Ryu comes out strong during spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly complimented Ryu Hyun-jin’s ball control, comparing the Korean rookie to a young David Wells, a former New York Yankees left-handed ace and two-time World Series champion, according to the Dodgers.

“I can’t say he’s got the [Wells] breaking ball, but he’s got command, and the ball comes out of his hand pretty good,” Mattingly said on the Dodgers’ official Web site after watching Ryu’s first live batting practice on Tuesday.

At the live batting practice held at the Dodgers’ spring camp in Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona, Ryu pitched two innings, hurling around 40 balls with eight invited Dodgers players at bat.

“I see he kind of throws the ball where he wants,” Mattingly said. “He’ll definitely be a guy who pitches off his fastball.”

The practice pitch was held five days before the 25-year-old Korean’s scheduled debut for the Dodgers in the team’s second pre-season game. Ryu will pitch against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, as the second pitcher in the game behind another offseason signing, Zack Greinke, the team announced last week.

On the same day, Ryu also received a pitching tip from Sandy Koufax, the legendary Dodgers pitcher who recently joined his old club as an adviser, the Dodgers said. Koufax, a three-time Cy Young award winner who also offered advice to Park Chan-ho, advised Ryu to grip the ball deeper when throwing his curveball, the team said.

By Moon Gwang-lip