Jays Journal
FanSided

Blue Jays: Starting Rotation Depth Chart ahead of Free Agency

By Ty Hudec

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Hyun-Jin Ryu #99 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during Game Two of the American League Wild Card Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on September 30, 2020 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Hyun-Jin Ryu #99 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during Game Two of the American League Wild Card Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on September 30, 2020 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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BUFFALO, NY – SEPTEMBER 24: Hyun-Jin Ryu #99 of the Toronto Blue Jays throws a pitch during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Sahlen Field on September 24, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. The Blue Jays are the home team due to the Canadian government’s policy on COVID-19, which prevents them from playing in their home stadium in Canada. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY – SEPTEMBER 24: Hyun-Jin Ryu #99 of the Toronto Blue Jays throws a pitch during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Sahlen Field on September 24, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. The Blue Jays are the home team due to the Canadian government’s policy on COVID-19, which prevents them from playing in their home stadium in Canada. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) /

Ace of the Staff

Hyun-Jin Ryu
Despite a disappointing playoff performance against the Tampa Bay Rays, Hyun-Jin Ryu came as advertised in 2020. The 33-year-old southpaw went 5-2 with a 2.69 ERA over 12 starts in his first season as a Blue Jay. Ryu struck out 72 hitters over his 67 innings of work while surrendering just 17 walks and six home runs. After a slow start, Ryu found his groove in August and ended the season giving up two or fewer runs in nine of his last 10 starts. The Blue Jays finished with a 9-3 record when Ryu took the mound.

If there is an area of concern surrounding Ryu it has to do with his ability to log innings. Ryu pitched into the 7th just once this season and topped out at 100 pitches in his final start against the New York Yankees. In comparison, Ryu cleared the 100 pitch plateau nine times with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019 and pitched into the 7th inning 16 times in his 29 starts that year.

Ryu has never eaten innings like a Clayton Kershaw or Max Scherzer on the mound, clearing 180 innings pitched just twice in his big league career. However, with so many question marks behind him, it would be nice to see Ryu given a longer leash in 2021. The Blue Jays choosing to pull pitchers early was a key talking point around the team this summer and eventually led to some shaky performances from an overworked bullpen. Ryu will no doubt be leaned upon heavily next season and his ability to give the team some longer starts will go a long way towards earning another trip to the playoffs next October.