Any one-club man for 18 seasons...Seven years are the same. The secret of the ML legend that Ryu Hyun-jin admired

Sep 21, 2025

Any one-club man for 18 seasons...Seven years are the same. The secret of the ML legend that Ryu Hyun-jin admired
LA Dodgers played three consecutive weekend games against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on the 7th (Korea time). LA Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin is sharing a high five with Kershaw, who will take the mound as a starter before the game. LA (California, USA) = Reporter Song Jeong-heon songs@sportschosun.com /2013.4.77



Any one-club man for 18 seasons...Seven years are the same. The secret of the ML legend that Ryu Hyun-jin admired
LA Dodgers played the second game of a three-game series during the week against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in San Diego, California on the 11th (Korea time). Ryu Hyun-jin is watching the game with Kershaw (left) in the dugout. Ryu Hyun-jin is talking with a bright expression. San Diego (California, USA) = Reporter Song Jeong-heon songs@sportschosun.com /2013.4.11
"I think we can do more...."

A time with a pitcher who made a mark in Major League history. It was also a special time for Ryu Hyun-jin (38, Hanwha Eagles).

Clayton Kershaw (37, LA Dodgers) announced his retirement on the 19th (Korea time).




It was a spectacular exit by a Dodgers one-club man. Kershaw, who wore the Dodgers uniform as the seventh overall pick in the first round in 2006, entered the big league in 2008. He played only for the Dodgers for 18 seasons, appeared in 473 games, pitched 2,849 innings, recording 222-96 with 3045 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.54.

He won three Cy Young Awards (2011, 2013 and 2014) and was named MVP of the National League in 2014. The All-Star Game has played 11 times.

He has a special relationship with Ryu Hyun-jin. Ryu Hyun-jin signed with the Dodgers in 2013 and made the big league stage. For seven seasons until 2019, he played a key role in the starting lineup by eating with Kershaw.




At the end of the 2019 season, Ryu Hyun-jin moved to the Toronto Blue Jays, and the two companions ended. Ryu Hyun-jin returned to the KBO League after the 2023 season.

the news of the retirement of a 'old colleague' who came across the sea. Ryu Hyun-jin said, `I'm a pitcher who still wins 10 games in the Major League, but I was disappointed to retire.'

Any one-club man for 18 seasons...Seven years are the same. The secret of the ML legend that Ryu Hyun-jin admired
LA Dodgers played against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in San Diego, California on the 10th (Korea Standard Time). Ryu Hyun-jin, who played in an away game in San Diego, talks with Kershaw (right) with a bright face before the game. San Diego (California, USA) = Reporter Song Jeong-heon songs@sportschosun.com /2013.4.10
Ryu Hyun-jin is a great player at the sight of Kershaw 's teammate' I've been watching for seven years and they do everything according to their routine every single day. The same routine did the same for seven years. I thought he was an amazing player when I saw him do the same without having to take a day off on a physically difficult day. Even though he performed so well in the Major League, he did the same every week, such as bullpen pitching and weight training. I do the same without changing the order of exercise. That's really great."




For Ryu, Kershaw's thorough self-management was also a good textbook. Ryu Hyun-jin said "I had a routine that I didn't have before I went to the U.S. I think it was possible because he was a starting pitcher. I don't think I would have been able to do the same if I was a middle pitcher, but I learned to make my own routine" he said.

Ryu Hyun-jin was also a good teammate for Kershaw. Every spring camp, he asked Ryu Hyun-jin about his change-up and shared his concerns about the pitch. Ryu Hyun-jin smiled, saying, `I asked a lot, but he said no.' `But he threw a splitter later.'

Any one-club man for 18 seasons...Seven years are the same. The secret of the ML legend that Ryu Hyun-jin admired
Clayton Kershaw waves to the crowd against the San Francisco Giants on the 20th. UPI Yonhap News
Kershaw started against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on the 20th and allowed four hits (one home run), four walks, six strikeouts and two runs in four ⅓ innings. He was replaced after striking out the leadoff hitter in the top of the fifth inning when he was losing 1-2, and fans applauded Kershaw's appearance coming down the mound. Kershaw came into the dugout and hugged his teammates.

Ryu Hyun-jin also watched this on the broadcast. Ryu Hyun-jin said, `I would have liked to have become a winning pitcher at the end. Still, in the last home game, I thought it wouldn't be bad to change in the middle of the inning and come down after receiving greetings," he said, expressing his extraordinary feelings at the splendid exit of his 'old colleague'.

Any one-club man for 18 seasons...Seven years are the same. The secret of the ML legend that Ryu Hyun-jin admired
LA Dodgers played against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in San Diego, California on the 10th (Korea Standard Time). Ryu Hyun-jin, who played in an away game in San Diego, talks with Kershaw (right) with a bright face before the game.

San Diego (California, USA) = Reporter Song Jeong-heon songs@sportschosun.com /2013.4.10


This article was translated by Naver AI translator.