Ryu's impact begins as a big brother, and it goes beyond baseball

TORONTO -- One term stands out when teammates and friends describe Hyun Jin Ryu. In Korean, the word is “Hyeong.” In English, it’s “big brother.”

Over the course of a nine-year Major League career, Ryu has made it a quiet mission to take younger players under his wing, in and out of baseball. That much is clear when the Incheon, South Korea, native subtly elbows Alek Manoah when passing through his locker in the Blue Jays’ clubhouse, or when he vanishes for a few minutes to catch up with Padres infielder Ha-Seong Kim across the field at Rogers Centre.

He’s more than a mentor, and he’s not a traditional leader. He is, plain and simply, a “Hyeong.”

“It's in their culture, you know, that hierarchy,” said Manoah, who has fostered a close friendship with Ryu since arriving in the Majors in 2021. “Big brother pays for dinner and teaches you about things.”

It’s true that this designation -- which goes beyond family ties and is often seen as a duty -- is deep-seated in Ryu’s heritage. But it has truly blossomed in his outgoing personality. The 36-year-old didn’t drop it when he first arrived in North America in 2013, or during the 13 months he spent recovering from Tommy John surgery -- the second of his career -- between '22 and '23.

Finally healthy again, the Blue Jays’ big brother is ready for one more chance at glory with this club.

“The ultimate goal was to get back on the mound,” Ryu said through interpreter Jun Sung Park about his recovery over the past year. “That’s pretty much all I thought about during the rehab.”

Mission accomplished.

The 2019 All-Star and NL Cy Young Award runner-up will be activated from the 60-day injured list on Tuesday and is expected to start for the Blue Jays in that night’s matchup with the Orioles at Rogers Centre.

The road back was testing.

Ryu spent most of his time in the Blue Jays’ player development complex in Dunedin, Fla., obstinately working toward his goal and watching all of Toronto’s games on TV. The Florida heat didn’t slow him down, nor did the frustration and loneliness of being away from his teammates.

Instead of blurring his vision, those elements made his endgame all the more clear.

“I’m not gonna lie, my respect for him became much higher,” said Park, who has worked with Ryu since 2021 and became a constant companion through the grind of rehab. “The last seven months that we were down in Florida, it got to a point where I was kind of losing my mind, because I wanted to get out of Florida. … I just wanted to be back with the team.

“But not once did he complain about being in Florida, because he had a specific goal in his mind: to come back. While we were there, he was doing what he needed to do. The dedication that he showed is phenomenal. It’s something that you have to see for yourself.”

Through all of that, Ryu also remained committed to his values. So, when Manoah arrived at the complex in June after a stunningly difficult start to the 2023 season, the veteran left-hander was there for him.

“He's been through everything that you can be through in this game, mentally, physically, all that stuff,” said Manoah. “When I was down there in Florida … it was good to get together and have some dinners and just be able to talk and help each other out.”

Manoah left in early July, but Ryu stayed behind. Saying goodbye to healthier teammates also became part of his routine in Florida.

No one -- not even Park -- is as happy as Ryu about his return. And Toronto’s clubhouse certainly seems like a livelier place when he’s present.

During his rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo, Ryu spent his off-days in Toronto. His noticeably slimmer figure may be the first thing you’d notice, but the joy of being back in a Major League environment was a close second.

“He's a character,” said teammate Kevin Gausman. “He's funny, always joking with guys. He knows way more English than he leads on. He'll take us out to Korean barbecue. He definitely loves to show guys Korean culture and everything that comes with that.”

Other than good food, what comes with Korean culture is usually a well-established age hierarchy and the type of work ethic that will motivate you to keep watching every game of the season while on your 13th month of recovery.

This is far from a rule, of course, as people are unique and tradition is constantly mutating. But there’s a reason why Ryu goes out of his way to share his heritage with those around him: He’s proud of it.

“I want to bring the guys out to see how I [lived] when I was younger,” said Ryu. “So any time we do something like that, I think it’s very good.”

One thing his teammates can’t experience unless they actually go to Korea is how beloved Ryu is in his home country to this day.

The first seven years of his pro career were spent with the KBO’s Hanwha Eagles. Ryu was an All-Star in all seven of them. He also earned an MVP Award, two ERA titles and a Triple Crown.

• History of baseball in South Korea

It was more than enough to inspire a generation.

“Including myself, every baseball player [in Korea] grew up watching him play,” said Kim, who is in his third big league season, through interpreter Leo Bae. “Having a guy like him just creates more great baseball players from our country. It's really a blessing to have him play like that.”

Ryu kept close tabs on Korean baseball even after joining the Dodgers on a six-year, $36 million deal in 2013, leaving East Asia to find a new home on the West Coast.

The stark differences in playing style and social dynamics were quick to present themselves. At the time, Ryu didn’t speak much English either. It could have been a lonely road, but he found comfort in his work ethic. It also helped to have veterans like Adrián González in the Dodgers’ clubhouse, as they made a point to integrate Ryu to the team and to his new surroundings.

Somewhere between a fourth-place NL Rookie of the Year finish and becoming the first Korean pitcher to start a World Series game, Ryu graduated from newcomer to clubhouse mainstay. It was his time to give back to the community that opened its arms to a 25-year-old lefty from Incheon.

“I admire the way he’s bringing his team together the way he did in Korea,” said Kim, who was treated to some homemade Korean food in Ryu’s home when the Padres visited Toronto in July. “We’re like a family. … Older brothers take the younger kids out to dinner. They bring the energy to the field every day. I give him full respect for doing that even in MLB. Hopefully I can do the same thing he did in his career.”

That family mentality only grew when Ryu joined the Blue Jays on a four-year, $80 million deal ahead of the 2020 season. In the spirit of mutating traditions, though, he’s found it amusing to shed a layer of that age hierarchy and the formalities that come with it.

When Ryu elbows Manoah as he passes through his locker, for example, Manoah is quick to jab back.

Their first interaction was on Instagram, when a recently promoted Manoah replied to a video of Niagara Falls in Ryu’s profile.

“Hey man, don’t fall in,” Manoah’s text read.

That type of banter between a rookie and a veteran would be unthinkable in the KBO. But Ryu was far from offended. He invited Manoah out for dinner instead, and that was the genesis of their bond.

“There’s all this structure and hierarchy, and sometimes I don’t follow that on purpose,” Manoah said with a playful smile. “And sometimes I’ll do it and he’ll be like, ‘Oh, OK, so you do know.’”

The antics of brothers.