the 19th, he won his third win of the season with five scoreless innings.
At a match against the Incheon SSG on Saturday, he pitched six innings of one-run ball to lead his team to a 4-2 victory. Hanwha, whose starting lineup collapsed due to foreign starters both leaving the team due to injury, has garnered two wins and one draw in the recent three games Ryu pitched well, benefiting significantly from the ace pitchers.
Hanwha manager Choi Won-ho said of Ryu Hyun-jin, “My body came up a little late, and I had a problem adjusting to ABS,” and added, “I think I’ve fully adapted to the KBO league now.” Ryu Hyun-jin also said, “My physical condition continues to improve,” and “ABS tries not to pay attention to it as much as possible.”
In this season, Ryu has played 11 games, recording three wins, four losses and an earned run average of 4.50. Experts are not predicting well before the opening of the season, and Ryu himself cannot be satisfied with the performance. “KBO League hitters seem to have improved their contact capability,” Ryu said. “I don’t care much about my current performance as I think (average earned run) will return to its original position at some point.”
Based on the statistics, Ryu is ranked third in the league with 3.05 percent of his earned run average (FIP). If his team’s defense is stabilized, his ERA is likely to be even better. “I’ve put it all down now,” a smiling Ryu said. “I’m not trying too hard, but just thinking about what I can do, like all starting pitchers.”