SEOUL — Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin had a heartfelt reunion with his former manager Dave Roberts on Wednesday, ahead of the Major League Baseball (MLB) Seoul Series between the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this meeting comes as the Dodgers and Padres prepare for the first-ever MLB regular season game in South Korea, set to take place at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. Ryu, who played for the Dodgers from 2013 to 2019, is currently with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). The timing was perfect as the KBO’s exhibition season had just concluded, allowing Ryu the chance to catch up with Roberts and his former teammates.
During the weekend, Roberts expressed his desire to meet with Ryu, reflecting on their past collaboration. The pitcher brought a box of pastries to the meeting, from which Roberts immediately sampled and approved with a thumbs-up gesture. In a light-hearted moment, Roberts even suggested that Ryu should start warming up and take a few swings in the batting cage.
Ryu reflected on the significance of witnessing MLB games in Korea, expressing his intention to savor the experience. His tenure with the Dodgers, especially the 2019 season where he led baseball with a 2.32 ERA and was the runner-up in the National League Cy Young Award voting, was a highlight of his MLB career. That year, Ryu also started the All-Star Game, cementing his status as one of the top pitchers in the league.