LAKELAND, Fla. -- It¡¯s been three years since three words reintroduced the Blue Jays to the rest of the league: Hyun Jin Ryu.

Those were the early days of the era the Blue Jays still stand in, when the debuts of a young core with famous last names eased the blow of a 67-95 season. Ryu represented the necessary next step, spending for star talent that would show this young core the way and win alongside them.

The Korean Monster brought with him a new reality. In his first season, the COVID-shortened 2020, Ryu posted a 2.69 ERA and pitched the Blue Jays into their first postseason appearance since '16. Since those ahead-of-schedule heroics, though, Ryu pitched to a 4.55 ERA over 37 starts before undergoing Tommy John surgery in June of last year.

Now, nine months later and in the final year of his four-year, $80 million contract, Ryu wants to finish what he started.

¡°My goal, my ideal date and time that I have set up for myself is sometime in mid July,¡± Ryu said through a club interpreter. ¡°I¡¯m going to try to rehab myself to get back to being able to compete at that level by that time. Hopefully our team has a playoff chance and I can play through October with the guys.¡±

Ryu has ramped up his rehab alongside his Blue Jays teammates this spring. He¡¯s in the clubhouse each morning, a towering iced coffee in one hand, smiling and chatting. His recovery has been challenging mentally, but his history has helped build resilience. In 2015, Ryu underwent shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum. Tommy John is more common with a very high rate of return, so Ryu¡¯s mentality all along is: ¡°I know I can come back.¡±

Lately, he¡¯s been throwing on flat ground, getting out to 90 and 120 feet. At some point in April, he hopes to throw his first bullpen session, a major milestone in his recovery that only comes when his elbow is 100% ready to begin the return to pitching.

¡°Being with the guys just brings so many positive vibes and helps me to be more motivated,¡± Ryu said. ¡°In the next couple of weeks, the guys are going to be gone. I¡¯m just going to stay focused and not get laid back. I¡¯m going to keep doing what I¡¯m doing mentally and carry on from there.¡±

The Blue Jays won¡¯t rush this. There will be a loose date in mind, of course, but that¡¯s a moving target. They¡¯ll be more focused on short-term boxes that need checking, moving from week to week with Ryu, but all of the signs to this point are extremely encouraging.

¡°You see him walking around here and he¡¯s in a good place,¡± said pitching coach Pete Walker. ¡°He misses competing and being part of the regular rotation, but I think he envisions himself being ready at some point this season to contribute at the Major League level. He¡¯s determined to do so. I think he still wants to show the people in Canada what he came here to do.¡±

This rotation looks nothing like the one Ryu led in 2020. Alek Manoah was pitching at the Blue Jays¡¯ Alternate Site. Chris Bassitt was with the A¡¯s, José Berríos with the Twins, Yusei Kikuchi with the Mariners and Kevin Gausman -- who kept his strong spring going in a 5-0 win over the Tigers on Monday -- was with the Giants. The Blue Jays have had to build their '23 rotation under the assumption Ryu won¡¯t be part of it. That¡¯s not what they believe, but it¡¯s how a front office needs to operate to protect themselves. Anything Ryu can give them in '23 will be a bonus.

By July -- or August, or September -- something will have changed. Injuries inevitably happen and performances are hard to predict, even with established veterans, as we learned in 2022 with Berr¨ªos. Along with No. 1 prospect Ricky Tiedemann potentially being an option, Ryu¡¯s return could be a blessing by that time. Besides, this is the exact type of team the Blue Jays envisioned Ryu someday pitching on.

¡°I don¡¯t think we can even call ourselves a young team anymore,¡± Ryu said. ¡°These guys have gotten two, three, four years under their belt now. They¡¯ve got the experience. They know what they¡¯re doing. The guys know what to do instead of being taught what to do.¡±

Soon, Ryu will finish his rehab in bullpens, back fields and Minor League stadiums, far from the glamor he¡¯s earned in the KBO and MLB. It will all be worth it, though, for one more shot.