Pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu Heads To Canada, Agrees To A Contract With The Toronto Blue Jays

By Jordan Long

 The Toronto Blue Jays were looking to upgrade their pitching routine this offseason.  Last year the combined ERA for the starters was 5.25.  Starters didn’t typically pitch deep in games.  Toronto wanted to change that.  They already agreed to deals with starters Chase Anderson and Tanner Roark.  Toronto added an ace in Hyun-Jin Ryu.

                Ryu spent the previous 6 years with the Dodgers.  Last year Ryu won 14 games, tied for 2nd most on the team, only behind Clayton Kershaw who had 16. Ryu’s ERA was 2.32 which led the Dodgers starters.    When Ryu pitched, he was able to strike batters out and prevent traffic on the base paths, ending in 163 strikeouts.  

                Ryu rarely threw the ball in the middle or outside the strike zone for home runs and walks.  When batters were patient at the plate and worked the count, it didn’t end in many walks, giving up 24. Occasionally  Ryu pitched the baseball where a hitter could smack it for home runs, allowing 17.  With his pitching, the Dodgers made it to the postseason.

                In the Division Series loss to the Washington Nationals, Ryu only pitched in one game.  In that appearance he went 5 innings, giving up 2 runs and 4 hits. 

                Once the season was over, the Dodgers knew they could allow him to test free agency.  They already had their ace in Kershaw.  Their rotation behind him includes Walker Buehler and Kenta Maeda.  These pitchers can replace Ryu.  The Dodgers hoped to keep him but the writing was on the wall that Ryu was prepared to leave.

                The Blue Jays decided to sign Ryu to a 4-year, $80 million contract.  He becomes the ace of the staff.  With this one move, they are a more dangerous team to compete in the American League East Division.

                Toronto is an improved team with their pitching.  The New York Yankees are still the team to beat in the division because of their hitting and pitching.   The Blue Jays need to hope the moves they made for pitching makes them a threat to earn one of the Wild Card spots.  They have not made the postseason since 2016 when they lost the American League Championship Series to the Cleveland Indians.  Hopefully, in the next 4 years, Ryu can help lead this team to a World Series victory for the 1^st time since 1993.