by STEVE HAN
After spending two years with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Hyun-Jin Ryu seems to have grown enough animosity towards his team’s division rival San Francisco Giants, ahead of this year’s World Series.
Ryu returned to South Korea recently after the Dodgers’ early exit from the postseason. At a press conference in Seoul, he told reporters that he wants the Royals to win the World Series, only because he doesn’t want to see the Giants take home their third title in the last five years. The last time the Dodgers won the World Series was in 1988.
“I want the Royals to win,” Ryu said. “It would be better than the Giants winning it.”
Ryu holds a 4-4 career record versus the Giants in particular. While he has experienced mixed success against the rivals in the last two seasons, Ryu has admitted in the past that Giants outfielder Hunter Pence is the toughest player to face in the major leagues.
The 27-year-old finished the regular season with a 14-7 record and a 3.38 ERA. Despite missing the last three weeks of the regular season with a shoulder injury, Ryu made a return in Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The left-hander held the Cardinals to just one run on five hits in six strong innings on his return, but the Dodgers still lost 3-1. The Dodgers were eventually eliminated after four games.
“I was injured on three separate occasions this year,” said Ryu, who pitched 152 innings this season. “I couldn’t pitch many innings this season because of injuries. I want to pitch over 200 innings next year. I’ll need to stay healthy to achieve that goal.”
Photo courtesy of Sarah Reingewirtz/Pasadena Star-News.
