Dodgers’ Ryu Hyun-jin tosses scoreless rehab outing in minors

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers makes a pitch in a minor league rehab assignment for the Triple-A club Oklahoma City Dodgers against the Fresno Grizzlies in Fresno, California, on May 25, 2016.

FRESNO, California,  (Yonhap) — Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers enjoyed a scoreless outing in his latest minor league rehab assignment in Fresno on Wednesday, another key step toward a return to the majors from a shoulder operation.

Ryu started for the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate, the Oklahoma City Dodgers, against the Fresno Grizzlies (the Houston Astros’ affiliate) in Pacific Coast League action at Chukchansi Park in the California city. He tossed four shutout innings, scattering four hits while striking out three. The left-hander threw 40 of his 55 pitches for strikes.

It was Ryu’s third rehab stint in the minors. He made 22 pitches in two innings of work on May 15, and then 44 pitches in three innings five days later, both for the Single-A affiliate the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.

He’s scheduled to make his next rehab appearance next Monday against the Sacramento River Cats (a San Francisco Giants’ affiliate). He could return to the majors sometime next month.

Ryu underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder last May and missed the entire 2015 season. The procedure has ended many big league careers before him. Ryu’s last big league appearance was Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Oct. 6, 2014.

During his rehab, Ryu also dealt with a groin injury.

He won 14 games in each of his first two seasons in 2013 and 2014. Ryu is the first pitcher to make the jump from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) to the majors via posting.

The Dodgers improved to 25-23 after beating the Cincinnati Reds 3-1 Wednesday. The Dodgers remain 4.5 games back from the San Francisco Giants, who are leading the National League West at 30-19.

In Ryu’s absence, the Dodgers’ starting rotation had posted a 3.55 ERA, the fourth best in the NL, prior to Wednesday’s game.

In two previous rehab outings, his fastball topped out at 143 kph (89 mph), and he reached 145 kph against Fresno on Wednesday.

Ryu had a breezy first inning and struck out two batters. He gave up a one-out double to Preston Tucker in the second but retired the next two batters on a flyout and a groundout.

Fresno put men at the corners with one out in the third, but Ryu got cleanup Jon Singleton to hit into an inning-ending double play.

Ryu also allowed a runner to reach in the fourth but escaped the jam.

He had been scheduled to make about 65 pitches. After leaving the game with 55 pitches, Ryu threw 10 extra pitches in the bullpen.

Ryu said after Wednesday’s outing that he accomplished both of his goals — increasing both the number of his pitches and innings he pitched.

“I am pleased that I was able to keep my pitches low in the zone,” Ryu said. “I need to be averaging 145 kph. I have to start pitching with more power.”

Ryu said he will go up to five innings and around 80 pitches in his next start.

Ryu added that he threw more sliders Wednesday than in previous outings.

“I threw some hard sliders two years ago,” he said. “It’s always great for any pitcher to be able to throw different types of pitches. The more pitches you can make, the easier it becomes to face hitters.”

Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts told MLB.com that Ryu will make two more rehab outings and build his pitch count up to 100.

“(Ryu had) good command; breaking ball was good,” Roberts said. “In five days, he’ll be ready to do it again.”