Two injured South Korean major leaguers had solid rehab stints on Sunday in the United States as they eye a return to the big league lineup.
Los Angeles Dodgers' left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin tossed two shutout innings in his first minor league rehab appearance. Ryu, who underwent a shoulder surgery last May and missed the entire 2015 season, pitched for the Dodgers' Single-A affiliate, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, where he allowed one hit and struck out two against the Inland Empire 66ers, the Single-A club of the Los Angeles Angels.
Ryu threw 22 pitches and tossed 10 more pitches in the bullpen after his day was done.
According to local reports, Ryu's fastball topped out at 85 miles per hour, and he said he was only giving about 60 to 70 percent of his maximum effort.
Ryu is trying to bounce back from a surgery to repair a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder, a kind of procedure that has spelled the end of many careers before him. His last major league game was the third game of the National League Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Oct. 6, 2014. He got a no-decision after holding the Cards to a run over six innings, as the Dodgers fell 3-1.
During his rehab, Ryu also dealt with a groin injury. He could return to the bigs sometime next month.
He won 14 games in each of his first two seasons in 2013 and 2014.
The Dodgers were in second place in the NL West at 20-17 before taking on the Cardinals in Sunday's nightcap.
Also on Sunday, Texas Rangers' outfielder Choo Shin-soo, recovering from a calf injury, homered in his first rehab game with Triple-A Round Rock Express.
Facing the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Colorado Rockies affiliate, Choo hit a three-run home run off right-hander Jordan Lyles. It was Choo's only hit in three at-bats, and he was lifted in the bottom of the seventh.
He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 10, and he could be back as early as Friday in a series against the Houston Astros.
The Rangers are leading the American League West at 22-16. Choo was batting .188 with an RBI in five games before his injury. (Yonhap)
