It’s a true homecoming for the “monster” Ryu Hyun-jin (37-Hanwha Eagles).
Ryu started the 2024 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League against the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on Nov. 11 and pitched six innings (94 pitches) with one hit, eight strikeouts, two walks and two strikeouts to earn his first win of the season. Topped out at 148 kilometers per hour.
Ryu, who left the game in the seventh inning with Hanwha leading 2-0, earned his first win since returning to the KBO from Major League Baseball (MLB). It took him 4,216 days since his Sept. 25, 2012, win against Doosan to add another KBO victory and reach 99 career wins.
It was a much-needed first win. After failing to complete five innings against the LG Twins on March 23 (5 runs in 3.2 innings) and Kiwoom Heroes on March 5 (9 runs in 4.1 innings), he was unable to get the win against the KT Wiz on March 29 (2 runs in 6 innings) due to a silent batting lineup.
In his last start against the Gochuk Kiwoom Heroes on May 5, Ryu had the worst outing of his KBO career. The 7-11 loss behind Ryu’s struggles snapped a five-game losing streak for Hanwha. After winning eight of their first 10 games, including a seven-game winning streak after their opening day loss, the sudden losing streak has dropped them from the top of the standings to the middle of the pack.
Ryu Hyun-jin, the only Hanwha starter without a win, was desperate for his first victory of the season, but Hanwha was also desperate for their “ace” to end the losing streak.
Ryu, who was known to be more prepared than usual, responded with his best start of the season. His changeup came alive, and he confused batters with his curveball and cutter.
The first inning started with a run-scoring single by Roh Si-hwan. After breezing through the first inning on just 13 pitches, Ryu threw a slow curveball to Kim Jae-hwan in the bottom of the second to induce a fly ball. After striking out Kang Seung-ho on a swinging strike, Ryu was shaky for a moment when he faced Yang Seok-hwan.
On pitches 1B-2S, Hoesung’s fastball was not called a strike by ABS. Ryu then threw three pitches down and 바카라 away to give up the first run. He didn’t falter anymore. Ryu threw five consecutive changeups on 2B and got a swinging strikeout to end the inning.
In the bottom of the third inning, he used a mix of pitches – fastball, changeup, curveball, and cutter – to get two strikeouts and an outfield fly ball. He applauded right fielder Jonathan Peraza for sprinting to catch a short fly ball. In the bottom of the fourth inning with a 2-0 lead, he gave up a leadoff walk to Jae-hwan Kim, but retired Seung-ho Kang on three pitches.
Ryu, who had thrown more than 60 pitches, took the mound in the bottom of the fifth inning. After striking out the leadoff batter, Yang Seok-hwan, Park Jun-young induced an infield grounder. Ryu, who hadn’t allowed a hit until the bottom of the fifth, gave up a single up the middle to Kim Ki-yeon but got out of the inning without allowing a run.
With a 2-0 lead, the sixth inning was the biggest test. One out later, Heo Kyung-min’s grounder to the outfield was misplayed by Peraza in right field, putting runners on first and second. Yang threw a wild pitch to Yang Ji, putting runners at first and second. After a ridiculous error and a wild pitch, Ryu’s crisis management skills were on full display.
Coincidentally, both Yang Ji-Kim and Kim Jae-Hwan induced a fly ball to right field. Peraza, who made the error, took a safer stance than usual.
Former announcer Bae Ji-hyun, wife of Ryu Hyun-jin, who was watching from the stands, stood up with fists pumped and cheered. Hanwha fans, who remembered the nightmare against Kiwoom, also chanted Ryu’s name as he came down with a quality start and the winning pitcher’s qualification.
The Hanwha bats then added a run, and the bullpen (Jang Si-hwan, Han Seung-hyuk, and Joo Hyun-sang) did not allow a run, preserving Ryu’s win and the team’s 3-0 victory. “It was a losing streak that started because of me, so I really wanted to end it,” Ryu said after the game.