LA Dodgers pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin has been named the National League Pitcher of the Month for the month of May,... becoming just the second South Korean pitcher to win the award since Park Chan-ho won in over 20 years ago.
Lee Seung-jae reports.
When South Korea's Ryu Hyun-jin opted to sign a one-year qualifying offer to stay with the Dodgers this past off season,... he was out to prove his past injuries were behind him,... and he could still be one of the best left-handed pitchers in baseball.
So far,... he's proved that... and more.
After posting up virtually unhittable numbers in May,... Ryu has been named the National League's Pitcher of the Month,... becoming just the second South Korean pitcher to receive the award since Park Chan-ho in July 1998.
In May,... the lefty made six starts,... going 5-and-oh,... with an ERA of 0.59,... striking out 36 batters and walking just 3,... across 45 and 2/3 innings.
During that period... he also produced a streak of 32 scoreless innings.
While many had Ryu winning the National League Player of the Month honors,... Pittsburgh Pirates' first baseman Josh Bell would take that honor.
Nonetheless,... the South Korean is on pace for a historic season,... as he's currently 8-and-1,... with a league leading ERA of 1.48.
More impressive has been his control,... with a strikeout to walk ratio of 13.8,... the best in Major League Baseball.
If all goes well,... LA Dodgers manager Dave Roberts,... who will lead the National League team during the All-Star Game in Cleveland this summer,... might name him the starting pitcher,... in what would be a first for a South Korean.
But,... with numbers as good as Ryu,... he could also become the first South Korean pitcher to ever win a Cy Young Award,... an award given to the top pitchers in the league at the end of the season.
For Ryu,... it'll be one game at a time,... as he looks to replicate the numbers he had in May,... again in June.
Attempting to lock in his ninth win of the season,... Ryu will be stepping on to the mound once again on Tuesday night, local time,... as he takes on the Dodgers' division rivals,... the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
