Los Angeles Dodgers southpaw Hyun-Jin Ryu missed two straight days of spring training workouts this week due to stiffness in his back, causing some concern for L.A's rotation.
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Ryu dismissed the back ailment as being anything serious, but after skipping Wednesday's workouts and then once again being held out Thursday, it was a bit of a surprise.
"I'm not worried at all," Ryu insisted Thursday, according to ESPN Los Angeles.
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Per the report, Ryu expected to resume activities on Thursday after feeling discomfort in his back during a bullpen session on Tuesday, but he instead missed his second straight day of workouts.
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly told the site that an MRI revealed no structural damage and that the team was hopeful the lingering effects won't cause a delay to Ryu's season.
"I've had enough back stuff to know it can feel bad today, you wake up tomorrow and, all of a sudden, you're back," Mattingly said. "At this point, I don't think any of us are worried about the timetable. If it were to linger and go on and on, then obviously it would start to mess with his schedule."
Ryu is a key part of Los Angeles' rotation as he is counted on as the No. 3 starter behind reigning NL MVP and Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke.
Ryu, 27, went 14-7 in 2014 with a 3.38 ERA and is 28-15 with a 3.17 ERA through two career seasons in the MLB.
The South Korean southpaw dealt with shoulder ailments last season, but doesn't appear to be as worried about his back heading into 2015.
Ryu helped aid the Dodgers to a 94-68 record in 2014 that saw them clinch the NL West for the second straight season before the team fell to the St. Louis Cardinals in a disappointing four-game performance in the NLDS.
Ryu had a no-decision in the one game he pitched in that series, yielding one run on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk.
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