Sports Briefs

BASEBALL

L.A. Dodgers’ Ryu Hyun-jin eyes the mound this season

Will Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers find his way to the mound before the season ends?

After receiving surgery in May 2015 to mend his shoulder, Ryu went through recuperation, missing the entire 2015 season and early part of this season. Ryu tossed his first big league pitch on July 8 against the San Diego Padres. During his return assignment against the Padres, Ryu tossed for 4 and 2/3 innings and allowed six earned runs.

But after his game, Ryu complained of pain in his elbow and was placed on the Dodgers’ disabled list. It was expected that Ryu would be out for the rest of the season, but according to the latest local report, Ryu is trying to make a comeback in time for the playoffs. According to the Los Angeles Times, Ryu is “scheduled to throw 25 pitches in a simulated game.”

Still, despite his ongoing rehab stint, some in the coaching staff are skeptical of Ryu’s prospect to return before the year comes to its end.

“The chances for him to be on the playoff roster are very, very slim,” the Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was quoted as saying by the Los Angeles Times. “It’s just more about for him to build up in some capacity and have a good taste in his mouth before going into the off-season.”

By Choi Hyung-jo

FOOTBALL

Tavecchio wants to shrink Serie A to increase talent

ROME - Struggling to compete with the English Premier League and the Spanish Liga, Italian football federation president Carlo Tavecchio wants to reduce Serie A from 20 to 18 clubs.

Tavecchio tells Rai State Radio that a reduction would increase the overall skill level of the league and attract a bigger fan base with more competitive matches. Tavecchio also wants to reduce the number of teams in Serie B and the third division. He plans to discuss a three- or a four-year plan with the leagues this week.

Serie A had 18 clubs from 1988-2004 before the current 20-team format was introduced. AP