Hyun-Jin Ryu up for two Players Choice Awards
by Cary Osborne
Dodger pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu is a nominee for two 2019 Players Choice Awards, presented by the Major League Players Association.
Ryu is a nominee for National League Outstanding Pitcher and is up against New York Met Jacob deGrom(2.43 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 255 strikeouts) and Atlanta Brave Mike Soroka(2.68 ERA, 1.11 WHIP).
He is also a nominee in the NL Comeback Player of the Year, where his competition is Atlanta third baseman Josh Donaldson(37 home runs, .900 OPS) and Cincinnati pitcher Sonny Gray (2.87 ERA, 1.08 WHIP).
Ryu led the Major Leagues in ERA (2.32) and lowest walks per nine innings (1.2) and led the NL in ERA+ (179).
The first-time All-Star and NL All-Star Game starter in 2019, finished in the top five in the NL in WHIP (1.007, third), strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.8, second) and fielding independent pitching (3.10, fourth).
Ryu finished the season at 14–5 in 29 starts, logging a career-high 182 2/3 innings. The Dodgers were 20–9 in those starts. He went at least six innings and allowed one earned run or fewer in 18 starts this season — the most of any pitcher in the majors.
His 1.73 ERA at the All-Star Break was the fifth lowest by a National Leaguer at the midway point this century.
In 2018, he made 15 starts and logged 82 1/3 innings in a season in which he missed three months due to a left groin strain.
Major League players made the selections and turned in their votes in mid-September. Winners will be announced next week.
The awards have been handed out annually since 1992.
Clayton Kershaw won NL Outstanding Pitcher awards in 2011, 2013 and 2014. Zack Greinke won the award as a Dodger in 2015, and Eric Gagne won it in 2003.
Two Dodgers have won NL Comeback Player of the Year awards — Matt Kemp in 2018 and Nomar Garciaparra in 2006.
