Ryu Hyun-jin (Toronto Blue Jays) is one step closer to returning to Major League Baseball.

On June 5 at 12 p.m. ET, Ryu will take the mound against the FCL Tigers of the Rookie-level Florida Complex League at the team’s training facility, the Player Development Complex (PDC), in Dunedin, Florida.

It will be 13 months since Ryu made his first major league start on June 2 against the Chicago White Sox. Ryu underwent left elbow ligament reconstruction surgery in June of last year, followed by a lengthy rehabilitation that included bullpen work in May and live pitching in June with batters on base. Ryu recently rejoined the team and was evaluated as having his velocity and balance back on track in live pitching. The game will not be televised, and the general public is not allowed to attend 안전놀이터추천.

Ryu’s appearance has changed dramatically during his rehabilitation. He’s lost about 30 pounds (13.6 kilograms). In a recent interview, Ryu said, “I worked hard on cardio and weight training. I stopped eating late at night, and that’s the biggest secret to losing weight.” Ryu’s weight loss is likely a choice he made to reduce his risk of injury. Being overweight increases the risk of injury. This is because your muscles have less elasticity. It also reduces endurance, which makes it difficult to throw as many pitches. He didn”t just lose weight. He”s focused on strength training, which has been met with optimism locally. “Ryu is in phenomenal shape,” said Scott Mitchell, a reporter for Canadian outlet TSN. Yang Sang-moon, a commentator for Sportvision, said, “Ryu is a very balanced pitcher. He’s always been able to deliver a consistent pitch, and I think his flexibility and quickness will be even better with his weight.”

The big question is how powerful his pitches will be. Historically, Ryu has performed well when his fastball averages over 90 mph (144.8 km/h). In 2019, when he had the best season of his career, leading the league in ERA (2.32), his fastball averaged 90.7 mph (146 km/h). However, Ryu’s velocity dropped below 90 mph in 2020. In 2022, he averaged 89.3 mph (143.7 km/h). Ryu is a pitcher who relies on a variety of pitches and an elaborate arsenal. As his velocity decreased, so did the power of his changeup. Ryu landed on the operating table after a dismal 5.67 ERA in six games in 2022. Ultimately, the benchmark for a successful comeback is 90 mph. For now, it’s encouraging that Ryu has thrown as high as 88 mph (141.6 km/h) in recent live pitches. His velocity could increase in a real game. There’s also room for more velocity in warmer weather.

Ryu is eligible for free agency after this season. He signed a four-year, $80 million contract with Toronto in December 2019, and this is the year his contract expires. His performance after his return will directly impact his free agent value. Toronto also needs Ryu to have a successful resurgence. Toronto is 45-40 (.529 winning percentage) after three days.