Heading into this past offseason the Los Angeles Dodgers faced the possibility of needing to fill a significant void in their starting rotation. Instead, Hyun-Jin Ryu accepted the qualifying offer, which seemingly was a win-win for both parties.
MLB free agency again was slow-moving, even for the sport’s top players, so Ryu did not have to deal with potentially signing a contract well below market value and he provided the Dodgers with an experienced and effective starter.
A groin strain interrupted Ryu’s 2019 season, but he’s hardly missed a beat after spending a mere 11 days on the 10-day injured list. On Friday he set a season high with 10 strikeouts over seven innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
It was another start in which Ryu did not issue a walk. He’s walked only two of 107 batters faced this season.
Ryu explained that’s a byproduct of a philosophy that was instilled in him at a young age, via J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group:
“It all goes back to how I was taught,” Ryu said through an interpreter. “Even when I was younger, when I was in elementary school, people around me told me how it’s better to give up a homer than a base on balls. Unfortunately, that led to consecutive games of me giving up home runs right now. That’s the downside. At least I don’t have anyone that gets on base for free.”
In his three full seasons with the Dodgers (2013, 2014 and 2017), Ryu has walked 49, 29 and 45 batters, respectively. His 2.5% walk rate this season would easily set a career-best mark.
Both of the free passes Ryu handed out this season came on pitches that could have been interrupted by some umpires as strike three. What’s more, Ryu has not walked a batter in a start at Dodger Stadium since August 2018.
If there’s a downside to Ryu’s focus on remaining in or near the zone, it’s the six home runs he’s allowed in 27.1 innings pitched this season. Last year, he surrendered just nine homers in 81.1 innings over 15 starts.
