The South Korean baseball star Hyun-Jin Ryu is characterized by his resilience and determination. The pitcher has found his way into Major League Baseball, the biggest baseball league in the world. He currently plays in the position of a starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of the MLB. In 2006 he turned pro and completed six seasons of his professional career in the Korean Baseball League before moving on to Major League Baseball. He is the first South Korean baseball player to serve as a starting pitcher in the MLB’s post-season. Learn more about him below.
Hyun-Jin Ryu Biography
Hyun-Jin Ryu was born on March 25, 1987, together with her husband Jae-Cheon Rhy in Seung-Soon Park in the South Korean metropolis of Incheon. Growing up, Rhy was left-handed by nature, and his father got him a right-handed glove so that he could learn to use his left hand perfectly. He graduated from Dongsan High School in Incheon and also earned his master’s degree in community sports from Daejeon University.
During his high school career in 2004, Ryu suffered an injury that led him to undergo Tommy John surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament. Upon his return in 2005, the pitcher led the high school team to participate in the Blue Dragon Open National High School competition where he was named the best pitcher of the tournament. His team also participated in the Asian Junior Baseball Championship, held in Seoul, South Korea in 2005. There he helped them advance to the final, while he recorded 14 strikeouts in the competition.
After an impressive career in 2005, Hyun-Jin Ryu was selected by the Hanwha Eagle of the Korean Baseball League in the second round of the 2006 draft. The pitcher made his first appearance with the Eagles on April 12, 2006, and at the end of his rookie season, Hyun-Jin Ryu won both Rookie of the Year and Best Player of the Year awards as well as the Triple Crown award after leading the league as a pitcher this season. Ryu had a total of 205 strikeouts in his rookie season.
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Hyun-Jin Ryu continued to see great improvements in his pitching skills and adaptation to the professional league. He led the South Korean baseball team to win the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, and the following year, he also led the South Korean team to third place at the World Baseball Classic in Los Angeles.
MLB Career
While Hyun-Jin Ryu had a flourishing career, the pitcher expressed his interest in joining the American baseball league. However, this brought with it so many MLB teams seeking his services in South Korea. He later signed a 6-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers for $36 million in 2013.
The South Korean star made his first appearance in the MLB on April 2, 2013, and after an impressive rookie year, Ryu was appointed to the all-rookie team by Baseball America. In October of the same year, Ryu became the only South Korean pitcher to ever play a major league game after the season.
The following year, Hyun-Jin Ryu missed so many games due to injury but ended the season with a record 14-7. He continued to improve his game significantly while adapting to the MLB style of play. He underwent surgery to repair an injury to his shoulder in 2015, and his left elbow was also operated on in 2016. The South Korean star, who returned in 2017, recorded 116 strikeouts this season, but his 2018 season was shortened by further injuries. Nevertheless, Ryu played 24 games and scored 85 strikeouts this season.
Hyun-Jin Ryu’s Salary Earnings
Without a doubt, the South Korean baseball star has done a lot of stunts since the beginning of his career. He has also amassed an enormous fortune and currently leads a lavish lifestyle. Looking back, he signed a six-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013, which raised his base salary to as much as $6 million per year. Following his impressive performance, Ryu has been receiving a base salary of $7 million since 2016. His contract with the Dodgers expires at the end of the 2018/19 season and he will become an unrestricted agent at that time.
Who is His Girlfriend?
Hyun-Jin Ryu is undoubtedly a great and skillful player, but behind every successful man is a strong and loving woman. Ryu has a relationship with his long-time lover Bae Hyun-jin. Bae is a famous South Korean television personality and presenter associated with the Seoul-based Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation. She has a degree in mass communication from Sookmyung Women’s University Seoul, South Korea. The amazing television presenter has appeared on various shows including the Asian Games in Guangzhou, Infinity Challenge, and the MBC News Desk.
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The couple’s relationship began several years ago when Ryu was still playing in the Korean league. Interestingly, they announced their engagement in September 2017, and on January 5, 2018, they walked down the aisle. It was fun at the Shilla Hotel, where many of their friends and family members came to attend their wedding ceremony.
Hyun-Jin Ryu Height and Weight
Height: Hyun-Jin Ryu stands at a height of 6 feet 3 inches.
Weight: The Dodgers pitcher has a bodyweight of 113 kg
