Dodgers’ pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin tops poll of favorite athletes

SEOUL, June 4 (Yonhap) — Ryu Hyun-jin, a starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, was picked as South Korea’s favorite athlete in a national survey released on Tuesday.

According to Gallup Korea, Ryu, the left-hander in his first Major League Baseball (MLB) season, earned 28.1 percent of support in the May 27-30 survey.

Gallup Korea polled 1,216 people nationwide at least 19 years of age, and the polled could select up to two athletes.

Figure skater Kim Yu-na was second behind Ryu with 24.6 percent of support.

Ryu signed with the Dodgers last December after dominating the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) for seven seasons with the Hanwha Eagles. He became the first South Korean to make the jump from the KBO to the big leagues.

Ryu is enjoying a fine rookie season, with a 6-2 record and a 2.89 ERA in 11 starts. He has struck out 67 batters in 71 2/3 innings, and pitched his first complete game shutout over the Los Angeles Angels last Tuesday.

Ryu missed his last scheduled start against the Colorado Rockies on Monday with a foot injury. He took a comebacker off his left foot in the match against the Angels last week, but is scheduled to return to the rotation on Friday against the Atlanta Braves.

Gallup Korea said 51 percent of men in their 30s picked Ryu as their favorite athlete.

Park Ji-sung, midfielder for the Queens Park Rangers (QPR) in English football, came in at third with 15.5 percent. Park, who served as QPR’s captain early in the Premier League season, had a subpar season and couldn’t prevent the team from being relegated to the second division for next year.

Choo Shin-soo, outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds and one of two South Koreans in the majors this year beside Ryu, ranked fourth at 14.8 percent. Rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae ranked fifth at 11.1 percent.

Rounding out the top 10 were: Ki Sung-yueng, midfielder for Swansea City in the English Premier League; Park Tae-hwan, an Olympic swimming star; Lee Dae-ho, slugger for the Orix Buffaloes in Japanese baseball; Son Heung-min, forward for Hamburger SV in Germany’s Bundesliga; and Lee Seung-yeop, first baseman for the Samsung Lions in the KBO.

Lee Seung-yeop, who owns the KBO’s single season record for home runs with 56, is the only South Korea-based pro athlete in the top 10.

via Dodgers’ pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin tops poll of favorite athletes | YONHAP NEWS.