Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin takes loss in return from injury

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays watches a hit fly over his head in the first inning of an MLB game against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre on in Toronto on Tuesday. [AFP/YONHAP]

Ryu Hyun-jin’s return to the mound after 14 months of rehabilitation got off to an inauspicious start on Tuesday, with the Korean ace charged with a loss after giving up four runs on nine hits in five innings pitched.

Ryu was handed the L after the Toronto Blue Jays took a big 13-3 loss to the division leading Baltimore Orioles. The veteran Korean pitcher, who has been out since June last year, still managed five innings of work, leaving the mound with the Orioles up 4-3.

Ryu looked shaky at the start, giving up two runs at the top of the first and another in the second, but then seemed to settle in for a scoreless third, fourth and fifth.

The Blue Jays perhaps should have pulled him after that solid run, instead opting to push for a sixth inning of work, with Ryu quickly giving up a home run to end his outing.

He struck out three and gave up one walk, leaving his first game with a 7.20 ERA.

Ryu, the most experienced Korean current playing in the big leagues and the only pitcher, has been out since the start of June 2022 when he landed on the injured list discomfort in his pitching arm.

After tests, it was decided that Ryu needed to undergo "revision ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction with a flexor tendon repair," more commonly known as Tommy John Surgery, a potentially career-ending procedure that generally requires 12 to 18 months of rehabilitation.

For Ryu, now in the later years of his career, it was unclear just how devastating that much time away from the mound would be. But the 36-year-old worked hard to ensure he could make it back to the majors, flying from Korea to the United States in December last year to begin rehabilitation as early as possible.

Ryu made four minor league starts in July, recording a 2.00 ERA over 18 innings pitched with one walk and 16 strikeouts for two wins and no losses. His fastball is sitting just under 90 miles per hour, according to reports, with Ryu said to be happy with how he’s throwing.

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