Rather than test free agency a year ago, Hyun-Jin Ryu returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2019 season after accepting the qualifying offer extended to him. He was essentially betting on himself to stay healthy and build off a strong close to his 2018 campaign.
With the exception of two brief stints on the 10-day injured list, Ryu was generally durable, logging his most innings pitched in a single season since 2013. He also performed at a high level for most of the year, finishing with the lowest ERA among qualified pitchers at 2.32.
Ryu was recognized with many accolades, including his first career All-Star selection and a second-place finish in National League Cy Young Award voting.