Ryan Borucki

RYAN BORUCKI, LEFT HANDED PITCHER
Born: March 31, 1994
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 210
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Drafted: 15th Round, 475th Overall, 2012 (Blue Jays)
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
High School: Mundelein (IL) HS
Agent: ISE Baseball

 

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE
Borucki was well regarded as a prospect coming up through the Toronto system, but his career has repeatedly been interrupted by injuries, mostly arm injuries.  When the Jays drafted him out of high school, he was coming off an elbow injury that was thought to require Tommy John surgery.  He opted for rehab, but ended up having the surgery before his first full season.  When drafted, he threw in the low-90s, with a slider and change.  He came up through the minors as a starter, but more recently has pitched in relief, which is probably more realistic given the many injuries.  As a starter, he generally had very low walk rates and variable K rates.  As a reliever he sits at 95 mph and relies heavily on a cutter.  He also throws a change.  He’s struggled with his control since 2020.  The Pirates signed him as a minor league free agent in May 2023.

2012
R:  1-0-0, 3.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 6.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 15.0 K/9

Borucki pitched briefly in the GCL, then wound up having the Tommy John surgery.

2013
INJURED

After the surgery Borucki missed the season.

2014
R+:  2-1-0, 2.70 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 33.1 IP, 1.6 BB/9, 8.1 K/9
A-:  1-1-1, 1.90 ERA, 0.68 WHIP, 23.2 IP, 1.1 BB/9, 8.4 K/9

Returning from the surgery, Borucki got in 57 innings in short season ball and pitched very well, with outstanding control.  Baseball America ranked him twelfth in the Jays’ system after the season.

2015
R:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 1.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
A-:  0-1-0, 3.86 ERA, 1.93 WHIP, 4.2 IP, 5.8 BB/9, 11.6 K/9

Elbow pain and shoulder soreness cost Borucki nearly the whole season.  BA still ranked him 14th in the system.

2016
A:  10-4-0, 2.41 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 115.2 IP, 2.0 BB/9, 8.3 K/9
A+:  1-4-0, 14.40 ERA, 2.60 WHIP, 20.0 IP, 5.4 BB/9, 4.5 K/9

Toronto sent Borucki initially to high A and he had a rough time, allowing ten home runs in just 20 innings.  The Jays moved him down to low A and he had a big season there.  BA ranked him 16th in the system and Toronto added him to the 40-man roster after the season.

2017
A+:  6-5-0, 3.58 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 98.0 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 10.0 K/9
AA:  2-3-0, 1.94 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 46.1 IP, 1.6 BB/9, 8.2 K/9
AAA:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 6.0 IP, 1.5 BB/9, 9.0 K/9

Back in high A, Borucki pitched well, then moved up to AA late in the year and took a big step forward, still with very impressive control.  BA ranked him tenth in the Jays’ system.

2018
AAA:  6-5-0, 3.27 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 77.0 IP, 3.3 BB/9, 6.8 K/9
MLB:  4-6-0, 3.87 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 97.2 IP, 3.0 BB/9, 6.2 K/9

Borucki continued pitching well in AAA and got called up in June.  He made 17 starts for the Jays and got good results.

2019
R:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, 3.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 18.0 K/9
A+:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.25 WHIP, 4.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
AAA:  1-0-0, 4.91 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 11.0 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 7.4 K/9
MLB:  0-1-0, 10.80 ERA, 3.15 WHIP, 6.2 IP, 8.1 BB/9, 8.1 K/9

Borucki was expected to be part of the Jays’ rotation, but he was again plagued by injuries.  He missed the first half of the season with elbow inflammation, then at the end of July went out again.  He ultimately had surgery to remove a bone spur.

2020
MLB:  1-1-0, 2.70 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 16.2 IP, 6.5 BB/9, 11.3 K/9

During the pandemic season, Borucki pitched out of the Jays’ bullpen, mainly as a LOOGY.  He threw only 16.2 IP in 21 games.  He had a high K rate but also a very high walk rate.

2021
AAA:  0-0-0, 2.89 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 9.1 IP, 7.7 BB/9, 11.6 K/9
MLB:  3-1-0, 4.94 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 23.2 IP, 4.2 BB/9, 8.0 K/9

Borucki opened the season in the Jays’ bullpen, but was out from mid-May to mid-July with a strained flexor tendon in his left forearm.  After he returned, he shuttled back and forth between AAA and the majors.  He was pitching well before the injury, but got hit hard in the majors afterward.

2022
MLB (Tor):  0-0-0, 9.95 ERA, 1.90 WHIP, 6.1 IP, 7.1 BB/9, 11.4 K/9
MLB (Sea):  2-0-0, 4.26 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 19.0 IP, 2.8 BB/9, 6.2 K/9

Injuries again were a problem, as Borucki missed time at various stages with a hamstring strain, a blister and a strained flexor.  He struggled with Toronto and in early June the Jays traded him to Seattle.  When he was able to pitch, he was much more effective with the Mariners.  After the season, Seattle outrighted him to AAA and he opted for free agency.  The Cubs signed him to a minor league deal for 2023.

2023
AAA:  1-0-0, 12.00 ERA, 2.11 WHIP, 9.0 IP, 6.0 BB/9, 11.0 K/9

Borucki pitched in AAA for the Cubs in April and struggled.  Oddly, they called him up at the end of the month, but he never appeared for them, instead being designated for assignment two days later.  He opted for free agency rather than reporting to AAA.  The Pirates signed him a week later.

The Pirates initially put Borucki on the development list.  Given his problems before they signed him, he may have some things to work out.  At some point he should be in the Indianapolis bullpen.

UPDATE:  By mid-June, Borucki had thrown only 8.1 IP for Indianapolis and had trouble throwing strikes, but the Pirates called him up when Jose Hernandez went on the injured list.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2023: Major League Minimum
2022: $825,000
2019: $565,200
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $426,000
MiLB Debut: 2012
MLB Debut: 6/26/2018
MiLB FA Eligible: 2023
MLB FA Eligible: 2025
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man:  11/18/2016
Options Remaining: 0 (USED:  2017, 2018, 2021)
MLB Service Time: 4.066
TRANSACTIONS
June 6, 2012: Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 15th round, 475th overall pick; signed on July 10.
November 18, 2016: Contract purchased by the Toronto Blue Jays.
May 31, 2022: Designated for assignment by the Toronto Blue Jays.
June 5, 2022: Traded by the Toronto Blue Jays to the Seattle Mariners for Tyler Keenan.
November 9, 2022: Outrighted to AAA by the Seattle Mariners; became a free agent.
January 4, 2023: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Chicago Cubs.
April 30, 2023: Called up by the Chicago Cubs.
May 2, 2023: Designated for assignment by the Chicago Cubs; outrighted to AAA on May 5; refused assignment and became a free agent on May 7.
May 9, 2023: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
June 18, 2023: Called up by the Pittsburgh Pirates.