Hyun-Jin Ryu Returns to the Global Stage, Repping Team Korea One More Time
LOS ANGELES - Dodgers fans tuning into the World Baseball Classic this spring will see a familiar face wearing the red and blue of Team Korea - and no, we’re not just talking about current infielder Hye-seong Kim. It’s Hyun-Jin Ryu, the lefty who helped anchor the Dodgers’ rotation during a key stretch of the last decade, making what could be his final appearance on the international stage.
Ryu’s inclusion on the roster might raise some eyebrows, not because of what he’s done, but because of how long it’s been since we’ve seen him in a Major League uniform. The 37-year-old hasn’t thrown a pitch in the big leagues in two seasons, and after wrapping up his MLB career with the Blue Jays, he returned home to pitch in the KBO for the Hanwha Eagles. Still, Team Korea is banking on his experience to carry weight in a high-stakes tournament where poise can be just as valuable as velocity.
And if there’s one thing Ryu brings to the table, it’s experience. Let’s not forget just how impactful he was during his time in Los Angeles.
From 2013 to 2019, Ryu posted a 3.25 ERA with the Dodgers, solidifying himself as a reliable presence in a rotation that was beginning to shape the franchise’s current era of dominance. His 2019 season stands out - a 14-5 record, a sparkling 2.32 ERA, and a second-place finish in the Cy Young race behind Jacob deGrom.
That year, Ryu wasn’t just good; he was elite.
After that All-Star campaign, Ryu hit free agency and signed with Toronto, where he wrapped up his MLB career. In 2023, he made headlines again - this time in Korea - signing an eight-year deal with the Hanwha Eagles worth 17 billion won (around $12 million USD), the richest contract in KBO history.
Now, he’s back on the international stage, joining another veteran arm, 42-year-old Noh Keun-eung, on a Korean squad looking to make noise in the WBC. The decision to bring in seasoned players like Ryu wasn’t made lightly.
Manager Ji-hyun Ryu (no relation) explained that after watching the team’s November evaluation games, it became clear that experience would be crucial. “Although they are definitely older by our age count,” he said, “they showed good performance in the 2025 season.
There will be games in the tournament where they need to fulfill their roles.”
That’s the bet: that Ryu’s savvy and calm under pressure can help push Korea past the first round - something they haven’t done since 2009. It’s been a frustrating stretch for a country with a proud baseball tradition, and this year’s WBC feels like a chance to reset.
MLB Network’s Jon Paul Morosi likes the look of Korea’s position player group, headlined by Giants outfielder Joon-Ho Lee, but he’s less certain about whether Ryu still has the stuff to compete at this level. That’s a fair question.
Ryu’s fastball doesn’t light up the radar gun the way it used to, and the margin for error at the WBC is razor-thin. But if you’ve watched Ryu over the years, you know his game was never just about velocity - it was about feel, command, and sequencing.
That doesn’t age quite as quickly.
For Dodgers fans, this WBC offers a chance to see two players with ties to LA wearing the Korean flag - one, Hye-seong Kim, carrying the torch in the present, and the other, Ryu, a reminder of just how far the team has come since his days toeing the rubber at Chavez Ravine.
Whether Ryu has one last gem in him remains to be seen. But make no mistake - his return to the global stage is a moment worth watching.