Ryu lands on 10-day IL after rough start to season

Baseball

Published: 18 Apr. 2022, 15:22 Updated: 18 Apr. 2022, 15:35

Ryu lands on 10-day IL after rough start to season

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin looks on from the mound after giving up a two-run homer to Oakland Athletics catcher Sean Murphy during the third inning of a game in Toronto on Saturday. [AP/YONHAP]

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin has landed on the 10-day injured list on Sunday after complaining of a sore arm on Saturday after a disappointing start against the Oakland Athletics.

Ryu was placed on the IL with forearm soreness, although the cause of the injury was not explained. In his place, Ryan Borucki was activated from the IL following a hamstring injury.

Ryu gave up five runs on six hits in his second start of the year against the Oakland Athletics on Saturday. His second appearance of the season left him with a 13.50 ERA and he only avoided a loss because his teammates managed to briefly tie the score in the fifth inning before ultimately losing 7-5.

Ryu didn't start the game out badly, going one-two-three in the first inning and displaying the control that made him the Blue Jays' ace just a season ago. That form slipped in the second and Ryu ended up playing just four innings before heading for an early shower.

Saturday's outing was Ryu's second of the season. He gave up six runs in three and one third innings against the Texas Rangers a week earlier.

Speaking after the game on Saturday, Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo was fairly unforgiving about Ryu's performance so far this season.

“I’m not here to defend Ryu," Montoyo said. “He struggled with his command again, too many pitches over the middle of the plate and they made him pay. He’s a guy that is really good when he commands all his pitches. He just hasn’t been able to.”

While in the past Montoyo has defended the veteran pitcher based on his proven track record, on Saturday he focused only on his current performance.

"I’m not sitting here telling you about track record anymore,” Montoyo said. "He has struggled his last outings. We’re just hoping that he makes an adjustment and finds his command — because that’s what it is, his command. We’ll see how he feels and then we’ll talk more."

With Ryu's arm injury appearing to be fairly minor, it's likely Montoyo is hoping some time on the sidelines will help the southpaw rediscover his control before returning to the mound.

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