Hyun-Jin Ryu isn’t familiar enough with American cliches to say that he’s in the best shape of his life. Truth is, he might be close.
“I’m definitely lighter, more fit than I was at this time last year,” he said, but he wouldn’t say how much he weighed. Last year, Ryu was listed at 255 pounds.
Ryu said Friday that he came into camp “underprepared.” He elaborated a bit at the Dodgers’ FanFest on Saturday, saying that contract negotiations with the Dodgers — which dragged into the final hour before the Dec. 2013 deadline — delayed his off-season training regimen.
A couple other nuggets from Ryu’s press conference Saturday:
• “Last year was the first time my breaking balls weren’t working so I’m going to work on that early this year.”
• He’s leaving for spring training later today after FanFest. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report next weekend.
• His Super Bowl pick: “The better team will win.”