The last time Dodgers left-hander Hyun-jin Ryu started a major league game was on October 6, 2014 in Game-3 if the 2014 National League Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. That was one year, eight months and 28 days ago. And though he allowed only one run on five hits in that game, he did not figure in the decision of the Dodgers eventual 3-1 loss.

Ryu next appeared in two spring training games in 2015 but was shutdown after experiencing discomfort in his left shoulder and he began the 2015 season on the disabled list.

On May 21, 2015, the (then) 28-year-old Incheon, South Korea native underwent surgery for a torn labrum in that shoulder. That was exactly one year, one month and 13 days ago.

But all of that is ancient history now.

During his pre-game briefing on Monday afternoon, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts informed the gathered media that Ryu would make his first major league start this Thursday, July 7, 2016 against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium; this after Ryu completed eight minor league rehab appearances – five with the Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and three with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers.

“In talking to Ryu and feeling that his last [rehab] start was enough, he felt starting Wednesday he wasn’t comfortable with that,” Roberts said. “He felt he could come back and help us win a baseball game on Thursday.”

In his eight rehab appearances – all starts – Ryu allowed a combined 13 runs on 32 hits (including four home runs) for an inconsequential 1-2 record and 4.23 ERA. However, in his final rehab start on July 1, he allowed only two runs on five hits with no walks and three strikeouts through six innings pitched. But perhaps more importantly, the now 29-year-old was hovering near the 90-MPH mark on the LoanMart Field radar gun with his fastball – the magic number that the Dodgers have been looking for and close to the 93-MPH average fastball velocity Ryu had prior to his surgery.

“So far what I’ve accomplished as far as the rehab goes, working on all my pitches and had quite a few outings, I think I’m ready to go,” Ryu said through an interpreter. “I feel like I’m the same pitcher as before the surgery.”

After his six-inning rehab start with the Quakes on July 1, Ryu feels he is now ready to return to the Dodgers starting rotation. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

The return of Ryu creates a rather unique situation for the Dodgers; they will now have six starters in their rotation should they choose to go with that – Kenta Maeda, Bud Norris, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy, Julio Urias and now Ryu. And according to what Roberts told reporters on Monday afternoon, they may do just that since, coincidentally, there are exactly six games remaining before the All-Star break after Monday night’s contest against the Baltimore Orioles at Dodger Stadium in which Urias gets the start.

Roberts also told reporters what we’ve been hearing for the past year from the Dodgers front office but something that has taken on a whole new light with Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw on the shelf for an undermined amount of time.

“Having too many starting pitchers is a high-class problem,” said the Dodgers skipper.

With regards to a possible timetable on Kershaw’s return, Roberts said what every Dodger fan on the planet already knows about their beloved lefty:

And we love Kershaw why?