Ryu Hyun-jin expected to return to rotation on Thursday

Ryu Hyun-jin [AP/YONHAP]

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays is expected to return to the team on Thursday after missing one round of the rotation with a gluteal strain.

Ryu is expected to return to the mound when the Blue Jays take on the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California on Thursday. Ryu was placed on the 10-day injured list (IL) on April 28, backdated to April 26. Thursday's game is the earliest that he can return to the Blue Jays lineup.

Ryu left the mound in the fourth inning after throwing 62 pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays on April 25. The Blue Jays later announced he had a "minor glute strain."

Prior to his early departure, Ryu had given up three hits and stuck out five with one walk during his three and two thirds innings of work, leaving the game with a 2.60 ERA after five starts.

Ryu's addition to the IL comes as a bit of a surprise as both manager Charlie Montoyo and Ryu himself had seemed confident that he wouldn't miss any playing time.

“I don’t think it’s an injury, I guess I was less tense than I should have been,” Ryu was quoted on MLB.com as saying after the game. “It’s nothing serious and it’s not something I’ve felt before.”

Montoyo described the injury as "day-to-day" on April 27, and seemed to suggest that Ryu was unlikely to miss his spot in the rotation.

Despite those hopes, Ryu was added to the 10-day IL and missed a start over the weekend. According to reports, Ryu is now "feeling great" and expected to return without any issues.

Ryu has been solid in five starts this season with a 2.60 ERA and 1.05 WHIP after pitching 27 and two thirds innings, although he has only taken one win so far this year.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]