GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Even the phrase “normal soreness” can cause panic when it comes to players at spring training recovering from an injury.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts updated the media Tuesday, saying Hyun-Jin Ryu felt good after his 30-pitch bullpen session Monday, experiencing just the kind of soreness typically associated with ramping up physical activity.
Ryu is said to be a few weeks behind his teammates as he returns from shoulder surgery last year.
A member of the media from Korea, Ryu’s home country, wanted to backtrack though, making Roberts repeat that the soreness was typical. Roberts obliged.
“It’s where the volume was increased, the intensity, how hard he was throwing was increased a little bit,” Roberts said. “And so when you do that, there will be a little soreness in anything you do. Whether you are running or throwing, when you do a little bit more there is some normal soreness.”
There is pain, and then there is soreness, and Roberts assured the reporter Ryu is experiencing the latter.
As of now, the left-hander is throwing only fastballs, with Roberts in discussions with pitching coach Rick Honeycutt about when to add in offspeed pitches.
“Initially, I think we want to up the volume and as far as a date (for more than just fastballs), we really don’t have a date,” Roberts said. “But as of now, we’re thinking that the priority is just upping the volume.”
Although no timetable has been set for Ryu’s return to the Dodgers rotation, the likely scenario is that he remains at extended spring training when the team breaks camp for the start of the regular season. A late April or May return seems likely.