The return of “Korean Monster” Ryu Hyun-jin (Toronto Blue Jays) to Major League Baseball (MLB) after a long rehabilitation is in sight.

Citing a social networking service (SNS) post by Toronto manager John Schneider, foreign media, including Canadian outlet Sportsnet, reported on Friday (June 15) that “Ryu will pitch live and face batters this week.” Schneider also said that he had a video call with Ryu to check on his condition.

Ryu, who underwent left elbow ligament reconstruction (Tommy John surgery) last June, has been rehabbing in Dunedin, Florida, where the 토토사이트 team’s spring training facility is located, with the goal of returning to the MLB in July. Players who have undergone Tommy John surgery rehabilitate for about a year and then start playing catch to get a feel for the game. After increasing the distance, number of pitches, and power of their pitches, they take the mound and throw bullpen pitches, and if they pass, they pitch live.

Once the pitcher is judged to have reached a certain level of velocity, rotation, and control in a live pitch with a batter in the batter’s box, he or she will appear in a minor league game to get a final feel for the game and return to the MLB.

Ryu, who recently revealed his slimmer physique, said in an interview with MLB.com on March 26, “I worked hard on cardio and weight training. I stopped eating late at night, which is the biggest secret to losing weight,” he explained. “I started throwing changeups and curves. I still have some work to do. I need to increase my pitches, I need to throw my cutter,” he said. “The most important thing is to get my starting pitcher’s body back.”

Ryu, who signed a massive four-year, $80 million contract with Toronto in December 2019, was an “ace” in 2020, going 5-2 with a 2.69 ERA in a season that was shortened by 60 games due to COVID-19. The following year, he posted double-digit wins with a 14-10 record and a 4.37 ERA. However, after going 2-2 with a 5.67 ERA in six games last year, he underwent elbow surgery.

Meanwhile, local media outlets are analyzing Toronto’s need for a starting pitcher, saying it’s unclear if Hyun-jin Ryu and Alec Manoah, who return to the MLB next month, will be able to return to their prime. “They don’t need a star player, but they do need a stopgap until Ryu and Manoa are ready,” Sportsnet reported.