Ryu hopes early work pays off with healthy season

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- After working out for the last month with a Korean team in Arizona, Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu has set a 2015 goal of pitching 200 innings.

Ryu was sidelined twice by shoulder inflammation in 2014, when he was limited to 152 innings despite going 14-7 with a 3.38 ERA. In eight previous professional seasons (including seven in Korea), Ryu pitched at least 182 innings six times.

But returning to the U.S. earlier this year than last, he worked out with the LG Twins of the Korean Professional League. Their trainer, Kim Young-Ill, worked extensively with Ryu, as they had when they were together on Korea's 2008 Olympic team.

Ryu said on Thursday that he's in better shape to throw than he was his first two springs with the Dodgers, having already thrown more bullpen sessions in an attempt to avoid the shoulder problems that plagued him last year.

"I feel fine right now," he said. "I've thrown four bullpen sessions and am using all of my pitches."