In somewhat of an unexpected development the Los Angeles Dodgers began last season without Hyun-Jin Ryu. He underwent surgery in May 2015 to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, and was projected to make a full recovery by Spring Training the following year.
However, Ryu fell behind other pitchers in camp, was given extra rest due to shoulder discomfort, and his expected return date slowly began to slip into April and beyond. Beyond recovering from shoulder surgery, the 29-year-old missed a scheduled bullpen session in mid-April due to a groin issue.
Ryu eventually began a rehab assignment in May, but suffered a setback and had to reset the process. He got through five rehab starts in June, and came off the disabled list to start for the Dodgers on July 7.
The outing was a bag of mixed results, with Ryu showing flashes of his old self but also some rust and fatigue. It wound up as his lone outing of the season.
The Dodgers placed the left-hander on the 15-day disabled list with elbow tendinitis on July 19. A timetable was not set for Ryu’s return, though he held out hope of pitching again. That changed with September’s left elbow debridement to clear out damaged tissue.
Ryu again is expected to return in time for Spring Training. According to Yoo Jee-ho of Yonhap News Agency, Ryu will continue to rehab in Japan before reporting to Camelback Ranch later this month:
Los Angeles Dodgers’ left-hander Hyun-jin Ryu will continue his rehab from elbow surgery in Japan, his agency said Wednesday. Seoul-based A-Spec Corp. said Ryu will depart for Okinawa on Friday to set up camp with his former Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) teammate, Hanwha Eagles’ right-hander Jang Min-jae.
“Ryu will be working out on his own for three weeks,” the agency said. “He wants to get into better form before leaving for Arizona in late January.”
Speaking from the General Manager meetings in November, Farhan Zaidi acknowledged there’s uncertainty surrounding Ryu. Zaidi said the club envisions him in their rotation, but injury history prevents the Dodgers from being able to completely count on Ryu for 2017 at this stage.
From 2013-14, Ryu went a combined 28-15 with a 3.17 ERA, 2.97 FIP and 1.19 WHIP. He’s managed to make just one start over the past two seasons. Ryu is owed $7 million in 2017 and 2018, though his contract includes performance bonuses.
Dodgers pitchers and catchers must report for Spring Training by Feb. 15, with their first workout scheduled for the following day.
