Ryu to start in Dodgers’ opener in Australia

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Ryu to start in Dodgers’ opener in Australia

Published: 26 Feb. 2014, 20:53

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers will pitch the season opener versus the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 23 in Australia, the team said Tuesday. It said that their lefty ace, Clayton Kershaw, and right-hander Zack Greinke will not be on the mound in the two-game series, but Ryu will pitch in the first game as part of Major League Baseball’s bid to globalize baseball.

The team said Ryu is the type of pitcher who could help the global effort because there is a large Korean community in Sydney. The Dodgers said that either veteran right-hander Dan Haren or Matt Magill will start the second game. The Dodgers said Greinke and Kershaw likely will not travel with the team to Australia. Ryu was 14-8 with a 3.00 ERA last season.

Ryu has said that he doesn’t have a problem with pitching in Australia, while Greinke has complained about the long-distance travel involved.

By Kwon Sang-soo