Ryu Hyun-jin and the children, the blue army dreaming blue in autumn

Ryu Hyun-jin (black hair on the left) high-fives his teammates after winning the game. The image below is Ryu Hyun-jin fighting back. [USA투데이·AFP=연합뉴스]

Hyun-jin Ryu (33, Toronto Blue Jays) will play MLB fall baseball with his ambitious young colleagues.

Ryu Hyun-jin, who moved to Toronto before this season, took on the critical responsibility of leading young players of different nationalities and languages ​​as a senior member of the team. Early in the MLB opening in late July, he struggled to find pitching balance, but gradually fulfilled his veteran role. On the 25th, he scored 7 innings against the New York Yankees, the ‘natural enemy’, leading a 4-1 win. He has 5 wins and 2 losses on the season and an average ERA of 2.69. In particular, he advanced Toronto to the postseason (PS) after 4 years, notching his first personal victory against the Yankees. He stood tall as a team ace and a trusted veteran. Ryu Hyun-jin said, “I am happier than when I could directly lead the PS line and win.”

Previously, Ryu Hyun-jin experienced fall baseball twice during the KBO League Hanwha Eagles (2006, 2007) and four times (2013, 14, 18, 19) during the MLB LA Dodgers. However, it was not the role of the main companions with a flag in front. At Hanwha, he was a newcomer who had just graduated from Dongsan High School and turned professional. He has accumulated experience following his elders, including Daesung Koo, Jinwoo Song, Minchul Jung, and Donghwan Moon. Ace Clayton Kershaw also led the mood at the Dodgers.

Ryu Hyun-jin is fighting back. [AFP=연합뉴스]

This year was different. He had to do heavy work according to numerous qualifiers, such as first place in team salary, ace and veteran. In the case of Toronto, where young players are the main focus, the spirit was outstanding, but mistakes were frequent in the real world. Travis Shaw (30), Cavern Vizio (25), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (21) and Beau Vichet (22), who are called “ the future of Toronto, ” were poorly defended. Four logged 14 mistakes this year, of which five were when Ryu Hyun-jin started. Ryu Hyun-jin never showed displeasure. Rather, he encouraged them by saying, “Young players are doing very hard.”

As a coach, Ryu Hyun-jin also led the team’s training. During the fielder’s defense training, he hit the ball directly. On the 24th, the day before the Yankees, he helped Guerrero Junior’s defensive training after finishing the preparations. Guerrero Jr., who caught Ryu Hyun-jin’s hitting with a picturesque expression, expressed his gratitude after training. On the 27th he took charge of the defensive training of all infielders. Not only that. Pitchers Chase Anderson (33), Robbie Ray (29), Ross Stripling (31), etc., played catch the ball and took on the role of catcher to receive the ball. He looks different from last year when he entered the clubhouse after his training.

Commentator Daniel Kim said: “Toronto has great young players. However, there are high expectations that fall baseball can still be tough when you look at regular league games. But Ryu Hyun-jin took them to fall baseball. The expression ‘Ryu Hyun-jin and the boys’ fits perfectly. ”When it was decided to advance to PS on the 25th, Toronto coach Charlie Monteyo and his colleagues first came to Ryu Hyun-jin, hugged him and were Happy. Director Monteyo said, “I sleep well the day before Ryu Hyun-jin’s appearance. He did everything he had to do like an ace.” MLB.com Toronto manager Keegan Madison posted on social media that “Ryu Hyun-jin is Toronto’s Most Valuable Player of the 2020 season.”

Toronto begins fall baseball with a wild card series (3 games 2 wins) starting on the 30th. Manager Monteyo predicted that “Ryu Hyun-jin will appear in the first game (30) or in the second game (October 1 ) “. Whenever they go out, Ryu Hyun-jin must take the children to the next level.

Reporter Park So-young [email protected]