GOING FOR THE DOUBLE PLAY
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Santiago Espinal throws to first as Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Brett Cumberland slides in the third inning in a spring training game on Friday in Dunedin, Fla. The Blue Jays won the game 13-4. For more from spring training,
In the first Grapefruit League appearance for Hyun Jin Ryu, the ace of Toronto’s staff, and outside of one pitch Baltimore’s Pat Valaika turned on for a homer, it was a good day for the softspoken lefty.
Eventually, good days will need to be better than good as Ryu enters his second season as a Blue Jay.
There’s a lot riding on his left arm and a lot will be expected from Ryu, who more than lived up to his billing last season when MLB went with a 60-game schedule.
It’s full speed ahead in 2021 and while Ryu isn’t one to provide any colourful or insightful quotes, he has to be the man when the Jays turn to him.
“Other than the missed pitch, I felt pretty good today,’’ said Ryu through a translator of Friday’s two-inning effort against the Orioles at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Fla. Toronto won 13-4.
Ryu struck out two and yielded one free pass. The homer he surrendered came in the second.
During his Zoom call, the ace said how he threw 15 extra pitches following his outing as he continues to build for the coming full season.
“Nothing has really changed,” he would say, almost ad nauseam to most questions, which is understandable given the redundancy of the questions, whether they were posed by English-speaking media or in Korean.
At the end of the day, it’s not what he says but what he does on the mound that truly matters.
Naturally, Ryu’s not the type to feel any extra sense of responsibility knowing he is the most accomplished arm on Toronto’s staff. That didn’t stop the media from asking, only to have Ryu offer a response.
“To be honest, I’m not thinking too much. Our pitching staff, starters and relief guys, all have potential,” he said.
“At the end of the day, I’m not worried about that responsibility.”
Everything Ryu does in spring training is to prepare him for the grind that awaits once the games get real. Ryu wanted all to know that he can throw all his primary pitches and even his secondary pitches.
Again, the goal is to extend his pitch count and not count the amount of questions he’s asked.
“First game, first start,” said Ryu.
“It’s not about what kind of pitches are thrown now. It’s about conditioning, getting into longer innings and throw more pitches.”
Ryu did crack a smile when a Korean member of the media posed a question hoping Ryu would answer in a different way other than to say he’s approaching this year like any other.
“I prepare the same way like every other year,” he said.
The fact his first day on the mound against an opponent was deemed good must be viewed as a good start.
Ryu did lament how some called balls could have been strikes, but he’s not going to take exception this early in spring training.
“Typical Ryu,” said Jays manager Charlie Montoyo. “He was locating his pitches, felt good with his command. He wants to get his pitch count high, but he was commanding his pitches like he always does.”
The skipper isn’t worried about Ryu and his approach during spring training.
“He knows what he needs to do to get ready for the season,” said Montoyo.
Ryu’s battery mate was Danny Jansen.
“He’s obviously a master of his craft,” said Jansen.
The trust built between pitcher and catcher last season was crucial.
“I know what he wants to do,’’ said Jansen.
RIGHT ON
Jansen was quite delighted at his right-field blast.
Going the opposite field has been an issue, an area Jansen worked on diligently in the off-season to improve.
“It felt great,” he said of his homer. “I spent all of the off-season working on a high finish, staying in the zone with the bat. It was awesome seeing that.”
Montoyo was equally excited.
“That’s a good sign,’’ he said. “He’s been working hard. It was good to see. Hopefully, it will get him going.”
MERRYWEATHER FORECAST
Julian Merryweather got his feet wet with the Blue Jays last season and is hoping for bigger things in 2021, regardless of whatever role he’s asked to fill.
“I don’t have a lot of time to waste,” said the 29-year-old pitcher during a Zoom call. “I want to be in the big leagues and I want to help this team.”
His preference is to start, but Merryweather is open to anything. Last year’s working out of the bullpen will help. “It’s not as daunting as it was last year,’’ he said. “Whatever shakes out, I’ll be OK.”
Elbow issues have plagued Merryweather in the past. And, hopefully, any arm discomfort will remain in the past. Merryweather says his body is in a good spot as he continues to compete for a role in a crowded arms race.
“It’s what we all love to do,’’ he said. “There’s no bad blood. We all go out there to earn a spot. At the end of the day, you make the team any way we can.”