Los Angeles Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu was named the National League Player of the Week for his performances from May 6-12.
Ryu made two starts for the Dodgers this past week and was virtually untouchable, tossing a combined 17 shutout innings while allowing just five hits to go along with 15 strikeouts and one walk.
In Ryu’s first start of the week against the Atlanta Braves, he tossed the Dodgers’ first complete-game of the season and his first complete-game shutout since his rookie year in 2013. Ryu carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and though it was lost, wound up finishing the outing throwing just 93 pitches, giving up four hits and striking out six.
Following up an outing like that is not an easy task, but Ryu was able to do exactly that when he took the mound against the Washington Nationals on Sunday afternoon.
Ryu took a no-hit bid all the way into the eighth inning, thanks in part to an outstanding defensive play from Cody Bellinger to throw Stephen Strasburg out from right field on what looked to be a base hit in the sixth inning.
While Ryu again not complete the no-hitter, he was able to get through eight shutout innings. He allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out nine, throwing a career-high 116 pitches. The walk was only Ryu’s third this season and first at Dodger Stadium since Aug. 26, 2018.
This past week was a highlight of Ryu’s career, but the fact of the matter is that he has been among the best pitchers in baseball for the last two seasons.
Since the start of 2018, Ryu has gone 12-4 with a 1.87 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 134.2 innings across 23 starts. He has the lowest ERA in baseball during that span for all pitchers who have thrown at least 100 innings.
In his first eight starts this year, Ryu is 5-1 with a 1.72 ERA, 2.71 FIP and 0.73 WHIP with 54 strikeouts and just three walks 52.1 innings. While it is still too early to begin the Cy Young discussions, it is almost at the point where All-Star discussions will begin and Ryu’s name should certainly come up.
Injuries have been a problem for left-hander in the past, but if he is able to stay healthy for the remainder of the 2019 season, he potentially could be in the NL Cy Young conversation.
Ryu is not the only Dodgers player that has received recognition for his play so far this season. Bellinger was recently named the NL Player of the Month for his outstanding March/April.
