It was pathetic. I mean it was an absolute laugher watching newly signed Korean superstar left-hander Hyun-jin Ryu taking batting practice on the practice fields at Camelback Ranch during spring training.

While pitchers Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley and Aaron Harang would occasionally launch one out, Ryu (who bats right-handed) looked absolutely lost with a bat in his hand and on more than one occasion nearly fell down while trying to swing hard.

But I should have known that something was up when I noticed that new Dodger hitting coach Mark McGwire was actually working with the pitchers on their hitting during spring training and not merely going through the motions, as his predecessors had done.

“We took a different approach with our pitchers this spring,” Dodger manager Don Matting said recently. “Mac spent a lot of time with our pitchers in the cage and during BP this year.”

Dodger hitting coach Mark McGwire watches on as the Dodger starters take batting practice during spring training. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Once the season began, it became apparent that McGwire’s commitment and hard work had paid off when opening day starter Clayton Kershaw hit a solo home run to the deepest part of Dodger Stadium for what ended up being the only run he would need to beat the hated Giants in his eventual 4-0 complete game shutout. But here again, everyone knew that Kersh was a pretty good hitting pitcher. But no one, and I mean not one person ever expected Ryu to do what he as done with the bat.

Through the ten games that Ryu has started thus far this season, he is 6 for 24 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI’s. And while his .250 batting average in nothing to write home to Incheon, South Korea about, it is the second highest batting average among all Dodger starters. (Zack Greinke is 5 for 10 [.500] in his five starts).

In addition to pitching a masterful 3-0 complete game shutout against the powerful Angels on Tuesday evening before 46,443 at Dodger Stadium, Ryu ripped a double down the right field line that came close to going out.

Ryu came very close to hitting an opposite field home run off of Angels starter Joe Blanton on Tuesday night. It was instead Ryu’s second double of the season. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

While Dodger fans have been having fun with Ryu’s sudden and unexpected hitting skills, especially when you consider that he hasn’t batted since high school (they use the designated hitter rule in Korea), Ryu is collecting new nicknames such as “Monster” and my personal favorite “Babe Ryuth.”

Even though no one seriously expects Ryu to maintain his current batting average for the entire season, nor does anyone expect Mattingly to use Ryu as a pinch hitter anytime soon (or ever), it is refreshing to know that opposing pitchers better not take the Korean sensation lightly when he steps into the batter’s box.