Hyun-Jin Ryu set to rejoin Blue Jays' rotation Tuesday against Orioles

Hyun-Jin Ryu is coming back.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider announced Friday that Ryu will make his long-awaited return to Toronto's rotation Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles. Ryu will have no cap on his pitch count in his first start in majors since having Tommy John surgery in June 2022.

"He's ready to roll," said Schneider, adding that Ryu will throw off the mound one more time before the start against the Orioles. "Push the 'Go' button and don't look back."

Ryu knew with a dedicated rehabilitation he could recover in a relatively short time frame, and the disciplined approach has paid off.

"The most important thing I really thought about during the rehab process was to prevent myself from any setbacks or anything that had to shut me down," Ryu said through translator Jun Sung Park in the Blue Jays clubhouse Saturday. "I did that pretty well, so that's probably the key thing that I was really focused on."

Ryu signed with the Blue Jays as a free agent in December 2019. He had an immediate, positive impact with Toronto, putting up a 5-2 record with a 2.69 earned-run average and 72 strikeouts in 12 games in 2020.

'He was awesome'

His impressive performance in the season shortened by COVID-19 saw him finish third in voting for the American League Cy Young Award, and won the Warren Spahn Award as the best left-handed pitcher in MLB.

"He was arguably one of the best pitchers in the league that year," said Schneider. "He was awesome."

Ryu was solid the next year, going 14-10 with a 4.37 ERA and 143 strikeouts over 31 games. He struggled through his six starts in 2022, earning just two wins with a 5.67 ERA before undergoing the second Tommy John surgery of his career last summer.

It can take up to 18 months to recover from that kind of operation, but Schneider said Ryu's relatively quick recovery at the age of 36 speaks to the South Korean's dedication.

But Ryu was determined.

"Obviously, the most important thing was recovery," Ryu said with the Warren Spahn Award sitting beside his locker. "Trying to get back in shape was a key thing and, after that, just trying to get the pitch counts up and then innings up so I could come back to the roster."

Added Schneider: "He attacked [the recovery process] from Day 1 when he was up here last year. Given his age and that it's his second [surgery], it's pretty remarkable what he's done.

"He's got a great feel for pitching and total professional in the way he went about his rehab. Not that he's ahead of schedule, but we were pleasantly surprised with everything that he did."

'Unbelievable feel for pitching'

Although recipients of Tommy John surgery typically see an increase in pitch velocity, it takes more time for their control to return. But after a bullpen session at Rogers Centre on Saturday morning, Schneider was impressed with his returning starter's command.

"It's just kind of who he is," said Schneider, who sat in on the session. "Unbelievable feel for pitching and in a class by himself when it comes to command of the ball.

"For where he is right now in terms of recovery, it's pretty impressive. I wouldn't say I'm surprised though. He's pretty damn good."

Ryu's return means Toronto will switch to a six-man rotation in time for a critical stretch of games. The Blue Jays host the Los Angeles Angels this weekend, with both teams in the hunt for an AL wild-card berth.

Toronto then hosts the American East-leading Orioles for a four-game series prior to facing the Red Sox in Boston.

"I think [a six-man rotation] helps, any time you get an extra day of rest for the starter, it's a good thing," said Schneider in his office before the series opener against L.A. "Once we get through it a time or two, we'll see where we're at, how the bullpen responds, things like that.

"I think it's awesome this time of year."

Fellow Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman welcomed the news that Ryu would be returning to the rotation.

"It's been a grind this year, for sure. We've had to not have off days and those types of things," he said after earning a 4-1 win over the Angels. "It's a perfect time to put Ryu in there.

"We're excited to have him back, he's such a fun guy to have in the clubhouse."