Ex-Blue Jays SP Hyun Jin Ryu is reportedly to sign an 8-year deal with Hanwha Eagles of the KBO, the very team that Ryu played for from 2006-2012 prior to coming to MLB. Unfortunately, Ryu’s time in Toronto ended due to his inexperience in the bullpen that left him off the Blue Jays postseason roster. The 36-year-old only played a total of 17 games in both 2022 and 2023 due to injuries. While the 4-year, $80 million deal from the 2020 offseason seemed to pay off immediately, there were issues regarding performance and health for Ryu throughout his tenure in The Six.
The Hyun Jin Ryu Experience
In 2019, Ryu finished second in Cy Young voting while also winning the ERA title with a mark of 2.32. After the Toronto Blue Jays inked him to a 4-year deal, Ryu went to work. The southpaw put up a solid 2.69 ERA, 3.01 FIP, and a 1.9 WAR in the shortened 2020 season. Another key to Ryu’s first-year success was his ability to keep the baseball on the ground, as he recorded a career-high in Ground Ball% at 51.1%. His performance contributed to a Blue Jays playoff appearance. However, Ryu’s poor outing in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against Tampa Bay led to Toronto being a first-round exit in the 2020 postseason.
After an impressive 2020 season, 2021 presented even higher expectations for Hyun Jin Ryu. However, he faced quite a few struggles that season. Ryu’s FlyBall% and HardHit% both increased by approximately 5%. Hitters were able to hit the ball harder against him while also hitting for a lot more home runs. Ryu’s HR/9 increased by 0.47 from 2020 to 2021. With the trade for Jose Berrios at the 2021 trade deadline, the Cy Young calibre season from Robbie Ray, and the emergence of Alek Manoah, Hyun Jin Ryu seemed to be sitting at the back-end of the rotation.
In 2022 and 2023, injuries got the better of Ryu. He suffered a few arm injuries in 2022, limiting his playing time significantly. In 2023, Ryu was forced to receive Tommy John surgery for the second time in his career, putting him out of service for about 5 months. He combined for only 79 innings between both ‘22 and ‘23, tallying a 4.85 ERA across both seasons. Ryu finished the 2023 season on the roster, but he wasn’t a viable option in either the starting rotation or bullpen, forcing him to miss the postseason.
So Long, Partner
Ryu’s 8-year deal with the Hanwha Eagles is worth 17 billion Korean won, which is approximately $12.74 million USD. While Ryu’s contract with the Toronto Blue Jays may not have worked out overall, he offered the Blue Jays quality innings in 2020 and 2021. While injuries hindered his abilities from 2020-2023, his return to his former KBO team can hopefully yield better results.