“What if Ryu Hyun-jin returns to the 5th starter?” Kikuchi will go to the bullpen” Toronto’s hopeful gaze

If Ryu Hyun-jin (36) returns in July as he is determined, how will Toronto organize the starting lineup?

“MLB.com” mentioned the starting lineup Depps in an article titled “What’s needed first in the Toronto squad” on the 8th.

Toronto’s current starting lineup is competitive. Kevin Gaussman, Alec Manoa, Chris Basht, Jose Berrios and Yusei Kikuchi are expected to make five starts. Until the third starter, he is considered the top of the league and is comparable to any other team. However, there are questions about the 4th and 5th starters that Berios and Kikuchi should be in charge of right now.

Last year, Ross Stripling served as a “firefighter,” filling the gap in the starting lineup caused by Ryu Hyun-jin’s surgery and Kikuchi’s sluggishness. However, Stripling qualified as a free agent and left for the San Francisco Giants. Due to the departure of one stripling, the starting depth itself feels thin.

However, it predicted when Ryu Hyun-jin will return, when promising players will settle down, and the possibility of changes in the starting lineup. The main point is to change Kikuchi’s fifth starting position. Toronto reporter Keegan Mathison, who wrote the article, said, ‘The competition for the fifth starter will be held at spring camp, and it seems better to give Kikuchi Yusei a chance. It can’t be worse than 2022,’ he explained.

However, he explained, “If Ryu Hyun-jin or No. 1 prospect Ricky Tiedman is in the starting lineup, Kikuchi is likely to return to the bullpen at some point this year,” adding, “If Kikuchi plays a multi-inning role, it will be easy to find a strike zone.”

Ryu Hyun-jin underwent elbow Tommy John surgery last year and is speeding up his rehabilitation with the aim of returning in July this year. Tiedman was nominated for the third round of the rookie draft in 2021, and is expected to be promoted to the top single A, and double A at a high speed last year. Last year’s minor league performance showed the power of 5 wins, 4 losses, 2.17 strikeouts and 117 runs in 78⅔ innings in 18 games. eos파워볼 

Mattison stressed that the preliminary starters should eventually be solid, predicting that it would be more desirable for Ryu Hyun-jin to return to the fifth starter and put Kikuchi in the bullpen. “Toronto needs seven or eight starts from 22 years. “Stripling saved Toronto last year, but that won’t happen every year,” he said, stressing that Ryu Hyun-jin’s return and the growth of promising players should strengthen the starting lineup.