Ryu Hyun-jin highlighted his curveball as a key asset after delivering a dominant performance for the Hanwha Eagles. The 39-year-old veteran secured his sixth consecutive victory with a scoreless outing over seven innings against the Lotte Giants in Busan.
Masterful Pitching Display
In his second straight complete game effort, Ryu blanked the opposition on just five scattered hits while striking out seven batters on 86 pitches. The Eagles claimed a 5-0 win, with Ryu navigating a tense fifth inning unscathed despite back-to-back threats.
This gem marks 247 days since Ryu returned from an injury sustained on August 14. Even in high-pressure spots, his command sharpened, boosting team morale.
Confidence in Signature Pitch
“The curveball works well here. Better than Yeo Jeon-gu and Darvish—now I trust the right-handers even more,” Ryu stated post-game.
Reflecting on the matchup, he added, “I felt nervous after getting swept last time, but racking up strikeouts built confidence for a strong outing.” Ryu emphasized pushing through the sixth inning, thinking, “I need to reach the seventh.”
He praised teammate Wan Tu’s support and noted, “Today, trusting my condition and control led to a solid strike zone command—my goal.” The performance earned him the Player of the Game award after seven scoreless innings.
Looking Ahead
Ryu expressed optimism about the streak: “It feels great. Normally, teams here overpower with speed I can’t match, but today I entered fully prepared and calmer. Even a bit more velocity would make me more relaxed.”
Addressing his arsenal, he said, “The curveball’s bite is genuinely clear lately—something I hadn’t seen before with this much control over righties. Teammates threw like that today too.” Ryu affirmed, “Right-handers won’t easily escape this grip anymore.”
In the second game of a doubleheader, Ryu rebounded from an early blemish, settling into a heavy groove to bury Lotte’s momentum and seal the victory.
