After aggravating his shoulder following a rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City in late May, Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu was temporarily shut down. He eventually resumed throwing and returned to action on Sunday with High-A Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday.
The shoulder soreness arose as a result of Ryu throwing 55 pitches over five innings, with increased velocity, plus an additional 10 pitches in the bullpen. It was the most extensive work of his rehab assignment.
In his start with the Quakes on Sunday, Ryu tossed 46 pitches over three innings, had three strikeouts and allowed one run on three hits. It was the first of what’s expected to be four or five rehab starts. He completed four scoreless innings with five strikeouts on Friday.
Due to the multiple setbacks in Ryu’s recovery from a torn labrum in his left shoulder, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently made it clear that Ryu must prove his ability to remain healthy before he can return, via Bill Plunkett of the OC Register:
“With the way that it’s gone, we’ve got to have assurance that he can hold his stuff and maintain health. … When you’ve accrued all this time on the disabled list, we’ve got to have confidence that he’s not going to go back once we’ve made that decision (to activate him).”
Rancho Cucamonga has been a hot spot for Dodgers players working their way back from injuries. Brandon McCarthy, who is recovering from Tommy-John surgery, started for the Quakes on Saturday and Thursday, and outfielder Yasiel Puig is currently on a rehab assignment as he looks to overcome a hamstring strain.
Assuming Ryu is able to get through this second rehab assignment without issue, he may be activated from the disabled list near the All-Star break.
