The Toronto Blue Jays’ Ryu Hyun-jin, 36, is nearing his return, but the local media is not optimistic about it and is calling for a backup starter just in case.
‘Sportsnet’, a Canadian media outlet, reported on the 13th (KST) that ‘there’s no guarantee that Alec Manoa will be able to solve the problem and that Hyun-jin Ryu will be able to perform well when he returns. Toronto needs a starting pitcher,” arguing that they should acquire one from another team via trade.
‘In theory, Toronto could do a bullpen day, but a more preferable solution would be to find another starter,’ said Sportsnet. That player doesn’t have to be a star or even close to it. A stopgap solution until one of Manoa or Hyun-Jin Ryu is ready would be a big help to the team.
Toronto has a solid starting rotation of Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassett, Jose Berrios, and Yusei Kikuchi. But Manoa, last year’s American League (AL) Cy Young Award winner, is in the process of fixing his mechanics after struggling with his pitches and being demoted to the Rookie League after going 1-7 with a 6.36 ERA in 13 games.
Ryu, who was lost for the season last June after undergoing elbow ligament reconstruction surgery, is in the final stages of rehabilitation with the goal of returning later next month. He is on track to return in late July or early August, but at the age of mid-30s, there are no guarantees. That’s where Toronto’s need for an insurance pick comes in.
Ben Lively (Cincinnati), Joey Lucchesi (New York Mets), Chase Anderson (Colorado), and Paolo Espino (Washington) are the most likely candidates to be available in the short-term and not cause too much blood loss, according to Sportsnet.
The first player mentioned is Lively, who is no 메이저사이트 stranger to Korean fans as he played for the Samsung Lions in the KBO. Signed by Samsung as a replacement in August 2019, Lively went 10-12 with a 4.14 ERA and 191 strikeouts in 36 games (202⅓ innings) over three years in Korea before being released in June 2021 due to shoulder soreness.
After signing a minor league deal with Cincinnati for the second straight year, Lively was limited to Triple-A last year before earning a mid-May call-up this year. In seven games (five starts), he is 3-4 with a 4.21 ERA in 36 1/3 innings pitched. His pace slowed in June, when he took the loss in both starts and posted a 7.90 ERA.
Sportsnet writes, “He’s not a fastball pitcher, averaging 91.6 mph (147.4 km/h) on his sinker, but he has an excellent extension that mitigates that issue, ranking in the top 9 percent of the league. He threw three pitches before going to Korea and now has six distinctly different pitches,” and “He still has minor options. He’s been relatively good this year, and he can throw strikes wherever he goes. Toronto could utilize Lively in 2023 and then send him to Triple-A after that as injury insurance.