Blue Jays' Ryu to have season-ending elbow surgery
Hyun Jin Ryu's 2022 season is officially over.
The Toronto Blue Jays left-hander will undergo left elbow surgery, general manager Ross Atkins announced Tuesday, according to TSN's Scott Mitchell.
The exact procedure has yet to be determined, but he'll either have a partial UCL reconstruction or Tommy John surgery to repair a damaged ulnar collateral ligament. If Ryu needs full-scale Tommy John, his 2023 season could also be in jeopardy.
As far as timelines go for Hyun Jin Ryu, a full TJ surgery would sideline him for the typical 12-15 months.
— Scott Mitchell (@ScottyMitchTSN) June 14, 2022
A revision cuts that a bit, likely into the 9-12 month range.#BlueJays
Toronto placed Ryu on the injured list with left forearm inflammation on June 2, the same injury that sent him to the IL in April. He met with Dr. Neal ElAttrache last week to discuss his situation and explore different treatment options, Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith reports.
Ryu joined the Blue Jays on a four-year, $80-million contract before the 2020 season. Although he was an AL Cy Young finalist that year, both injuries and the pandemic have limited him to just 49 starts and a 4.07 ERA with the club. In his six appearances this year, Ryu posted a 5.67 ERA, 4.81 FIP, and 1.33 WHIP with 16 strikeouts.
The 35-year-old has had several dominant stretches during his big-league career, most notably when he won an ERA title with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019. But he's also been dogged by a variety of ailments, making 30 starts just twice since 2013 and missing all of 2015 because of shoulder surgery.
With Ryu sidelined, right-hander Ross Stripling - who's worked as a swingman and fill-in starter this year - will likely take over Ryu's spot in the rotation permanently. Nate Pearson, who's still on the IL, is another potential internal option to start once he finishes his current rehab stint.
Toronto, now sitting second in the AL East, will also likely look outside the organization to replace Ryu ahead of a potential playoff run. Atkins said the team would "consider deadline opportunities and trade acquisitions that could bolster our depth" and that there's "flexibility" about the type of pitcher the Jays could acquire, according to Sportsnet's Shi Davidi.