Hyun-jin Ryu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hyun-jin Ryu
Ryu with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013
Hanwha Eagles – No. 99
Pitcher
Born: (1987-03-25) March 25, 1987 (age 38) Incheon, South Korea
Bats: Right Throws: Left
Professional debut
KBO: April 12, 2006, for the Hanwha Eagles
MLB: April 2, 2013, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
KBO statistics (through 2024 season)
Win–loss record	108–60
Earned run average	2.92
Strikeouts	1,373
MLB statistics (through 2023 season)
Win–loss record	78–48
Earned run average	3.27
Strikeouts	934
Teams
Hanwha Eagles (2006–2012) Los Angeles Dodgers (2013–2014, 2016–2019) Toronto Blue Jays (2020–2023) Hanwha Eagles (2024–present)
Career highlights and awards
KBO Korean Triple Crown (2006) 7× KBO All-Star (2006–2012) KBO MVP (2006) KBO Rookie of the Year (2006) 2× KBO Golden Glove Award (2006, 2010) 5× KBO strikeout champion (2006–2007, 2009–2010, 2012) 2× KBO ERA champion (2006, 2010) MLB All-Star (2019) 2× All-MLB Second Team (2019, 2020) MLB ERA leader (2019)
Medals Men's baseball Representing KOR World Baseball Classic Silver 2009 Los Angeles Team Olympics Gold 2008 Beijing Team Asian Games Bronze 2006 Doha Team Gold 2010 Guangzhou Team

Hyun-jin Ryu (Hangul: 류현진; Hanja: 柳賢振; born March 25, 1987) is a professional baseball pitcher from South Korea. He plays for the Hanwha Eagles in the KBO League. He also played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays.

In 2013, after playing seven seasons with the Eagles, Ryu became the first player from the KBO to join an MLB team. He did this through a special "posting system." During the 2018 World Series, Ryu made history as the first Korean pitcher to start a World Series game. In 2019, he was chosen for his first Major League Baseball All-Star Game. That same year, he had the best earned run average (ERA) in all of MLB. His ERA was super low, at 1.26, for his first 14 games. This was the lowest for a Dodgers pitcher since 1912.

Early Life and Baseball Start

Ryu was born in Incheon, South Korea, on March 25, 1987. He went to Dongsan High School in Incheon. He is also studying for a master's degree at Daejeon University. When Ryu was 10, his dad bought him a special glove. It was a left-handed glove that goes on the right hand. This is how Ryu learned to pitch with his left hand.

Ryu's Baseball Journey

Amateur Baseball Days

In 2004, Ryu had a surgery called Tommy John surgery. Because of this, he could not pitch in any official games that year. In 2005, he helped his team win the Blue Dragon Open National High School Championship. He pitched 22 games in a row without letting the other team score. He was the team's best pitcher and also hit well. He was named the Best Pitcher in the tournament.

In 2005, Ryu was picked for the South Korea junior team. They finished second in the 6th Asian Junior Baseball Championship. Ryu pitched in the semifinal game against Chinese Taipei (Taiwan). He helped his team reach the final by striking out ten batters. He only allowed one run in six innings.

Playing for the Hanwha Eagles (2006–2012)

In July 2005, the Hanwha Eagles picked Ryu in the KBO League Draft. He started his professional career on April 12, 2006. In his first year, 2006, Ryu had a great record of 18 wins and 6 losses. His ERA was 2.23, and he struck out 205 batters. He won the pitching Triple Crown. This means he led the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. He was also named both Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year. He is the only player in KBO history to win both awards in the same season.

In August 2008, Ryu played for the South Korea national baseball team in the 2008 Summer Olympics. His team won the gold medal in baseball! In one game, Ryu pitched a complete game shutout against Canada. He allowed only five hits. In the gold medal game against Cuba, he pitched 8 innings and helped his team win 3-2.

In March 2009, he played for South Korea in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. His team finished second. In 2010, Ryu played in the 2010 Asian Games, where South Korea won another gold medal in baseball. On May 11, 2010, Ryu made history. He became the first pitcher to strike out 17 batters in a nine-inning game. This was against the LG Twins.

By 2012, Ryu really wanted to play in the United States for Major League Baseball. Many MLB teams sent scouts to watch him pitch. On October 29, 2012, the Eagles announced that Ryu would be "posted." This meant MLB teams could bid for the chance to talk to him about a contract.

Joining the Los Angeles Dodgers (2013–2019)

On November 9, 2012, the Los Angeles Dodgers won the bid to talk to Ryu. They offered $25.7 million. On December 9, Ryu signed a six-year, $36 million contract with the Dodgers.

2013 Season Highlights

Ryu pitching at Dodger Stadium in April 2013.

Ryu got his first win as a Dodger in a spring training game on March 17, 2013. He pitched very well, allowing only one run. He struck out six batters.

Ryu made his official MLB debut on April 2, 2013, against the San Francisco Giants. He got his first MLB win on April 7 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. On April 13, he got his first major league hit, a double! He ended up with three hits in that game. This was also his 100th career win, counting his games in South Korea and the U.S.

On May 1, 2013, Ryu struck out 12 batters against the Colorado Rockies. This was his highest strikeout count in an MLB game at that time. On May 28, 2013, Ryu pitched a complete-game shutout against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He struck out seven batters and allowed only two hits. This was his first shutout in MLB. In 30 games for the Dodgers in 2013, Ryu had 14 wins and 8 losses with a 3.00 ERA. He was named to the "All-Rookie team" by Baseball America.

Ryu pitching in October 2013.

On October 6, 2013, Ryu became the first South Korean pitcher to start a Major League Baseball postseason game.

2014 Season

Ryu started 26 games for the Dodgers in 2014. He had 14 wins and 7 losses with a 3.38 ERA. He missed some time due to injuries.

2015 and 2016: Injury Challenges

Ryu hoped to pitch 200 innings in 2015, but he had back and shoulder pain. He had surgery on his left shoulder in May 2015. This meant he could not pitch for the rest of the 2015 season.

He returned to the Dodgers on July 7, 2016. However, he felt elbow discomfort after his first game back. He then had another surgery on his left elbow in September.

2017 and 2018 Seasons

Ryu got his first MLB win since 2014 on April 30, 2017. He made 24 starts for the Dodgers in 2017. He finished with 5 wins and 9 losses and a 3.77 ERA.

In 2018, Ryu started strong with 3 wins and 0 losses. But he got a groin injury and was out for a while. Overall, he made 15 starts and had 7 wins and 3 losses with a great 1.97 ERA. On October 24, 2018, Ryu became the first Korean pitcher to start a World Series game. After the season, he chose to stay with the Dodgers for 2019.

2019: All-Star Year

Ryu was the Dodgers' opening day starter for the 2019 season. On May 7, 2019, he pitched his second career complete-game shutout. He struck out six batters and allowed only four hits. In his next game, he almost pitched a no-hitter! He pitched 8 innings, striking out nine and allowing only one hit. These two great games earned him the "NL Player of the Week" award.

He continued his amazing pitching with 7 more shutout innings. This made his streak of scoreless innings 31 in a row! Ryu won "MLB Pitcher of the Month" for May. He was chosen to be the starting pitcher for the National League in the 2019 MLB All-Star Game. He finished the regular season with 14 wins and 5 losses. He also had the best ERA in MLB at 2.32. He finished second in voting for the National League Cy Young Award, which is given to the best pitcher.

Playing for the Toronto Blue Jays (2020–2023)

Ryu pitching with the Blue Jays in 2020

On December 27, 2019, Ryu signed a four-year, $80 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The 2020 baseball season started later due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ryu made his Blue Jays debut on July 24 as the Opening Day starting pitcher. He finished the regular season with 5 wins and 2 losses and a 2.69 ERA. On September 24, 2020, Ryu helped the Blue Jays get into the playoffs for the first time since 2016. He finished third in voting for the 2020 American League Cy Young award. He also won the Warren Spahn Award, given to the best left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball.

In 2021, Ryu made 31 starts for Toronto. He had 14 wins and 10 losses with a 4.37 ERA. In 2022, Ryu made six starts for the Blue Jays. On June 2, 2022, he had to leave a game early. He was later found to have damage to his elbow ligament. He had Tommy John surgery again on June 18. On August 1, 2023, Ryu made his return to the Blue Jays after a year. He became a free agent after the 2023 season.

Back to the Hanwha Eagles (2024–Present)

On February 20, 2024, Ryu agreed to return to his old team, the Hanwha Eagles, in South Korea. He signed an eight-year contract for 17 billion won. This was the biggest contract in KBO League history!

Ryu's Pitching Style

Ryu is a left-handed pitcher who is 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 255 pounds. He throws several different types of pitches. These include a fastball that goes about 89–92 miles per hour (and sometimes up to 95 mph). He also throws a cutter, a curveball, a slider, and a change-up. Baseball scouts say his change-up is his best pitch. It's a very effective pitch that helps him get batters out.

Ryu is also known for being able to throw his pitches exactly where he wants them. He doesn't walk many batters. Through the 2019 season, Ryu was the only pitcher born in Asia with a career ERA below 3.00 in MLB. His MLB career ERA was 3.27 through the 2023 season.

Ryu's Popularity

A banner supporting Ryu hangs in Koreatown in Los Angeles in July 2013.

Ryu is very popular among South Korean baseball fans. Many Korean fans, and fans of Korean background, come to watch him play in almost every stadium. On July 22, 2013, after a game against the Toronto Blue Jays, hundreds of Korean fans stayed after the game. They gave Ryu a standing ovation, which is very rare after a game ends.

Ryu is so respected in South Korea that no Hanwha Eagles player has worn his jersey number 99 since he left for MLB in 2012.

Personal Life

Ryu married Bae Ji-hyun, a Korean sports reporter, on January 5, 2018. His first manager at Hanwha, Kim In-sik, led their wedding ceremony. The couple announced in October 2019 that they were expecting their first child. Their daughter was born on May 17, 2020. Later, on July 24, 2022, Ryu announced his wife was expecting their second child. Their son was born in Toronto on September 29, 2022.

International Competitions

Year	Venue	Competition	Team	Individual Note
2005	KOR	Asian Junior Baseball Championship		0–0; 0.00 ERA (3 G, 8.1 IP, 0 ER, 14 K)
2006	Qatar	Asian Games		0–0; 9.95 ERA (2 G, 6.1 IP, 7 ER, 6 K)
2007	TPE	Asian Baseball Championship		1–0; 0.00 ERA (1 G, 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 K)
2008	TPE	Final Olympic Qualification Tournament		0–1; 3.00 ERA (2 G, 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 K)
2008	CHN	Olympic Games		2–0; 1.04 ERA (2 G, 17.1 IP, 2 ER, 13 K)
2009	USA	World Baseball Classic		1–0; 2.57 ERA (5 G, 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 K)
2010	CHN	Asian Games		1–0; 3.60 ERA (2 G, 10.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 K)

See also

In Spanish: Hyun-jin Ryu para niños

• List of Major League Baseball players from South Korea
• List of World Series starting pitchers
• Los Angeles Dodgers award winners and league leaders