Ryu Hyun-jin, who is not together due to injury, is showing his presence in an unexpected field.
Toronto Blue Jays coach John Schneider explained about the player replacement the day before ahead of the last game of the Baltimore Orioles away series held at Camden Yards at Oriole Park in Baltimore, Maryland, USA on the 16th (Korean time).스포츠토토
The previous day, Toronto turned designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to first baseman ahead of the defense in the bottom of the 8th inning. Guerrero Jr. digested the remaining two innings, and the team attacked in the top of the ninth with the pitcher in the batting line. In the pitcher’s at-bat, a pinch hitter was used.
Ryu Hyun-jin has the most batting experience among Toronto pitchers. Photo =ⓒAFPBBNews = News1
Turning the designated hitter to defense is a choice that is not easy to make because it is a loss to offense. There are many cases that only come out in extreme situations, such as when the bench resources are low or there is no choice but to fill a defensive vacancy.
Schneider, who made an unusual choice, said it was “planned”. He explained that it was a choice to utilize Guerrero Jr.’s defensive ability, saying, “In a situation where we were ahead of the 8th inning and had enough bench resources (to appoint a pinch hitter), we tried to appoint the best defender.”
He voluntarily chose to go back to the past National League game method, and was asked, ‘Who is the best pitcher?’
Then he thought for a moment and replied, “Except Ryu Hyun-jin, it would be Gaussman or Bassit.”
Ryu Hyun-jin had experience at bat before the designated hitter was introduced in the National League. He recorded a career 38 hits in 217 at-bats (0.175 batting average), 1 home run, 12 RBIs, 12 walks, 96 strikeouts, and 32 sacrifice bunts. He’s not at the level of the Silver Slugger, but he’s not very bad.
Considering that fellow starters such as Kevin Gaussman, Chris Bassitt, and Jose Berrios spent most of their careers in the American League, where the designated hitter system existed, it is not surprising that the manager brought up Ryu Hyun-jin’s name first.
Ryu Hyun-jin, who is undergoing rehabilitation after Tommy John surgery, aims to return in the second half of his career. He is scheduled to digest live BP at the club’s training ground in Dunedin, Florida, USA on Friday local time.
Meanwhile, Toronto announced the order of Gaussman, bullpen game, and basset as a starter for the weekend’s three-game trip to Texas. Gaussman pitches after a four-day break, and Bassett, on the contrary, takes another day off to mound.
Regarding this, Schneider said, “I wanted to keep Gaussman a five-day pitching interval. It was a way to make the most of both players against a good team,” he said, explaining that it was a “very easy decision.”