At the time Hyun-Jin Ryu underwent surgery last May to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, the Los Angeles Dodgers said they expected the southpaw to be ready to pitch by Spring Training in 2016.
Ryu spent the latter stages of the offseason slowly working toward that, throwing off a mound in mid-January for the first time since the operation. Ryu has joined other pitchers in throwing bullpen sessions during spring, however he’s taken extra days for rest between throwing.
Additionally, Ryu was limited to fastballs in his bullpen sessions, until Friday when he added a change-up; he’s yet to throw breaking balls.
Both the Dodgers and Ryu have maintained the recovery process will not be rushed, given the importance is on being healthy throughout the 2016 season as opposed to returning for the early stages of it.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts conceded Ryu likely won’t be fully recovered by Opening Day, via Andy McCullough of the LA Times:
Dave Roberts states the obvious: It's unlikely Hyun-Jin Ryu will be ready when the season starts.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) February 27, 2016
According to Bill Plunkett of the OC Register, Ryu said he hopes to return in May and make 20 starts this season:
#Dodgers Hyun Jin Ryu acknowledges he won't be ready at start of season. Expects to be back "some time in May." Shooting for 20 GS 150 IP
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) February 27, 2016
Roberts and Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman previously remarked they expect Ryu at some point to take the mound for a Cactus League game. More recently, Roberts said Ryu is roughly two weeks behind other pitchers in camp.
In two seasons with the Dodgers, Ryu is a combined 28-15 with a 3.17 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 56 starts. He battled shoulder fatigue in 2014, which can be traced to the torn labrum he had at the time of signing a six-year, $36 million contract the Dodgers in December 2012.
Assuming Roberts’ projection is correct, Alex Wood figures to take Ryu’s spot in the rotation. In 12 starts with the Dodgers last season, Wood was 5-6 with a 4.35 ERA, 4.10 FIP, 1.27 WHIP and averaged 6.3 strikeouts per nine innings.
Overall in 2015, the left-hander was 12-12 with a 3.84 ERA, 3.69 FIP and 1.36 WHIP in 32 starts. Now fully recovered from a bone bruise on his ankle that plagued him last season, Wood said his expectation is to be in the starting rotation.
Los Angeles opens the 2016 season on Monday, April 4 against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. The game will be nationally televised by ESPN with first pitch scheduled for 4:05 p.m. PT.
