Ryu Jae-kuk

Ryu Jae-kuk (Hangul: 류제국; Hanja: 柳済國; born May 30, 1983 in Seoul, South Korea), also known as Jae Kuk Ryu is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.

Professional career

Ryu made his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs on May 14, 2006, in a relief appearance against the San Diego Padres. He made his first major league start on May 28, 2006, in which he threw only 28 pitches before being relieved after having allowed 6 runs in 1 1⁄₃ innings pitched. He was sent back to the minor leagues almost immediately afterwards. He would go on to make the 2006 MLB Futures Team. He would return to the Cubs for late August and September making several bullpen appearances, faring slightly better and finishing the year with an 8.40 ERA. Ryu was traded to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on February 14, 2007, in exchange for minor leaguers. He made the Devil Rays' active roster, and began the season in the bullpen.

On January 15, 2009, Ryu was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres. On March 26, 2009, Ryu was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Indians. However, Major League Baseball declined the waiver claim on April 1, and Ryu was returned to the Padres, then released.

Ryu made headlines on April 23, 2003, when he knocked an osprey from its perch by throwing a baseball at it at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach before a game in the Single-A Florida State League causing it to die 6 days later. Since osprey are protected in Florida, he faced a fine for the incident.

On January 24, 2010, it was reported that Ryu had signed with the Texas Rangers.

On January 30, 2013, Ryu, joined the LG Twins of the KBO League.