Ryan Joseph Borucki Bio
Ryan Joseph Borucki is an American professional baseball pitcher who has appeared in Major League Baseball for the Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, and San Francisco Giants. Born on March 31, 1994, in Mundelein, Illinois, Borucki was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 15th round of the 2012 MLB Draft and made his MLB debut in 2018. He has navigated multiple organization changes throughout his career, demonstrating versatility as both a starter and reliever while managing various injuries along the way.
Early Life and Background
Ryan Borucki grew up in the Chicago suburb of Mundelein, Illinois, where he attended Mundelein High School. During his junior year, he posted impressive statistics with a 7-1 record and 1.20 ERA, accumulating 57 strikeouts and earning all-conference, all-Lake County, and all-academic honors. He was recognized as the top prospect in Illinois by Prep Baseball Report. His senior season was cut short when he suffered a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow, which raised concerns among scouts about his future pitching potential.
Path to Professional Baseball
Despite the injury concern, Borucki attracted significant interest from college programs with his talent. He had committed to play at the University of Iowa before the Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the 2012 MLB Draft. The Blue Jays signed him away from his collegiate commitment by offering him a $426,000 signing bonus. He began his professional career in the Gulf Coast League that same year, but his debut season was cut short when he underwent Tommy John surgery to repair the UCL injury sustained in high school, causing him to miss the entire 2013 season.
Ryan Borucki Career
Minor Leagues and Development (2012–2018)
After recovering from Tommy John surgery, Borucki returned to competition in 2014 with the Bluefield Blue Jays and Vancouver Canadians. He combined for a 3-2 record, 2.37 ERA, and 52 strikeouts across 57 innings pitched. Limited to just three appearances in 2015 due to continued recovery, he bounced back in 2016 with a strong season split between the High-A Dunedin Blue Jays and Single-A Lansing Lugnuts. With Lansing, he went 10-4 with a 2.41 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 20 starts. His performance earned him a spot on the Toronto Blue Jays 40-man roster after the season to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
In 2017, Borucki continued his ascent through the Blue Jays system. He went 6-5 with a 3.58 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 98 innings with Dunedin before earning a promotion to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, where he posted a 1.94 ERA in seven starts. He finished the season with a scoreless debut for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. For his efforts, Borucki was named Toronto’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year on October 5, 2017, establishing himself as one of the organization’s top pitching prospects.
Toronto Blue Jays (2018–2022)
Borucki received his first major league call-up on June 26, 2018, and made his MLB debut that night at Minute Maid Park against the Houston Astros. He took the loss despite allowing only two runs on six hits over six innings with three strikeouts. Borucki became the twelfth pitcher in franchise history to throw at least six innings and allow two or fewer runs in his debut. He earned his first career win on August 3, 2018, when he threw eight innings and allowed one unearned run in Toronto’s victory against the Seattle Mariners. For the season, he went 4-6 with a 3.87 ERA over seventeen starts, including eleven quality starts, the most among American League rookies that year. The Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America voted him the Blue Jays’ Rookie of the Year for 2018.
The 2019 season was derailed by injury when Borucki suffered elbow inflammation during spring training. The issue was later identified as a bone spur, and he underwent surgery to remove it in August, forcing him to miss the remainder of the year after making just four starts. In the shortened 2020 season, Borucki transitioned to a bullpen role with the Blue Jays. He appeared in 21 games with a 1-1 record and a 2.70 ERA. The 2021 season saw him placed on the injured list with a left forearm flexor strain, further disrupting his progress with the organization.
Seattle Mariners (2022)
On June 4, 2022, Borucki was traded to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for minor leaguer Tyler Keenan. He made 21 appearances for Seattle, posting a 2-0 record and 4.26 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched. However, he was placed on the injured list with a left forearm strain on August 8 and spent the rest of the season on the IL. Following the season, he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. He rejected the outright assignment and became a free agent in November 2022.
Pittsburgh Pirates (2023–2025)
Borucki signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 11, 2023, and reported to Triple-A Indianapolis. After tossing 8 and one-third scoreless innings in eight appearances, his contract was selected on June 18, adding him to the Pirates’ active roster. He found immediate success in the Pirates’ bullpen, finishing the 2023 season with career-bests in wins (4), ERA (2.45), and WHIP (0.744) across a career-high 38 appearances. The performance established him as a reliable late-inning option for Pittsburgh.
Heading into 2024, Borucki agreed to a $1.6 million salary with the Pirates, avoiding arbitration. However, his season was interrupted when he was placed on the injured list with left triceps inflammation on April 7. He was subsequently diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome on May 1 and was shut down for the year, transferred to the 60-day injured list on June 6. He was activated on September 1 but struggled in 14 games, posting a 7.36 ERA. On January 27, 2025, Borucki re-signed with the Pirates on a minor league contract and made their Opening Day roster. He appeared in 35 games but struggled to a 1-3 record and 5.28 ERA before being designated for assignment on August 15 and released after clearing waivers.
Return to Toronto Blue Jays (2025)
On August 25, 2025, Borucki signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, returning to the organization that originally signed him in 2012. He made one scoreless appearance for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons before his contract was selected on September 2, adding him to the Blue Jays’ active roster. He made four scoreless appearances for Toronto, striking out five across 4 and one-third innings. He was designated for assignment following the promotion of Trey Yesavage on September 15, cleared waivers, and was sent outright to Buffalo on September 18. He elected free agency on November 2.
San Francisco Giants (2026)
On March 21, 2026, Borucki signed a one-year major league contract with the San Francisco Giants. In 21 appearances for San Francisco, he logged a 1-1 record and 4.94 ERA with 15 strikeouts across 23 and two-thirds innings pitched. He was designated for assignment by the Giants on May 31 and released on June 6, 2026, concluding his time with the organization.
Ryan Borucki Career Wins
Throughout his MLB career, Borucki has accumulated a 16-13 win-loss record with a 4.34 ERA and 229 strikeouts across his time with Toronto, Seattle, Pittsburgh, and San Francisco. His career has been marked by flashes of potential and periods of injury setbacks.
Toronto Blue Jays Highlights
Borucki’s most productive season came during his rookie year with the Blue Jays in 2018 when he went 4-6 with a 3.87 ERA and 11 quality starts. His most memorable start came on August 3, 2018, when he pitched eight innings of one unearned run baseball against the Seattle Mariners for his first career victory. His debut performance on June 26, 2018, against the Houston Astros showcased his potential, as he allowed only two runs over six innings despite taking the loss.
Pittsburgh Pirates Highlights
Borucki achieved career-best numbers with the Pirates in 2023, going 4-2 with a 2.45 ERA and 0.744 WHIP across 38 relief appearances. The season represented his most consistent stretch of healthy, effective pitching at the major league level.
Other Career Notes
Throughout his career, Borucki has demonstrated the ability to pitch effectively in various roles, from starting to relief work. His 2020 season with the Blue Jays saw him transition to the bullpen successfully, posting a 2.70 ERA in 21 appearances. His strikeout ability has remained consistent throughout his career, averaging nearly a strikeout per inning pitched at the major league level.
| Series | Wins | Losses | ERA | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB Career | 16 | 13 | 4.34 | 229 |
Ryan Borucki Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Borucki’s father, Raymond Borucki, was an infielder who signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as an undrafted free agent in 1979. However, Raymond never advanced beyond Triple-A ball, making Ryan the first member of the family to reach the major leagues. Growing up in the Chicago suburb of Mundelein, Borucki was a fan of the Chicago White Sox, drawing inspiration from the local MLB team during his youth in Illinois.
Personal Life
Borucki married his wife on October 5, 2020. The couple shares their home with an elf sphynx cat named Dobby, who has become a familiar presence and is featured on one of Borucki’s practice gloves. His personal life has remained relatively private despite his professional baseball career spanning multiple organizations and cities.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with Borucki on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Opening Day roster after re-signing with the organization on a minor league contract in January. He appeared in 35 games for Pittsburgh, logging a 1-3 record and 5.28 ERA with 27 strikeouts across 30 and two-thirds innings pitched. His struggles with consistency and health continued throughout the first half of the season.
In late August, Borucki was designated for assignment by the Pirates and released after clearing waivers. He subsequently signed with the Toronto Blue Jays, returning to the organization that originally drafted him in 2012. After a brief stint with Triple-A Buffalo, his contract was selected in early September. He made four scoreless appearances to close out the season with the Blue Jays, showing glimpses of his potential but not securing a guaranteed roster spot for the future.
Throughout his career, Borucki has demonstrated resilience in overcoming injuries and setbacks. Despite not achieving the ceiling many projected for him coming out of high school, he has carved out a viable major league career through adaptability and perseverance. As a free agent following the 2025 season, Borucki continues to pursue opportunities at the major league level, drawing on his experience with multiple organizations and his ability to contribute in various pitching roles.