Just when it appeared that left-hander Hyun-jin Ryu was nearing a return to the Dodgers starting rotation, the 29-year-old Incheon, South Korea native suffered yet another setback after upping his fastball velocity to 90 MPH last Wednesday afternoon. The following morning the popular lefty felt soreness in his surgically repaired left shoulder, forcing the Dodgers to scratch his scheduled Monday rehab start with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers against the Fresno Grizzlies in Fresno, CA.

“We were thinking middle of June [for Ryu’s return to the Dodgers] and now it’s obviously a little setback,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on Sunday. “It pushes it back. And that depends on how he feels. He could come in and say the soreness has completely dissipated and we’ll re-evaluate.”

Ryu underwent shoulder surgery on May 21, 2015 to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder and repeatedly told reporters that he would be ready for spring training 2016. It didn’t happen. Not only did he miss all of spring training but he began the 2016 season on the disabled list and didn’t appear in a professional game again until May 15 with the Dodgers Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. Ryu ended up making two starts with the Quakes before continuing his rehabilitation assignment with the Triple-A OKC Dodgers on May 25.

After his second rehab start with the Quakes on May 20, Ryu was confident that his return to the Dodgers was getting very close. Now it appears it won’t happen until after the All-Star break.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

In his three minor league rehab appearances, Ryu posted an 0-1 record and 1.00 ERA, having allowed one earned run on eight hits (including two home runs) while walking none and striking out six in his nine innings of work. And though his fastball velocity was only topping out in the 87-88 MPH range – down considerably from the 93-95 MPH range he had during his first two seasons with the Dodgers – he had great command and control of all of his pitches.

“I pitched two games so far and my curveball and other pitches are coming along,” Ryu said after his second start with the Quakes. “As the time goes on it’s going to get better. As far as the velocity and all, it’s going to come along.”

Indeed it appeared that Ryu’s velocity was coming along when he hit 90 MPH during his May 25 bullpen session in preparation for his May 30 start, but his sore shoulder the following morning has slowed everything down a bit. Roberts did say, however, that Ryu will continue his throwing program and that things could change quickly, depending on how he feels after each throwing session.

But regardless, it now appears that Ryu’s return now will not happen before the All-Star break.