Dodgers Team News

Dodgers Spring Training: Ryu Has Prior Experience With Back Issue

Hyun-Jin Ryu

UPDATE (Feb. 27, 5:00 p.m. PT): According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, Hyun-Jin Ryu played catch without issue on Friday:



Ryu said he made about 35 throws from 60 feet in a game of light catch and reported no ill effects.

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UPDATE (Feb. 27, 8:45 a.m. PT): Despite forgoing a bullpen session, Hyun-Jin Ryu will play catch on Friday, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:

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UPDATE (Feb. 27, 7:30 a.m. PT): While there still isn’t any indication Hyun-Jin Ryu’s back issue is a serious matter, the left-hander won’t throw a bullpen session on Friday, via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:

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The Los Angeles Dodgers held their first full-squad workout of the spring on Thursday, however they were not joined by Hyun-Jin Ryu.

Ryu missed a second-straight day due to back stiffness, which by all accounts isn’t a serious issue; an MRI was conducted and the results came back negative. Although Ryu’s encountered a speed bump and isn’t sure when he’ll return to the mound, he said he’s previously dealt with some form of back pain, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:

The left-hander said similar episodes in past Spring Trainings have “come and gone” and last “three days max.”

Ryu, who heads into the 2015 season with a goal of pitching 200 innings for the first time with the Dodgers, doesn’t believe him training since January played a role in his latest back troubles:

Just part of all the conditioning,” he said.

The left-hander isn’t the only pitcher who’s already at less than 100 percent only eight days into camp. Zack Greinke received a lubricating injection in his right elbow that briefly set his schedule off course and Joel Peralta is dealing with shoulder soreness.

Ryu twice was placed on the disabled list last season — first due to shoulder inflammation and later with a hip strain. He still managed to win 14 games for a second-straight season, though he threw 40-less innings than his rookie year and only made 26 starts.

Given that Ryu is familiar with the discomfort and the MRI results, he presumably will resume working out as soon as this weekend. The Dodgers’ first Spring Training game is scheduled for March 4, which puts Ryu on track for a March 6 start.

However, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Dodgers delay his spring debut should his health not improve over the coming days. Having their No. 3 starter healthy for the regular season, whom manager Don Mattingly recently called one of the best pitchers in baseball, is much more important.

It should also be noted Ryu has been lauded for his ability to need minimal throwing sessions to get back on track when coming off injury.

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