Blue Jays pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu undergoes Tommy John surgery
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu has undergone Tommy John surgery, the team announced. The standard recovery time is 12-18 months.
On Tuesday, the Blue Jays announced Ryu would need to undergo elbow surgery and miss the rest of the 2022 season, but whether he would need Tommy John surgery or a partial repair of the ulnar collateral ligament had not yet been determined.
Ryu has been on the injured list since June 2 due to left forearm inflammation. He missed about a month with a similar issue earlier this season.
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Having undergone a Tommy John procedure, Ryu’s availability for next season is also in question. The 35-year-old will be in the final year of his four-year, $80-million deal.
Ryu served as a rotation anchor for the Blue Jays in the truncated 2020 campaign and was a reliable starter again last year. He was 2-0 over six starts this season with a 5.67 earned-run average.
He led the major leagues in 2019 with a 2.32 ERA and finished second in Cy Young voting that year. He has battled injury woes through his career since making his big-league debut with the Dodgers in 2013.
The six-foot-three 250-pound southpaw sat out the 2015 season and made only one appearance in 2016 due to left shoulder surgery and elbow tendinitis. He also missed time in 2017 with injuries to his left hip and foot.
Ross Stripling has since taken Ryu’s spot in the Blue Jays’ rotation. GM Ross Atkins has also said the team will continue to look to make potential roster improvements ahead of the Aug. 2 trade deadline.
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With files from The Canadian Press
