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As Dodgers shuffle roster, Ryu Hyun-jin returns to US to resume training

December 7, 2015
South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers departs for the United States at Incheon International Airport, South Korea's main gateway, west of Seoul, on Dec. 6, 2015, to evaluate his shoulder rehabilitation. (Yonhap)

South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers departs for the United States at Incheon International Airport, South Korea’s main gateway, west of Seoul, on Dec. 6, 2015, to evaluate his shoulder rehabilitation. (Yonhap)

By Brian Han

While the Los Angeles Dodgers’ front office tries to move mountains after losing ace Zack Greinke, Ryu Hyun-jin returned to the U.S. on Monday.

The 28-year-old took a three-week vacation back home in South Korea, where he managed to stay under the radar besides a single workout video he posted to Instagram.

The 2016 season represents a new chapter for the lefty.

Besides the obvious fact that its a new year, it also happens to be the first time that Ryu will return to the mound in Dodger blue without a torn labrum — an injury for which he received surgery and put him out for the entirety of the 2015 season.

He revealed during a press conference in May that the club had known about the issue even before signing him to a six-year $36 million contract back in 2013.

Rather than take care of it then, the team elected to have him pitch through it during which he threw 344 innings with a 3.17 ERA and 293 strikeouts.

U.S. agent Scott Boras told reporters in November that Ryu has been throwing long toss from 90 feet and “should be ready to go for spring training.”