The “Korean Monster,” Ryu Hyun-jin (36, Toronto Blue Jays), who is set to make his return from elbow surgery, appeared to have gotten lanky. Everyone was surprised.
MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball (MLB), reported on June 26 (KST), “Ryu Hyun-jin has returned after losing a lot of weight during his rehabilitation for Tommy John surgery (elbow ligament splicing).”메이저놀이터
Earlier, Ryu threw bullpen pitches at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on April 24. It was Ryu’s first bullpen pitch since going under the knife in June last year, spurring him on to return to the big league mound. When Ryu finished pitching, the entire pitching staff applauded. It was a welcome return for the ace.
What’s surprising is that Ryu appeared to be even sharper than before. In a photo released by the Toronto organization on social media, Ryu showed off his toned body. His strong calves were already noticed when he joined spring training before the season, and this time, he showed off his well-maintained body.
The Toronto Blue Jays released a photo of Ryu Hyun-jin on April 24 (Korea time). /Photo=Toronto Blue Jays official SNS
The secret is diet and training. According to MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson, Ryu dedicated himself to cardio and weight training. He also said that cutting out late-night snacks helped him lose weight. Thanks to his strict regimen, Ryu has emerged with a great body.
Along with a leaner body, Ryu expressed confidence in his comeback. “The goal is to come back in the second half and be a part of the team,” he said, according to MLB.com. This year’s All-Star break is from July 11-14, which means Ryu is about a month and a half away from returning.
After signing a four-year, $80 million contract with Toronto in 2020, Ryu went 5-2 with a 2.69 ERA in 12 starts in his first year in the 60-game shortened season. He won 14 games the following year before being lost for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June after appearing in six games in 2022. At the time of the surgery, there was speculation that he might not return at all for the 2023 season, the final year of his contract.
However, Ryu quietly continued his rehabilitation. He returned to South Korea after the end of last season, but only for a short period of time before returning to the United States to begin his rehabilitation as soon as possible. His recovery is going well, and he’s working hard to get back into the big leagues.