Ryu Hyun-jin Disappoints in Long-Awaited Return to Mound

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays returned to the mound in a home game against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday after a 14-month recovery from elbow surgery. 

Ryu threw 80 pitches over six innings but failed to help his team win the game. From the first inning, the left-hander allowed four hits including two consecutive doubles to the first two batters.

In total he allowed nine hits and four runs in five innings and left the mound after giving up a solo homer to Gunnar Henderson off the top of the sixth inning. 

The Blue Jays lost the game 13-3. 

"Very satisfied to be back, but a little sad I wasn't able to do what a starting pitcher is needed to do," Ryu said through an interpreter. "My velocity is still going to go up a mile or two. I wasn’t locating the way I wanted to, but that's all going to get better." 

Canada's Toronto Sun said Ryu's return "was a triumph of perseverance… It also won't be fairly evaluated until he gets at least a couple more starts under his belt."