Hyun-Jin Ryu
From BR Bullpen
Hyun-Jin Ryu
- Bats Right, Throws Left
- Height 6' 3", Weight 215 lb.
- High School Dongsan High School
Fresh out of high school, Hyun-Jin Ryu exploded onto the scene of the Korea Baseball Organization in 2006.
Ryu had Tommy John surgery while in high school. Making 20 million won ($21,520), Ryu dominated the KBO for the 2006 Hanwha Eagles. He went 18-6 with one save and a 2.23 ERA while striking out 204 in 201 2/3 innings. He became the first player in the 25-year history of the KBO to be named Rookie of the Year and win the Korea Baseball Organization MVP award in the same season. Seung-hwan Oh had just missed the feat a year earlier, finishing second in the MVP race. Ryu also became the first pitcher in 15 years to win the pitching Triple Crown; Dong-Yol Sun had been the last hurler to do so. For the MVP award, he beat out a batter who had won the Triple Crown as well - Dae-ho Lee. He also won a Gold Glove Award. In the playoffs, though, he went 4 games without a win. His salary increased fourfold in his second year.
Ryu was 17-7 with a 2.94 ERA in his sophomore season. He struck out 178 batters in 211 innings to again led the KBO, robbing Danny Rios of a pitching Triple Crown; Rios was second in Ks and led in ERA and wins. Ryu tied Kenny Rayborn for second in wins and finished fourth in ERA.
Ryu was with South Korea for the 2007 Asian Championship. He started game one and allowed two runs in five innings in a win over the host Taiwan national team. Ryu was 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA in the 2008 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament, allowing 10 hits in six innings. He took South Korea's only loss with a rough outing against Team Canada, giving up a 3-run first-inning homer to Matt Rogelstad in a 4-3 defeat.
Ryu began 2008 strong, going 5-0 with a 1.83 ERA in April. In May, he was 0-2 with a 5.72 ERA. He was then sidelined with inflammation in his pitching elbow.
Main Sources: 2007 Baseball Almanac, KBO player page, IBAF site
