Dodgers pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin tops poll of ...favorite athletes

Ryu Hyun-jin, a starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, was picked as South Korea’s favorite athlete in a national survey released on Tuesday.

According to Gallup Korea, Ryu, the left-hander in his first Major League Baseball season, earned 28.1 percent of support in the May 27-30 survey.

Gallup Korea polled 1,216 people nationwide who are at least 19 years of age, and the polled could select up to two athletes.

Figure skater Kim Yu-na was second behind Ryu with 24.6 percent of support.

Ryu signed with the Dodgers last December after dominating the Korea Baseball Organization for seven seasons with the Hanwha Eagles. He became the first South Korean to make the jump from the KBO to the big leagues.

Ryu is enjoying a fine rookie season, with a 6-2 record and a 2.89 ERA in 11 starts. He has struck out 67 batters in 71 2/3 innings, and pitched his first complete game shutout over the Los Angeles Angels last Tuesday.

Park Ji-sung, midfielder for the Queens Park Rangers in English football, came in at third with 15.5 percent. Choo Shin-soo was ranked fourth at 14.8 percent. (Yonhap News)