The Los Angeles Dodgers placed Hyun-Jin Ryu on the disabled list Tuesday, retroactive to July 9, which confirmed the report that he was likely to be scratched from Wednesday’s start against the Washington Nationals.
While Ryu managed to make just one start since returning from surgery that repaired a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, the latest injury is said to be tendinitis in his left elbow. An MRI didn’t show any changes from previous examinations of the balky elbow.
Though, the same was said of MRIs on Ryu’s shoulder last season prior to him undergoing surgery. It wasn’t revealed until after the operation that Ryu had the labrum tear when he signed with the Dodgers in December 2012.
While Ryu’s latest ailment isn’t nearly as serious as the shoulder trouble, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said there isn’t a timeline for the southpaw’s recovery, via Bill Plunkett of the OC Register:
Roberts said there is “really no timetable” for when Ryu will start throwing again. “We’re disappointed for him and the time he put into coming back for us,” Roberts said. “It’s something that’s not really a new injury. It’s tendinitis that kind of flared up.”
Ryu made his 2016 debut against the San Diego Padres on July 7 and allowed six runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings. In what was a positive development at the time, Ryu didn’t report any unusual soreness after his first Major League start since October 2014.
He made eight starts over two separate rehab stints prior to returning, yielding a 4.23 ERA in 27.2 innings while striking out 23 and walking just one. Along with losing Ryu for the foreseeable future, Clayton Kershaw’s recovery from a back injury has been halted.
That presumably will further push the Dodgers to address their starting rotation, which if recent reports are to be believed, was already a focal point for the club. Internal options for Los Angeles are seemingly down to Brett Anderson and prospects.
Alex Wood was on track to return in August but underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow and will be out an estimated eight weeks.
