The White Sox are bringing in a familiar face with some big-league mileage, signing left-hander Ryan Borucki to a minor league deal that includes an invite to Spring Training. For Borucki, it’s a bit of a homecoming - the 29-year-old grew up just north of Chicago in Mundelein, Illinois. Now, he’s getting a shot to carve out a role in a White Sox bullpen that’s short on experience and long on opportunity.
With eight MLB seasons under his belt, Borucki arrives as one of the more seasoned arms in a relief group that’s still very much in flux. The Sox are clearly in rebuild mode, and that means innings are up for grabs - especially for younger pitchers trying to prove they belong.
But that doesn’t mean there’s no room for a veteran. If Borucki can flash some of the form he’s shown in stretches throughout his career, he could be a stabilizing presence in a bullpen that’s still finding its identity.
The left-handed relief depth chart in Chicago is far from settled. Brandon Eisert and Tyler Gilbert are likely the top southpaw options heading into camp, but both had uneven performances in 2025. That opens the door for Borucki, who not only brings experience but also offers a different look - especially if he can get back to keeping the ball on the ground and limiting damage.
That said, Borucki’s not walking into this situation with a guaranteed spot. He’s got plenty to prove.
Right-handed hitters have given him trouble throughout his career, and keeping the ball in the park has been a persistent challenge. Over 256 1/3 career innings in the majors, he’s posted a 4.28 ERA with a 19.7% strikeout rate and an 8.9% walk rate.
Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but they’re serviceable - and when he’s been at his best, he’s leaned on a ground-ball-heavy approach to get outs. From 2021 to 2025, he logged a solid 51.8% ground-ball rate over 135 1/3 innings, a sign that when he’s locating well and staying ahead in counts, he can be effective.
Last season was a bit of a rollercoaster for Borucki. He split time between the Pirates and Blue Jays, putting up a 4.63 ERA with a 22% strikeout rate and an 11% walk rate over 35 innings.
A back injury sidelined him for about six weeks, and roster shuffling kept him on the move. He started the year on a minor league deal with Pittsburgh, but after being released in August, he returned to Toronto - the team that originally drafted and developed him - on another minor league pact.
He made four appearances with the Jays before being designated for assignment and ultimately outrighted in September.
Now, Borucki gets a fresh start with a team that could use some veteran steadiness in the bullpen. There’s no guarantee he breaks camp with the big league club, but the opportunity is real.
If he can stay healthy and find some consistency in his command, there’s a path for him to contribute - especially as the Sox look to blend development with some much-needed stability. For a team in transition, arms like Borucki’s could end up playing a bigger role than expected.