The Chicago White Sox have officially signed left-handed pitcher Ryan Borucki to a minor league contract, which also includes an invitation to participate in the team's Spring Training camp. This move is particularly significant for Borucki, as he hails from Mundelein, Illinois, located just north of Chicago, making this a sort of homecoming for him.
Having accumulated eight seasons of experience in Major League Baseball (MLB), Borucki is expected to contribute valuable veteran insight to the White Sox's relatively young bullpen. While the organization remains focused on developing its newer pitchers during this rebuilding phase, having an experienced player like Borucki could be beneficial. If he performs well enough during Spring Training, he might secure a spot on the main roster. Notably, Brandon Eisert and Tyler Gilbert, who are likely the top two left-handed options in the Sox's bullpen, had lackluster performances in 2025, highlighting the need for additional depth in their pitching lineup that Borucki can provide.
However, Borucki has his work cut out for him. He needs to demonstrate improvement, particularly against right-handed batters, as past difficulties in this area and a tendency to give up home runs have contributed to inconsistent outcomes in his career. Across 256 and one-third innings pitched in the majors, he maintains a 4.28 earned run average (ERA) alongside a strikeout rate of 19.7% and a walk rate of 8.9%. Despite his struggles with home runs, it's worth noting that he has effectively limited fly balls, boasting a ground ball rate of 51.8% from 2021 to 2025.
In the 2025 season, Borucki recorded a 4.63 ERA with a strikeout rate of 22% and a walk rate of 11% over 35 innings split between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays. His season was interrupted by a back injury that kept him sidelined for approximately six weeks. After signing a minor league contract with Pittsburgh last winter, he was later picked up by Toronto—his original team—after being released by the Pirates in August. However, his time with the Blue Jays was also short-lived, as he was designated for assignment and subsequently outrighted in September after making four appearances in the majors.
