The praise for Hyun-jin Ryu’s (Toronto) spectacular pitching performance is pouring in from the US. The Toronto Blue Jays even shared their admiration on their official SNS with the trendy Korean phrase “폼 미쳤다” (Form is crazy good) and the term “Master Class” to commend Ryu’s impeccable game.
On the 21st, according to Korean time, Ryu started against the Cincinnati Reds at the Great American Ball Park in Ohio. He pitched for 5 innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 walk, and 2 runs (none earned), and recorded 7 strikeouts, bringing home his second win of the season. The Blue Jays also메이저사이트 기준 clinched a victory with a score of 10-3, ending their series against Cincinnati with 2 wins and 1 loss.
Notably, the two runs allowed by Ryu were unearned, resulting from defensive errors. In fact, all his recent runs have been unearned. Since the game against the Cleveland Guardians on the 8th, Ryu has been on a streak of 14 innings without an earned run, showcasing an impeccable return this season. His season’s ERA also improved dramatically, moving from 2.57 to 1.89.
One of the standout aspects of Ryu’s performance was that, even though his average pitching speed of 87.4 mph (140.9 km/h) was slower than his season average of 88.7 mph, he effectively dominated Cincinnati’s batters.
Following the game, the Blue Jays’ official social media accounts posted photos and videos of Ryu’s pitches and strikeouts. They highlighted his nickname, “Monster”, and added the accolade “Master Class”, suggesting that Ryu had demonstrated superior skills against Cincinnati’s lineup, a testament to his masterful performance.
Furthermore, the phrase “폼 미쳤다”, a popular Korean expression which translates to “Form is crazy good”, was used to express the utmost admiration for Ryu’s game.
The Toronto Star reported, “Even though Ryu’s average speed did not exceed 90 mph, and he peaked at 87.4 mph, he overpowered the batters with his cunning deception.” Columnist Mike Wilner also shared his admiration on his SNS, emphasizing the incredible control Ryu displayed, 토토사이트 순위especially after recovering from Tommy John surgery, a procedure known to affect a player’s command over their pitches.
Out of Ryu’s 83 pitches during the game, 38 were four-seam fastballs (46%), 18 were change-ups (22%), 16 were curves (19%), and 11 were cutters (13%). Out of the 36 swings by the opposition, 8 were misses, 15 were fouls, and 34% of Ryu’s pitches were either strikes or resulted in missed swings.
Contrarily, Cincinnati’s starting pitcher, Hunter Greene, who pitched with a top speed of 100.3 mph and an average of 98.4 mph, allowed 11 hard hits. This further emphasized Ryu’s exceptional ability to dominate the opposition without relying on high-speed pitches.
The MLB’s official website, MLB.com, emphasized that Ryu’s game showcased the level of his top-tier skills. They wrote, “While he didn’t throw with jaw-dropping velocity, his intelligent pitching stifled Cincinnati’s lineup.”
Eli Del La Cruz of Cincinnati, dubbed a “monster rookie”, struck out on Ryu’s 66 mph curveball, making it an especially memorable moment for the American media.
The Toronto-based media Sportsnet mentioned that Ryu’s pitching was undoubtedly the driving force behind the win. Considering his current performance, there is an opinion suggesting that the Blue Jays could offer Ryu a one-year contract or a two-year deal with options after the conclusion of his 4-year contract with the team. However, if Ryu obtains free agent status, he might consider teams like the LA Dodgers, where he previously played. This potential move would indeed be a significant loss for the Blue Jays.
Such glowing praise marks a distinct shift in the tone of the US and Canadian media, which previously harbored skepticism about Ryu’s performance post-injury.