Until just three months ago, the name of Ryu Hyun-jin (36, Toronto) was never mentioned in the major league free agent (FA) market. At the time, Ryu Hyun-jin was a veteran in his mid-30s who was recovering from elbow ligament reconstruction surgery (Tommy John surgery). In fact, no one could be sure of a comeback. He was a player who it was not too late to judge by seeing him throw normally.
But now things have changed.온라인바카라 This is because Ryu Hyun-jin showed off his health after returning. Since returning from surgery, Ryu Hyun-jin has pitched 29 innings in 6 games and is achieving excellent results with 3 wins, 1 loss, and an average ERA of 2.48. His hitting percentage is 0.213 and his on-base per inning (WHIP) is only 1.03. Although his velocity hasn’t returned, he has perfect control over a variety of pitches and is able to deflect the bats of major league hitters. The positive reviews that say “the class is unique” are sure to come out.
Special offers in the free agent market are limited. Teams aren’t just looking at that big catch. You must use your budget appropriately according to your needs. And most teams have problems with one or two spots in the starting rotation. Unlike the bullpen, it is difficult to develop and use starters. It takes a long time to develop a proper starting pitcher. So there is always a demand for lower-level starting rotation. This is the same whether it is a team aiming for a championship or a team rebuilding.
There are predictions that teams in need of a veteran starting pitcher on a short-term contract will be watching Ryu Hyun-jin closely. It is difficult to make specific predictions as the FA market has not yet opened, but looking back on the history of the FA market, it is quite possible. It may be difficult to see Ryu Hyun-jin as the ace of the current team. However, it is enough to be seen as a 3-4 starter on a championship-caliber team or a 3rd or higher starter on a rebuilding team. Past experience and this year’s performance prove this.
That’s why the American sports media outlet ‘Clutch Point’ named Ryu Hyun-jin as one of the New York Mets’ off-season targets on the 3rd (Korean time). The Mets fell hard while running to win this year’s World Series. In the end, they sold all the expensive winning puzzle pieces of Max Scherzer (Texas) and Justin Verlander (Houston). After reorganizing the team’s strength, we reoriented ourselves to challenge for the championship after 2025.
In other words, 2024 is a time for reorganization. The Mets need a starter to help with this reorganization. ‘Clutch Point’ evaluated that ‘Ryu Hyun-jin is a perfect match on paper.’ The scenario is to use Ryu Hyun-jin as a stepping stone with a one- or two-year contract with increased annual salary, and then recruit a special pitcher when the team decides it is time to win the World Series. The Mets also have a short-term contract, so the burden is not great. Ryu Hyun-jin’s salary will also increase and it will serve as a stepping stone for the next contract, so it is not a loss for both parties.
There are countless teams looking for this kind of reinforcement. This is where the expectation that Ryu Hyun-jin will be a good option comes from. As competition increases, the price naturally rises. In the end, the key is how well you perform in the remaining games and how pretty your ‘resume’ will be. This is because the price depends on this year’s performance.
Ryu Hyun-jin’s remaining game schedule is quite difficult. First of all, the starting mound for the away game against Oakland, which will be held from 4:37 am on the 7th, has been confirmed. Toronto announced Ryu Hyun-jin as the starter on this day. Ryu Hyun-jin faces left-hander JP Sears for the starting spot.
In baseball, victory cannot always be guaranteed, even if he is facing a last-place team. Still, it is a relatively easy team. Oakland is the worst team in the league this year along with Kansas City. Neither offense nor defense works. The batting lineup is one of the weakest in the league. As of the 3rd, Oakland’s team OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) this year is 0.669, ranking last among 30 major league teams. His OPS against lefties is also 0.679, ranking 28th in the league.
Ryu Hyun-jin threw against both Cleveland (30th in the league in OPS against lefties) and Colorado (29th in OPS), which were weak against lefties, and the results were not bad. He did not allow a hit against two teams. All runs allowed came from home runs. This is why we can expect good performance against Auckland as well. Ryu Hyun-jin has never lost against Oakland in his career.
However, once this game passes, the schedule will be quite difficult. There is no team to take lightly. If the rotation goes as planned, the next opponent will be a home game against Texas at 8:07 a.m. on the 13th. Texas, along with Seattle and Houston, is a team competing fiercely for the lead in the American League West Division. In other words, it is also a contender for Toronto’s wild card race. The home four-game series is expected to be very hot. Toronto and Texas also have a not-so-good relationship in the past.
For Texas, the starting lineup for the game on the 13th is Max Scherzer. I went down early due to some arm pain just before the start, but there are no particular problems. Scherzer is a veteran of veterans with a total of 213 major league wins. He has already struck out 3,361 times and has won the Cy Young Award three times. He is a player who is certain to enter the Hall of Fame. If the match takes place, it is expected to attract a lot of attention as a battle of pride between veteran pitchers.
If the rotation continues as is, Ryu Hyun-jin’s season will end with a home game in Boston followed by two games against Tampa Bay. Texas, Boston, and Tampa Bay are all teams with strengths in their batting lineup. In other words, it has become important to gain as much as possible against Auckland, which they will meet before them, and to enter the final schedule in a good mood.