It’s a question that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts usually gets asked two or three times a week, sometimes more. “What’s the status of Hyun-jin Ryu?” And for the past several weeks Roberts’ answer has been the same. “He hasn’t resumed throwing yet.”

The reason for the question is obvious, at least for Dodger fans who have been following the year-and-a-half long saga of the 29-year-old Incheon, South Korea native who last threw a pitch on October 6, 2014 in Game-3 of the 2014 NLDS. Ryu would eventually be shut down during spring training 2015 for shoulder discomfort but during an impromptu press conference in May of 2015, Ryu told reporters that he has had shoulder issues for the past two years – even before the the Dodgers signed him to a 6 years / $36 million deal through the 2018 season.

Several days later, on May 21, 2015, Ryu underwent exploratory surgery where the source of his left shoulder discomfort was discovered – he had a torn labrum and was lost for the season.

During the 2015-16 off-season, Ryu repeatedly said that he would be 100 percent and ready to go on Opening Day 2016.

He was not.

During spring training 2016, Ryu was once again shut down with shoulder discomfort and remained in Arizona when camp broke and the 2016 season began without him. Over the next few weeks Ryu began a steady schedule of bullpen session usually ranging in the 20 to 25-pitch range and eventually into simulated game situations. The hope was that he would be ready to rejoin the Dodgers rotation somewhere around the All-Star break.

Ryu’s on-again / off-again bullpen sessions are on again.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

But on April 16, Roberts dropped a bomb on the media when he informed them that Ryu had suffered a groin strain and his on-going bullpen sessions had been shut down.

“I think the whole time we thought we were going to have him back sooner, but there was a setback early in spring, middle of spring,” Roberts told the media at the time. “And then with this, it’s technically a setback. I don’t know how severe the injury is. We need him back, but we need him back healthy.

“We’ve got to back him off,” Roberts added. “He’s still doing things to keep his arm in shape, but we’re going to take a couple days to let this calm down and then get him back on the mound.”

With this latest revelation, the Ryu status questions tapered off a bit; no sense asking the same question when the answer was always – “He hasn’t resumed throwing yet.”

But on Monday afternoon the seemingly obligatory question was asked again and the gathered media was prepared for the same cookie cutter answer. This time, however, Roberts threw the group a curveball.

“He’s got a bullpen tomorrow (Tuesday), 20, 25 pitch pen.”

Where did that come from?

Roberts was then asked if Ryu was back on a full, regular bullpen schedule again.

“Yep,” the Dodgers skipper answered curtly.

And with that the Twittersphere lit up as journalists, television and radio reporters, bloggers and the like began sharing this latest unexpected development regarding the hard-throwing left-hander with their followers.

Dodger fans need to keep in mind that Ryu’s groin strain was a setback. In other words, he is once again back at the early spring training stage of his recovery and there is no timetable for his return to the Dodgers rotation. That being said, this is obviously very encouraging news.

Stay tuned…