Ryu Hyun-jin (37), a monster pitcher of the Hanwha Eagles in the professional baseball league, had a chance to win a shutout for the first time in 14 years in the KBO League, but gave up on himself. He gave up his ambition to take the mound next time. He focused on preparing for the next game for his team, not paying attention to his personal glory.스포츠토토
Ryu Hyun-jin started the home game against the Kiwoom Heroes at Cheongju Stadium on the 18th, and led the Hanwha Eagles to a 3-0 victory by pitching a scoreless eight strikeouts and no outs in eight innings. He pitched a total of 101 pitches, hitting a maximum speed of 149 km/h, an average of 143 km/h (50 pitches), and hitting curves, changeups (more than 23 pitches), and cutters (5 pitches). Ryu, who won his fifth game (fourth loss) of the season, lowered his ERA to 3.38. He ranked fourth overall in the league in this category, ranking second among Korean pitchers after Won Tae-in (3.04).
On April 5, he lowered his ERA, which soared to 8.36 after four ⅓ innings of nine hits, two walks, two strikeouts and nine runs against Kiwoom in Gocheok, to 3.38 in 11 games on the 74th. Ryu Hyun-jin, who overwhelmed Kiwoom in his first return match in 74 days, returned to the “monster pitcher” we knew with an overwhelming 0.73 ERA with three wins and no losses in the last six games.
If he had 84 pitches until the seventh inning, it would be worthwhile for him to take the shutout. After two outs in the eighth inning, Hanwha’s pitching coach Park Seung-min took the mound as the number of pitches increased to 96 after Ko Young-woo hit a left-handed one, but he quickly got off the mound. When Park said, “What should I do?” Ryu said, “I will take responsibility for it,” and struck out the next batter, Lee Ju-hyung, with five consecutive fastballs, finishing the inning without losing a point.
Although it was expected to be replaced because the number of pitches was 101, manager Kim Kyung-moon and Hanwha coaching staff also continued to check Ryu Hyun-jin’s intention because the game was at stake for a shutout. Ryu Hyun-jin has won eight shutouts in the KBO League and three in the Major League. As a member of Hanwha, the game against Lotte in Daejeon (five hits, one walk and nine strikeouts in nine innings) on July 21, 2010 remains the last shutout.
Ryu had a chance to win a shutout in Korea for the first time in 14 years, but did not take the mound in the ninth inning. With the lead at 3-0, Ryu pitched the mound to closer Joo Hyun-sang. “It was a waste. It was not a waste,” Ryu said after the game. “If it wasn’t Tuesday, I would throw (until the ninth inning). There is also a game against KIA in Gwangju on Sunday. I was not greedy for a shutout in order to take the next mound after taking a break on Sunday.”
What is more important to Ryu than a shutout is to complete the season in good health. Of course, it would be nice to have a shutout, but with more than 100 pitches thrown, there is no need to over-ambitious about setting a new record. As a very smart player, he knows how to keep an eye on the one win and the record right in front of him.
In the match against Samsung in Daegu on March 31, Ryu had to cancel his game citing elbow pain 30 minutes before the game started. It was not a serious injury, and he could throw it with patience, but when he felt stiff in his elbow, he “stopped” by himself. After skipping rotation once, he has been displaying power without allowing any earned runs in 20 innings in three games. After taking a break, he started pitching even better with the strength he had saved.
Ryu Hyun-jin was a wise player who knew how to rest on his own without overdoing himself if he felt a little sick even during his major league days. On April 9, 2019, when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he voluntarily stepped down after feeling pain in his left groin during the second inning against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Back then, Ryu said, “(The pain) came a little bit. I thought it would be better to stop in this state. Considering my physical condition, I think I made a good stop.” Afterwards, he was put on the injured list but his injury did not worsen, and he returned to his position after 12 days. Had he not stopped and overstretched himself, he would not have been honored as the first in ERA and the second in Cy Young Award in the National League.
The shutout is just around the corner, but Ryu did not overdo himself while looking forward to the next game and the entire season. Even if he uses the expression “Ryu Hyun-jin is back” in the last six games, he would not feel awkward at all, but he said, “Not yet. I think we have to pass the All-Star game. We need to get stronger in the second half,” before expressing his strong confidence. “I’m still doing it at 100, but I can do more. I can do 120 to 130 degrees.” Ryu is watching the season long enough to give up a shutout. This is his own control as he can control records and players’ instincts by himself.