Sports Briefs

BASEBALL

Ryu Hyun-jin out for season due to shoulder injury

Ryu Hyun-jin, pitcher for Los Angeles Dodgers, received surgery on his elbow, according to a local report.

According to the MLB.com, Ryu received an “arthroscopic left elbow surgery” on Wednesday and will not be able to pitch in any games for the remainder of the season, even in the coming playoff.

Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the team doctor for the Dodgers, performed the operation and the Dodgers expect Ryu to be in full condition for the 2017 season.

Ryu received surgery on his left shoulder and missed the past two seasons for the operation and subsequent rehab.

After a rehab stint that dragged on, Ryu pitched his first big league game on July 7, during which he struggled mightily on the mound, giving out six runs during 4 and 2/3 innings.

While preparing for his next game, Ryu complained of pain in his elbow and was placed on a 15-day disabled list (DL) in June. Then in early July, Ryu was moved to a 60-day DL.

Ryu was determined to pitch again this year before the season wrapped up and in a recent simulation pitching session, he topped 140 kilometer per hour (87 miles per hour). But the elbow surgery on Wednesday ended his season for good.

While Ryu’s season came to an end, Choo Shin-soo of the Texas Rangers, who’s season has been battered with endless injuries, looks to come back to the big league sometime soon. Choo suffered a fractured left forearm and has been on the Rangers’ DL. MLB.com reported that Choo may be back to the plate sometime this week.

By Choi Hyung-jo

FOOTBALL

Jeonbuk Hyundai eyes ACL finals after 10-year hiatus

SEOUL, South Korea - Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors is on the cusp of returning to the Asian Champions League final - 10 years after its first - after beating FC Seoul 4-1 at Jeonju World Cup Stadium on Wednesday.

Two strikes from Leonardo and one from Ricardo Lopes put Jeonbuk, the champion in 2006, up 3-0 by halftime in the first leg of the all-South Korean semifinal.

Ju Se-jong pulled one back for Seoul, the finalist in 2013, and Kim Shin-wook scored Jeonbuk’s fourth late.

The second leg is at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Oct. 19.

Choi Kang-hee, who coached Jeonbuk to the title in 2006, was satisfied with the result and the prospect of returning to the finals for the first time since losing to Al Sadd of Qatar in 2011.

“We know that we are now in a good position heading into the second leg” Choi said. “Seoul need the win and will know what they have to do but we know what we have to do also.”

Seoul has never won the Asian title, and coach Hwang Sun-hong admitted that reaching the final for the second time in three years will be tough.

“We are disappointed with the result,” Hwang said. “But the tie is not yet over.”

The winner will take on Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates or El Jaish of Qatar. Al Ain has a 3-1 advantage from Tuesday’s first leg.

AP