Jae Kuk Ryu #11

Graduated from Duk Soo High School in Seoul, South Korea in 2001...struck out a school-record 20 batters in a 7.0-inning stint in his final high school start.

2007

Twenty-four year-old rookie reliever is the second-ever Korean to play for the Rays (Jae Seo) ... name is pronounced Jay-Cook-You ... Made two tours with the Rays in 2007...combined was 1-2 with a 7.33 ERA in 17 appearances out of the bullpen ... Made the Opening Day roster before he was optioned to AAA Durham on June 2 ... was 1-1 with 5.06 ERA in 15 appearances when he was sent down ... Earned his first major league win in the home opener April 6 vs. Toronto with a scoreless 1.1 as Rays 'walked-off' with the victory ... Threw a career-high 4.0 innings Apr 26 at home against the Angels retiring 11 of his 12 batters faced ... Recalled a second time July 20-30...appeared in two games allowing 7 runs in 2.0 innings pitched ... At Durham - where he was used exclusively as a starter-he was 5-4 with a 4.04 ERA (IP-71.1, H- 67, ER-32, BB-21, SO-67) in 14 starts Was acquired by the Rays just prior to spring training (Feb 13) in exchange for minor leaguer OF Andrew Lopez and RHP Greg Reinhard ... Originally signed by the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent in 2001 and made his major league debut with the Cubs in 2006.

2006

Saw his first major league action appearing in 10 games over four separate stints with the Cubs...In nine relief appearances, posted a 5.27 ERA (8 ER/13.2 IP) with 17 strikeouts...Recorded at least one strikeout in each of his relief outings...Worked more than 1.0 inning in five relief appearances...Originally recalled by the Cubs from Triple-A Iowa on May, made his Major League debut the following day at San Diego, allowing one run in 1.0 inning of relief...Threw three more scoreless outings before returning to Iowa...Recalled a second time on May 28 and made his first ML start that night vs. Atlanta...struggled allowing six runs on seven hits (four home runs) in 1.1 innings...left the game down, 6-4, but the Cubs eventually tied it before falling, 13-12, in 11 innings...Rejoined the Cubs for the third time Aug 23 when Shawn O'Malley went on the DL. Made one scoreless relief appearance against PHI (2.0-IP, 2-H) before he once against went to Iowa 4 days later...Came up a fourth and final time as a September callup...Earned his first big-league decision in his final outing of the year, Sept 30 against Colorado, allowing a pair of runs in the 14th inning of an 11-9 Cubs loss...Began the year with Iowa...Went 8-8 with a 3.23 ERA (50 ER, 139.1 IP) in 24 games (23 starts)...His 3.23 ERA ranked sixth in the Pacific Coast League.

2005

Jae Kuk finished the season ranking among the Southern League leaders in innings pitched (first), strikeouts (fourth) and ERA (seventh)...pitched 6.0 innings or more in 20 of his 27 starts...allowed 2 or fewer earned runs in 15 of his starts...struck out 9 batters July 8 at Carolina, tying a career high...ended the season with a three-game winning streak from August 20-September 5, crafting a 1.88 ERA (5 ER/24.0 IP) and striking out 25 batters while giving up just 17 hits.

2004

Jae Kuk spent the first half of the season on the disabled list with elbow soreness- combined to go 1-2 in 22 games for Mesa (R), Boise (A), West Tenn (AA) and Iowa (AAA) with a 3.90 ERA after returning in the second half...picked up the win for West Tenn in a 2.0-inning relief appearance September 4 at Greenville...allowed just 1 hit and struck out 4.

2003

Split the season between Daytona (A), Lansing (A) and West Tenn (AA)...opened his stint with Lansing (A) with a six-game winning streak (April 28-June 6)...was named to the Midwest League midseason All-Star team...threw his first professional complete game on August 29 against Mobile...allowed just 1 run on 6 hits while striking out 5 and walking none in the Diamond Jaxx victory.

2002

Combined to go 7-3 with a 4.50 ERA in 15 games for Boise (A) and Lansing (A)...picked up the win in seven straight starts beginning on July 10 for Boise and ending August 11 for Lansing...posted a 2.31 ERA over the stretch (10 ER/39.0 IP).

2001

Began his professional career in Mesa (R), going 1-0 with a 0.61 ERA in four games (three starts).