Korean big leaguers playing in the United States have had a string of strong performances. Ryu Hyun-jin pitched well against Triple-A hitters to get his comeback off to a good start. Kim Ha-seong and Choi Ji-man also recorded hits.
바카라사이트Major League Baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin pitched five innings of three-hit ball, striking out five and walking one against the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens at Salmon Field in Buffalo, N.Y., on Tuesday (16 June), raising his pitch count to 66.
After walking the leadoff batter in the first inning, Ryu gave up a solo shot to left-centre field to Justin Henry Mulroy in the second. It was the first home run he had allowed in a live game since beginning his rehabilitation, but he was unfazed. Instead, he showed off his rustiness by retiring the second and third batters in six. After escaping a bases-loaded jam in the fourth, Ryu struck out the side in order in the fifth to complete the job.
It was more encouraging than his previous two starts. On the 5th and 10th of this month, he pitched three or four innings against Rookie League and Single-A teams respectively, proving that he can go five innings with ease. His velocity was still there, as was his command, and his fastball was up to 144 mph. Naturally, his return to the big leagues is one step closer.
Among the batters, Kim shone, as he hit for the cycle in the first game of the second half of the series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, USA. After going 1-for-5 the day before, he went 3-for-5 with two doubles and five RBIs in the doubleheader. He also scored two runs.
Pittsburgh Pirates’ Choi Ji-Man continued to feel good after returning from injury. Batting fourth in the lineup against the San Francisco Giants at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, he struck out in his first two at-bats and retired on an infield grounder.
The hit came in his third at-bat in the bottom of the sixth inning. Stepping up to bat for the second time in the inning with the bases loaded, he hit a low splitter to left field off right-hander Alex Cobb.
Choi, who was sidelined with an injury in mid-April, is 5-for-19 (.263) since returning earlier this month just before the end of the first half. Two of those hits have been home runs.