Taek-hyun Ryu

Taek-hyun Ryu (류택현)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 1", Weight 176 lb.

• School Dongguk University
• High School Whimoon High School

• Born October 23, 1971 in Seoul South Korea

BR register page

Biographical Information

Taek-hyun Ryu has spent over 15 seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization. He has been a LOOGY for almost his entire career and has pitched in over 700 games.

After college, Ryu debuted in 1994 with the OB Bears, going 0-1 with a 3.76 ERA in 13 games. He was roughed up in 8 outings in '95, allowing 4 runs in 3 1/3 IP. In 1996, he went 0-1 with a save and a 2.57 ERA in 47 games and 35 innings. During the 1997 campaign, Ryu was 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA, working 40 innings over 48 games. He struggled with the 1998 Bears with a 0-2, Sv, 7.49 record in 49 games (31 IP).

Ryu moved to the LG Twins in 1999. He was 1-0 with a 5.19 ERA that year; he worked 43 1/3 IP in 33 games, one of only three times he had had more innings pitched than games pitched (through 2008). In 2000, the southpaw specialist went 3-2 with a 6.49 ERA in 43 IP over 38 contests. Ryu's woes continued in 2001, when he was 3-2 with a save and a 7.46 ERA, walking 28 in 35 innings over 45 games.

Since he was a portsider, three straight years of 5+ ERAs did not end his career. In 2002, he improved to 0-2, 4.11 in 77 games, tossing 46 innings and fanning 46 batters. The next season, Ryu was 1-2 with a 3.11 ERA in 75 outings, striking out 44 in 37 2/3 IP.

Ryu pitched for the South Korean national team in the 2003 Baseball World Cup, but was ineffective in 3 games. Over 2 innings, he gave up 3 walks and 8 hits for 8 runs total. He easily had the highest ERA on a disappointing (3-6) Korean entry. In 2004, the LG hurler was 0-3 with a save and a 3.38 ERA in 85 games, striking out 53 in 50 2/3 IP.

Ryu saw his workload "fall" to 69 games in 2005, when he went 0-5 with a 3.63 ERA in 52 innings. He struggled in 2006, with a 5.19 ERA, his highest in 5 years; he only pitched 8 2/3 IP in 16 games that year. During the 2007 campaign, the 35-year-old went 0-3 with a 2.70 ERA in 81 games, only totaling 40 innings pitched. He led the Korea Baseball Organization in innings pitched.

Taek-hyun was with South Korea for the 2007 Asian Championship. He pitched part of the 7th and 8th innings in a 4-3 loss to Japan, giving up the final run on an Atsunori Inaba hit to put Japan ahead 4-2. He had relieved Ki-joo Han and would be replaced by Hyuk Kwon. Korea did not win a spot in the 2008 Olympics with the loss, but they did advance to the 2008 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament. They then used that event as a springboard to a Gold Medal in the 2008 Summer Games.

Ryu had a horrendous 2008, allowing 27 hits and 10 walks in 14 2/3 IP over 38 games. He had a 0-1 record and 11.05 ERA for the year.

On May 9, 2009, Ryu allowed Joon-hyuk Yang's 341st career home run, giving Ryu the all-time KBO record. It was the first run he had allowed in 16 appearances that season.

Through 16 games in 2009, Ryu's career record was 8-27 with 5 saves and a 4.53 ERA in 738 games. He had only pitched 516 innings, allowing exactly 516 hits with 470 strikeouts and 271 walks.

Primary Source: KBO player page