Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts named Hyun-Jin Ryu one of the club’s five starting pitchers for the regular season, which left Brandon McCarthy and Alex Wood in a competition for the remaining spot. McCarthy was later named the fourth starter.
For Ryu, it caps off a remarkable climb up the mountain after essentially losing two full seasons to injuries. He missed all of 2015 after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, and only managed to make one start last season because of elbow trouble.
Ryu’s made four spring starts, and will pitch in a final exhibition game on Saturday. Prior to officially being named to the Dodgers’ rotation, Ryu expressed confidence he can withstand the rigors of starting on a regular basis, via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
“From how I feel right now, I’m definitely confident I can pitch every five days for this team,” said Ryu. “I’ve always been a starting pitcher, it definitely feels good doing what I’m expecting to do.”
Shortly after pitchers and catchers reported to Camelback Ranch, Ryu said he believed a spot in the Opening Day rotation was within the realm of possibility.
This year is the first time Ryu has proven to be healthy since undergoing surgery in 2015 to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. Although the southpaw was projected to make full recovery by 2016 Spring Training, such was not the case.
Ryu was slowed throughout the spring and suffered multiple setbacks. Upon returning last July, he made just one start for the Dodgers before landing back on the disabled list. Arthroscopic elbow surgery ended another season for Ryu.
The 30-year-old went a combined 28-16 with a 3.28 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 56 starts across his first two seasons with the Dodgers.
