Introducing Hyunjin Ryu
Another day and another international starting pitcher PitchFx post. This time let’s focus on Korea’s Hyunjin Ryu. Appropriately, Ryu is wearing number 99 during the tournament to add an extra layer of mystique, Dennis Rodman/Ron Artest style.
Not to be confused with fellow countryman and San Diego Padres starter Jae Kuk Ryu, this Ryu is a 6’2” lefty with a birth date of March 25th, 1987. That means he’s nearly 22-years-old and looked considerably more impressive than Araldis Chapman. For one, Ryu featured a more consistent release point with his pitches and displayed a better sense of control, issuing a walk in two and two-thirds innings pitched. Ryu did allow five hits, all singles, and struck three hitters out.
Ryu’s arsenal featured a fastball that broke in to lefties while sitting 89-91 and topping out at 93 miles per hour. A change-up, slider, curveball, and splitter. Let’s look at his movement chart:
Ryu’s fastball varies in speed enough with his splitter and change-up to cause some recognition issues for batters. Ryu’s curveball and slider break away from lefties as you would expect, and his curve really dives off the table at a – by comparison – slow-moving 75 miles per hour.
Again, Ryu’s potential MLB status is hardly predictable. I suppose there’s a chance down the road, but that’s some time away so there’s no sense in penciling him in as someone’s ace in 2010.
Dennis Rodman/Ron Artest mystique isn’t really something to shoot for, is it?
It is If Ryu wants to be known as insanely talented and mentally insane.
KwangHyun Kim(L/L 6’2″ 185lbs 07/02/1988) and SukMin Yoon(R/R 6’0″ 180lbs 07/24/1986) are also good pitcher.
It’s incredible that Hyunjin Ryu and Kwanghyun Kim, who are only 21 and 20 years old are pretty much the 1-2 punch of the Korean national team. The typical pitcher in the US in their age would be pitching in College baseball or in the lower minors. Aside from maybe Chan Ho Park, they are already the best Korean pitchers in baseball right now, which is pretty amazing. Kinda makes you wonder how they would’ve developed if they were pitching in the US in a system with lesser workloads for younger pitchers.
HJ Ryu has had the heavier workload,
18-6 2.23 28gs 201ip 800 bfp at age 19,
17-7 2.94 30gs 211ip 867 bfp 3349 Pit at age 20,
14-7 3.31 26gs 166ip 684 bfp 2686 Pit at age 21
KH Kim more reasonable,
3-7 3.62 13gs 77ip 342 bfp 1324 Pit at age 19,
16-4 2.39 27gs 162ip 659 bfp 2537 Pit at age 20
Ryu’s workload the last few years is downright criminal for a young pitcher, let alone for a pitcher in his 19-21 year old seasons.
Kim’s workload might seem reasonable at the surface, but considering that the Korean league only has 126 games in a season and that Kim walks a fair share of his batters (63 free passes) his 162 innings is really not a light workload. Add on his postseason innings pitched during his team SK’s Korean Series title, high leverage innings during the Beijing Olympics and now the WBC.
Overusing Ryu led to the decrease of his fastball velocity, and worse peripherals following his rookie year. While Kim hasn’t quite endured the workload that Ryu had, his nonetheless significant workload at such a young age poses a serious concern for his long-term health.
Ryu had dead arm.
In an ESPN chat, when asked about WBC players who’d do well in the majors, John Manuel said:
“Hyun-jin Ryu for South Korea and Albertin Chapman of Cuba would be in my personal Top 10 prospects in all the minors if they were in affiliated ball, Ryu for his plus pitchability and solid stuff, Chapman for sheer stuff, he throws harder than any LHP I’ve seen.”
Food for thought.
Yu Darvish!!
Minhan Son better than Ryu. He is Korea Ace.
Son has had a string of good season in Korea (12-4 2.97 in 2008) but he will be 34, has never been much of a strikeout pitcher, and his k’s are declining each year, last four seasons as a starter SO/TBF of 155, 145, 119, 109, and 183 H in 179 IP last year in KBO is just not good enough.
Compaed to KH Kim’s 2008, at age 20, 228 SO%, 127 H in 162 IP with only 22 XBH
Son is a good pitcher, but as Brian said, no way he is better than Ryu.
i’d say that Hyun Jin Ryu is more of David Wells (in prime) type pitcher. both with solid control and command, lefties, similar repertoires and they work fast.
Korean professional baseball has little depth in the way of player developing system. While MLB teams have 6 or 7 minor league affiliate teams(if you count VSL or DSL teams then it could be 8 or 9), each Korean orginization has only 1 minor league team. Good, advanced prospects in Korea are generally rushed; they often make their debut within 1 year from being drafted. While some guys bust, some guys like HyunJin Ryu and KwangHyun Kim adjust well and even dominate the league.
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