Ex-MLB pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin pumped up for return to KBO postseason

Hanwha Eagles starter Ryu Hyun-jin pitches against the LG Twins during the clubs' Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, Aug. 8. Yonhap

DAEJEON — It has been 18 years since Ryu Hyun-jin last pitched in a postseason game in South Korea.

Back in 2007, Ryu was still pitching for the Hanwha Eagles. He left the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club after the 2012 season to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers and after spending the next 11 years in the majors, Ryu rejoined the Eagles ahead of the 2024 season.

Now that the Eagles are back in the postseason for the first time since 2018, Ryu said he couldn't wait to get going.

"I am excited," the left-hander told reporters before Game 1 of the second-round series against the Samsung Lions was rained out Friday evening at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark in the central city of Daejeon. "I think it's going to be a lot of fun."

In 2007, Ryu was the winning pitcher in Game 1 of the first round against the Lions and then recorded a hold in relief in Game 3, helping the Eagles in the then-best-of-three series 2-1.

It is also the most recent postseason series victory by the Eagles, who were eliminated in the first round in 2018.

When asked about his 2007 postseason, Ryu said, "I won't try to do too much this time. I am confident my teammates will take care of business in the first couple of games here."

With the team's American ace Cody Ponce starting Game 1, Saturday, and another American hurler Ryan Weiss expected to follow Sunday, Ryu is expected to take the ball for Game 3, Tuesday, on the road in the southeastern city of Daegu.

"I will try to be ready for whenever my turn comes up," Ryu said. "Samsung has a good lineup but we have a strong pitching staff. It's going to be a tight matchup."

Of 30 players on the Eagles' current roster, 20 have never played in a postseason. Ryu said he had spoken with inexperienced pitchers about what to expect in postseason games but added, "I won't reveal what was said in our room."

For this regular season, Ryu went 9-7 with a 3.23 ERA in 26 starts. He had a 1-0 record and a 4.50 ERA in two starts against the Lions.

The Lions led the KBO with 161 home runs but Ryu did not surrender any long ball against them.