Ryan Borucki Bio
Ryan Joseph Borucki, born on March 31, 1994, in Mundelein, Illinois, is an American professional baseball pitcher. He has competed in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, and San Francisco Giants. A left-handed pitcher, Borucki has built his career as a reliever and spot starter, working through multiple organizations and recurring injury setbacks. His professional journey reflects persistence, as he has repeatedly returned to the majors after Tommy John surgery, bone spur procedures, forearm strains, and other arm-related issues.
Borucki was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 15th round of the 2012 MLB Draft after a standout high school career in Illinois. He signed for $426,000 and gave up a commitment to the University of Iowa. Over more than a decade in professional baseball, Borucki has pitched across the minor leagues and at the MLB level, most recently appearing in the big leagues with the San Francisco Giants in 2026 before being released. He is currently a free agent.
Early Life and Background
Ryan Joseph Borucki grew up in Mundelein, Illinois, a Chicago suburb located in Lake County. He attended Mundelein High School, where he developed into one of the top pitching prospects in the state. During his junior year, Borucki posted a 7-1 record with a 1.20 earned run average and 57 strikeouts, earning all-conference, all-Lake County, and all-academic honors. Prep Baseball Report rated him as the number one prospect in Illinois during that period, signaling his potential as a future professional pitcher.
Borucki’s senior season was disrupted by a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament, limiting his innings on the mound. Despite the injury, the Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the 15th round of the 2012 MLB Draft, valuing his upside and projectable frame. He chose to begin his professional career immediately, signing for $426,000 and passing on a college commitment to the University of Iowa.
Borucki’s father, Raymond, also had baseball ties. Raymond Borucki was an infielder who signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as an undrafted free agent in 1979, though he never advanced past Triple-A ball. Growing up, Ryan Borucki rooted for the Chicago White Sox, the local American League team for many Chicago-area fans.
Path to Professional Baseball
After signing with Toronto, Borucki was assigned to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Blue Jays. He pitched six innings and posted a 1-0 record with a 3.00 ERA before undergoing Tommy John surgery to repair his UCL, which caused him to miss the entire 2013 season. He returned in 2014 and split time between the Rookie Advanced Bluefield Blue Jays and the Low-A Vancouver Canadians, posting a combined 3-2 record with a 2.37 ERA and 52 strikeouts across 57 innings.
In 2016, Borucki struggled early at High-A Dunedin, posting a 14.40 ERA through six starts, but recovered after a reassignment to Single-A Lansing. With the Lansing Lugnuts, he made 20 starts and went 10-4 with a 2.41 ERA and 107 strikeouts, earning a place on Toronto’s 40-man roster after the season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. In 2017, he went 6-5 with a 3.58 ERA at Dunedin, then pitched well at Double-A New Hampshire and made a scoreless start at Triple-A Buffalo. Toronto named him Minor League Pitcher of the Year on October 5, 2017.
Ryan Borucki Career
Early Career (2012-2017)
Borucki’s development years were marked by injuries and gradual progression through Toronto’s farm system. After losing 2013 to Tommy John surgery, he spent several seasons working his way back, building arm strength and refining his command. His 2016 turnaround at Lansing demonstrated that his stuff had returned, and his 2017 performance across three levels confirmed he was ready for a major league opportunity.
The Blue Jays added Borucki to their 40-man roster after the 2016 season, a move that shielded him from the Rule 5 draft and signaled the organization’s belief in his future. By the end of 2017, with a Minor League Pitcher of the Year award in hand, Borucki had positioned himself as a top pitching prospect in Toronto’s system heading into the next spring.
Toronto Blue Jays Debut and Breakthrough (2018-2020)
Borucki made his Major League debut on June 26, 2018, at Minute Maid Park against the Houston Astros. He took a loss but allowed only two runs on six hits over six innings with three strikeouts, becoming the 12th pitcher in franchise history to throw at least six innings and allow two or fewer runs in his debut, and the first since Zach Stewart in 2011. His first start at Rogers Centre came on July 2 against Detroit, when he struck out eight batters over seven innings, tying Roy Halladay for the second-most strikeouts by a Blue Jays pitcher in a 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 over the Seattle Mariners. He finished his rookie season with a 4-6 record and a 3.87 ERA over 17 starts, 11 of which were quality starts, the most by any American League rookie that year. The Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America named him the Blue Jays’ Rookie of the Year for 2018.
Injuries interrupted his follow-up seasons. Borucki missed the first half of 2019 with elbow inflammation, later identified as a bone spur, and underwent surgery in August to remove bone spurs from his left arm, ending his season. During the 2020 COVID-19-shortened campaign, he lost out on a starting rotation spot to Anthony Kay but returned as a reliever, appearing in 21 games with a 1-1 record, a 2.70 ERA, and 21 strikeouts in 16.2 innings.
Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs (2022-2023)
Borucki signed a one-year, $825,000 contract with the Blue Jays on March 22, 2022, avoiding arbitration, but was designated for assignment on May 31. On June 4, 2022, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners for minor leaguer Tyler Keenan. With Seattle, Borucki made 21 appearances, going 2-0 with a 4.26 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 19 innings before a left forearm strain landed him on the injured list on August 8. He was outrighted off the 40-man roster after the season and elected free agency in November 2022.
On January 4, 2023, Borucki signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs. He struggled at Triple-A Iowa with a 12.00 ERA, had his contract selected on April 30, but was designated for assignment on May 2 without appearing in a game for Chicago. After clearing waivers and being outrighted, he elected free agency on May 7.
Pittsburgh Pirates Era (2023-2025)
Borucki signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 11, 2023, and after eight scoreless appearances at Triple-A Indianapolis, had his contract selected on June 18. He settled into the Pirates’ bullpen and finished 2023 with career bests in wins (4), ERA (2.45), and WHIP (0.744) over 38 appearances, his busiest major league season to date.
In 2024, Borucki agreed to a $1.6 million salary with the Pirates to avoid arbitration, but injuries limited him again. He was shut down in May after being diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome and missed most of the season, posting a 7.36 ERA across 14 games. He re-signed with Pittsburgh on a minor league deal in January 2025, made the Opening Day roster, and logged a 1-3 record with a 5.28 ERA in 35 appearances before being designated for assignment on August 15 and released after clearing waivers on August 18.
Return to Toronto and San Francisco (2025-2026)
Borucki returned to the Toronto Blue Jays on a minor league contract on August 25, 2025. After one scoreless appearance at Triple-A Buffalo, the Blue Jays selected his contract on September 2. He threw four scoreless innings for Toronto, striking out five, before being designated for assignment on September 15 following the promotion of Trey Yesavage. He cleared waivers and elected free agency on November 2, 2025.
After a brief stint with the Chicago White Sox in early 2026 that ended before Opening Day, Borucki signed a one-year major league contract with the San Francisco Giants on March 21, 2026. In 21 appearances for San Francisco, he went 1-1 with a 4.94 ERA and 15 strikeouts across 23.2 innings before being designated for assignment on May 31 and released on June 6. He is currently a free agent.
Notable Events and Milestones
Borucki’s biggest milestones came early in his career, headlined by his 2018 debut and his first win over Seattle. On September 22, 2021, he drew national attention by intentionally hitting Kevin Kiermaier of the Tampa Bay Rays, an incident that led to ejections and a three-game suspension later reduced to two. He has been named Blue Jays Rookie of the Year and Toronto’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year, and his career stats through 2026 include a 16-13 win-loss record, a 4.34 ERA, and 229 strikeouts.
Ryan Borucki Career Wins
Across his MLB career, Borucki has compiled a 16-13 win-loss record, a 4.34 ERA, and 229 strikeouts. The bulk of his wins have come in relief roles, with his most successful stretch occurring in 2023 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, when he recorded a career-high four wins and posted a 2.45 ERA across 38 appearances.
MLB Highlights
Borucki earned his first major league victory on August 3, 2018, tossing eight innings of one-unearned-run baseball in a 7-2 Blue Jays win over the Mariners. His most recent win came during his time with the San Francisco Giants in 2026. His career-best season statistically was 2023 with the Pirates, when his 2.45 ERA and 0.744 WHIP marked his strongest stretch at the major league level.
Minor League Highlights
Borucki’s most notable minor league season came in 2016, when he went 10-4 with a 2.41 ERA and 107 strikeouts at Single-A Lansing after a rough start at High-A Dunedin. His 2017 performance across High-A Dunedin, Double-A New Hampshire, and Triple-A Buffalo earned him Toronto’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year award.
Ryan Borucki Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Ryan Borucki’s father, Raymond Borucki, was an infielder who signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as an undrafted free agent in 1979. Raymond played in the Phillies system but never advanced past Triple-A ball. That family connection to professional baseball helped shape Ryan’s early interest in pitching.
Personal Life
Ryan Borucki married his wife on October 5, 2020. The couple owns an elf sphynx cat named Dobby, who is featured on one of Borucki’s practice gloves. He grew up in Mundelein, Illinois, and has remained connected to his Chicago-area roots throughout his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Borucki split the 2025 season between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Toronto Blue Jays. He opened the year on the Pirates’ roster, logging a 1-3 record with a 5.28 ERA and 27 strikeouts across 35 appearances and 30.2 innings before being designated for assignment on August 15 and released on August 18.
On August 25, 2025, Borucki signed a minor league contract with the Blue Jays, the organization that originally drafted him. After one scoreless outing at Triple-A Buffalo, Toronto selected his contract on September 2. He delivered four scoreless appearances, striking out five across 4.1 innings, before being designated for assignment on September 15 following the promotion of top prospect Trey Yesavage. He cleared waivers and elected free agency on November 2.
Across all MLB appearances in 2025, Borucki worked primarily in low-leverage relief, providing depth for two organizations. His late-season return to Toronto offered a brief homecoming, though the September roster move cut his season short. Heading into 2026, Borucki was a free agent looking to secure another major league opportunity.
