Ryan Borucki Bio
Ryan Joseph Borucki (born March 31, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. Over the course of his Major League Baseball (MLB) career, Borucki has played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, and Pittsburgh Pirates, working primarily as a starter early on before settling into a bullpen role. A left-hander known for his resilience, he has overcome multiple arm injuries and surgeries to remain active in professional baseball.
Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2012 out of Mundelein High School in Illinois, Borucki signed for $426,000 and climbed steadily through the minor leagues. He made his major league debut in 2018 and has since built a career marked by perseverance through Tommy John surgery, bone spur procedures, and other setbacks.
Early Life and Background
Ryan Joseph Borucki was born on March 31, 1994, in Mundelein, Illinois, a suburb north of Chicago. He grew up in the same town where he would later attend high school, surrounded by a family with a strong baseball background. His father, Raymond Borucki, was an infielder who signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as an undrafted free agent in 1979, though he never advanced past the Triple-A level.
Borucki attended Mundelein High School in his hometown, where he quickly developed into one of the top pitching prospects in the state of Illinois. In his junior year, he posted a 7-1 record with a 1.20 earned run average (ERA) and 57 strikeouts, earning all-conference, all-Lake County, and all-academic honors. He was ranked as the number one prospect in Illinois by Prep Baseball Report.
His senior season was cut short when he suffered a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his elbow, limiting his time on the mound. Despite the injury, Borucki had already attracted enough attention to draw a professional offer, ultimately choosing professional baseball over a college commitment to the University of Iowa.
Path to Baseball
Borucki’s path to professional baseball began when the Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the 15th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He signed with the Blue Jays for a $426,000 bonus, turning away from the University of Iowa to begin his pro career. He was initially assigned to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Blue Jays, where he posted a 1-0 record and 3.00 ERA over six innings.
That promising start was interrupted when Borucki underwent Tommy John surgery to repair his UCL, causing him to miss the entire 2013 season. He returned in 2014 to pitch for the Rookie Advanced Bluefield Blue Jays and the Low-A Vancouver Canadians, combining for a 3-2 record, a 2.37 ERA, and 52 strikeouts in 57 innings. The following seasons brought continued development in the Blue Jays’ system, with stints in Lansing and Dunedin.
By 2017, Borucki’s performance earned him recognition as Toronto’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year, a sign that he was on the verge of reaching the majors. He opened the 2018 season at Triple-A Buffalo before being called up by the Blue Jays in late June.
Ryan Borucki Career
Early Career (2018-2019)
Borucki made his Major League debut on June 26, 2018, at Minute Maid Park against the Houston Astros, taking a loss after allowing two runs on six hits over six innings. He became the 12th pitcher in franchise history to throw at least six innings while allowing two or fewer runs in his debut, and the first Blue Jays pitcher to do so since Zach Stewart in 2011. His first home start came on July 2 against the Detroit Tigers, when he struck out eight batters over seven innings, tying Roy Halladay for the second-most strikeouts in a Blue Jays home debut.
On August 3, 2018, Borucki earned his first major league win, throwing eight innings and allowing one unearned run in a 7-2 victory against the Seattle Mariners. He finished his rookie season with a 4-6 record and a 3.87 ERA over 17 starts, with 11 quality starts, the most of any American League rookie that year. In December 2018, the Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America named him Blue Jays Rookie of the Year.
Toronto Blue Jays Bullpen Years (2020-2022)
After missing the first half of the 2019 season due to elbow inflammation that was later identified as a bone spur, Borucki had surgery in August 2019 to remove bone spurs from his left arm and missed the rest of the year. He returned for the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season as a reliever, appearing in 21 games with a 1-1 record, 2.70 ERA, and 21 strikeouts in 16.2 innings. In 2021, he bounced between the injured list with a left forearm flexor strain and the active roster, including a September 22 incident in which he intentionally hit Kevin Kiermaier of the Tampa Bay Rays, leading to a suspension that was reduced to two games on appeal.
On March 22, 2022, Borucki signed a one-year, $825,000 contract to avoid salary arbitration. He was designated for assignment on May 31, 2022, and traded to the Seattle Mariners on June 4 in exchange for minor leaguer Tyler Keenan. With Seattle, he posted a 2-0 record and 4.26 ERA in 21 appearances before a left forearm strain ended his season in August. He rejected an outright assignment that November and became a free agent.
Chicago Cubs Stint (2023)
On January 4, 2023, Borucki signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs and was assigned to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. He struggled to a 12.00 ERA in eight appearances before having his contract selected on April 30. He did not appear in a game for Chicago and was designated for assignment on May 2 following the promotion of Miguel Amaya. After clearing waivers, he rejected an outright assignment and elected free agency on May 7.
Pittsburgh Pirates Era (2023-2025)
Borucki signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization on May 11, 2023, and joined the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. After tossing 8.1 scoreless innings, he had his contract selected on June 18. He found immediate success in the Pirates’ bullpen, finishing 2023 with career bests in wins (4), ERA (2.45), and WHIP (0.744) across a career-high 38 appearances. He agreed to a $1.6 million salary for 2024 to avoid arbitration.
Injuries hampered his 2024 season, as he was placed on the injured list on April 7 with left triceps inflammation and later shut down on May 1 with carpal tunnel syndrome. After activation in September, he struggled to a 7.36 ERA in 14 games. Borucki re-signed with the Pirates on a minor league deal in January 2025, made the Opening Day roster, and posted a 1-3 record with a 5.28 ERA in 35 appearances before being designated for assignment on August 15 and released on August 18.
Toronto Blue Jays Second Stint (2025)
On August 25, 2025, Borucki signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, returning to the organization that originally drafted him. He made one scoreless appearance for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons before the Blue Jays selected his contract on September 2. In four scoreless appearances for Toronto, he struck out five across 4.1 innings. He was designated for assignment on September 15 following the promotion of Trey Yesavage, cleared waivers, was outrighted to Buffalo on September 18, and elected free agency on November 2.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Borucki’s career came on August 3, 2018, when he earned his first major league win with eight strong innings against the Seattle Mariners. He was also recognized as Toronto’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2017 and Rookie of the Year in 2018. His 11 quality starts in 2018 were the most by any American League rookie that season, cementing his early promise as a starter.
Ryan Borucki Career Wins
Throughout his MLB career, Ryan Borucki has compiled a modest but steady win total across stints with the Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, and Pittsburgh Pirates. His victories have come primarily as a starter early in his career and later in relief appearances out of the bullpen.
Toronto Blue Jays Highlights
Borucki earned his first major league win on August 3, 2018, throwing eight innings of one-unearned-run ball in a 7-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners. He went on to finish his rookie season with four wins, highlighted by an August in which he posted a strong ERA over multiple quality starts. His 2018 campaign earned him the Blue Jays’ Rookie of the Year award from the local chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
Seattle Mariners Highlights
After being traded to Seattle in June 2022, Borucki posted a 2-0 record out of the Mariners’ bullpen before a left forearm strain ended his season in August. His perfect record in a Mariners uniform was a brief but productive stretch.
Pittsburgh Pirates Highlights
Borucki had his most successful season in 2023 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, setting career bests with four wins, a 2.45 ERA, and a 0.744 WHIP across 38 appearances out of the bullpen. His bounce-back performance helped solidify his role as a reliable left-handed reliever.
Ryan Borucki Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Borucki comes from a family with deep baseball roots. His father, Raymond Borucki, was an infielder who signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as an undrafted free agent in 1979, though he never advanced past the Triple-A level. Growing up in the Chicago suburb of Mundelein, Borucki was a fan of the Chicago White Sox, influenced by his family’s Midwestern baseball traditions.
Personal Life
Borucki married his wife on October 5, 2020. The couple shares a Sphynx cat named Dobby, an elf Sphynx who is featured on one of Borucki’s practice gloves. The pitcher has been open about his personal interests on social media, where he shares glimpses of life with his wife and their pet.
2025 Season Performance
Borucki’s 2025 season was split between the Pittsburgh Pirates and a brief return to the Toronto Blue Jays. He opened the year on the Pirates’ roster after signing a minor league contract in January, ultimately appearing in 35 games with a 1-3 record and 5.28 ERA, including 27 strikeouts over 30.2 innings. His struggles led to a designation for assignment on August 15 and his release on August 18.
Just a week later, on August 25, Borucki signed a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, returning to the franchise that originally drafted him. After one scoreless appearance at Triple-A Buffalo, he had his contract selected on September 2 and made four scoreless outings for Toronto, striking out five across 4.1 innings. He was designated for assignment on September 15 to make room for top prospect Trey Yesavage and elected free agency on November 2, 2025.
Heading into 2026, Borucki remains a free agent with a track record of resilience through injuries and roster turnover. His late-season scoreless stretch in Toronto could serve as a foundation for another opportunity, whether back with the Blue Jays or another organization in need of left-handed relief depth.