After learning that former Toronto Blue Jays' pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu was going to leave the major leagues in order to return to Korea, current Jays' pitcher Chris Bassitt delivered a nice message to Ryu on social media.
I wish nothing but the very best to Hyun-Jin Ryu. Wish I got to spend a lot more years with him. Incredible person and player … btw fun fact you actually pronounce his name in English as “Lou” not Ryu.
Bassitt only got to spend one year with Ryu, as Bassitt just got to Toronto in 2023, which ends up being Ryu's final year.
All in all, Ryu had a 10-year major league career with the Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers. He made the All-Star team with LA in 2019 and led baseball in ERA that same year (2.32). For his major league career, he'll finish 78-48 with a 3.46 ERA.
As for Bassitt, he enters the 2024 season as one of five solid starters in the Jays' rotation. He'll be flanked by Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman, Alek Manoah and Yusei Kikuchi.
Bassitt is a nine-year veteran who has played for the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, New York Mets and Blue Jays. He went 16-8 a season ago with a 3.60 ERA. He led the American League in starts (33) and wins (16).
The Blue Jays are coming off a year in which they finished third in the American League East and were swept in the wild card round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Twins.
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