Hanwha Eagles ace Cody Ponce, who advanced to the big leagues, showed special affection for Ryu Hyun-jin even with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Mitch Bannon, The Athletic's Toronto reporter, wrote on his social media on the 18th (Korean time), "Ponce, a Star Wars fan, wore number 30 in Korea to mean C-3PO. This year he chose number 66 to mean "Order 66,"" adding, "He said it also carries a meaning of respect for Ryu Hyun-jin, whom he has long admired, because it looks like 99 flipped over."
Ryu Hyun-jin, who set major milestones in the big leagues as the first Korean starter in a major league All-Star Game and a Cy Young Award candidate, is respected not only in Korea but also by foreign players. Ponce, who played for Hanwha last season, showed his 'love for Ryu Hyun-jin' by even buying Ryu Hyun-jin's jerseys himself to collect.
He even threw wearing Ryu Hyun-jin's jersey at the All-Star Game. Before his All-Star appearance was confirmed, Ponce joked, "I want to try throwing left-handed like Ryu Hyun-jin," and said, "I have the thought of wanting to copy every pitching motion from the windup onward exactly like Ryu Hyun-jin," then started as a pitcher and perfectly transformed into "Ryu Ponce" by wearing Ryu Hyun-jin's Toronto-era uniform.
Ponce said about his imitation performance of Ryu Hyun-jin after the All-Star Game, "It was a great honor just to perform that. Because Ryu Hyun-jin has performed for so long and so much, I prepared the performance with feelings of respect."
Ponce, who succeeded Hanwha's MVP lineage 19 years after Ryu Hyun-jin in 2006, remained humble after receiving the award. He said, "I have always respected Ryu Hyun-jin and thought of him as an idol. I am very grateful for that," and added, "Having our photos hung side by side at the ballpark, being part of Hanwha's history, and being able to leave a photo or space next to Ryu Hyun-jin in life is really meaningful."
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