Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha Eagles) is back in ‘monster mode’ and will make his first start of the second half.
Ryu Hyun-jin will take the mound against the Kiwoom Heroes in the 2024 Shinhan SolBank KBO League at the Gocheok Sky Dome on Nov. 11. It will be his first start of the second half.
Expectations were high for his first mound appearance of the second half of the season, thanks to his strong showing at the KBO All-Star Game at SSG Landers Field on June 6. Ryu, who was unable to pitch full strength because he was starting the Nanum All-Star Game on just two days’ rest after a seven-inning, two-run outing against KT Wiz on the third day, pitched a seasoned first inning.
After getting the first batter of the inning, Koo Ja-rook (Samsung Lions), to pop out to shortstop, Jung Soo-bin drew a full count and struck him out swinging with a 123-kilometer-per-hour slider. He followed that up with a 114-mph slider to Yang Ji-hyeon, who flied out to right field.
Ryu’s fastball, which he threw 12 times on the day, was just 134 kilometers per hour, but his command kept batters on their toes.
The Nanum All-Stars defeated the Dream All-Stars 4-2, and Ryu was the starting pitcher. Ryu took home the Most Valuable Player award.
After a nice break, the team is now back in the pennant race.
Ryu, who moved to the United States after the 2012 season, returned to his hometown team Hanwha in February after 11 years in Major League Baseball (MLB).
His first season in the KBO after 12 years was a wild roller coaster ride.
He didn’t live up to expectations as he had a lot of ups and downs, pitching well and giving up a lot of runs. However, since mid-May, 온라인카지노사이트 he’s been living up to his reputation as he’s gotten back on track.
His season ERA, which was as high as 8.36 at the start of the season, was 3.62 at the end of the first half. In between, he went 5-0.
“I think I wanted to come back after 12 years and show too much, so I tried to fight with my strength and gave up a lot of runs,” Ryu said of his slump. “At some point, I let go of that and relaxed, and I think my performance improved,” he explained.
Now that he’s back to his best, Ryu will need to lead Hanwha’s fight for the second half of the season. With in-season additions Jamie Barria and Ryan White quickly adjusting to the league, Hanwha could rebound from their ninth-place finish if Ryu continues to be consistent.
This will be Ryu’s third start against Kiwoom this season. He was humiliated in the first meeting of the season on April 5, giving up nine runs in 4⅓ innings, but redeemed himself with eight scoreless innings in the rematch on April 18.
Kiwoom, meanwhile, will send Ha Young-min to the mound for the opener.
Young-min Ha is 6-5 with a 4.81 ERA in 15 games this season. In two appearances against Hanwha, he is 1-0 with a 6.30 ERA.