Ryu runner-up for NL Cy Young Award
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LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers would have been thrilled if Hyun Jin Ryu had a Comeback of the Year season in 2019, but he did even better.
Finally healthy, Ryu had a career year, starting on Opening Day, starting the All-Star Game for the National League, going 14-5 and winning the MLB ERA title before finishing second for the Cy Young Award behind repeat winner Jacob deGrom of the Mets. The Nationals' Max Scherzer was third in the Baseball Writers' Association of America voting revealed Wednesday.
Ryu appeared on 29 out of 30 ballots, receiving one first-place vote, 10 second-place votes, eight third-place votes, seven fourth-place votes and three fifth-place votes for a total of 88 points. The voting system awards seven points for first place, four points for second place, three points for third place, two votes for fourth place and one point for fifth place.
The 32-year-old Ryu, now a free agent, ranked among NL leaders in strikeout-to-walk ratio (second, 6.79), WHIP (third, 1.01), opponents’ OBP (third, .263), fewest home runs allowed per nine innings (second, 0.84) and baserunners allowed per nine innings (third, 9.26).
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He was nearly perfect in 14 starts at Dodger Stadium, going 10-1 with a 1.93 ERA (20 earned runs in 93 1/3 innings pitched), striking out 94 batters against 15 walks while posting a 0.94 WHIP and holding opponents to a .214/.251/.326 slash line. He led Major League starters in home ERA and ranked among NL pitchers in WHIP (seventh, 0.94), strikeout-to-walk ratio (fourth, 6.27) and walks per nine innings (fifth, 1.45).
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He recorded a 32 scoreless-innings streak from May 1-25, the longest such streak in the Major Leagues in 2019, and was named NL Pitcher of the Month for May after posting a 5-0 record and a 0.59 ERA (three ER in 45 2/3 IP) in six starts.
Ryu is an old-school ace, with a four-pitch repertoire and a reputation for pitching, not throwing. Lacking an overpowering fastball, Ryu changes speed and location to all quadrants, keeping hitters off balance.
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“His heartbeat is so consistent, and he never lets nerves or pressure get to him,” said manager Dave Roberts.
Ryu’s 2019 season is the continuation of the left-hander’s comeback from major shoulder surgery that limited him to only one start from 2015-16. Even in ’18, Ryu missed three months with a torn groin muscle. But when he was on the mound, he was as effective as any Dodger. He finished that season 7-3 with a 1.97 ERA in 15 starts and a 1.008 WHIP.