Ryan Borucki adds depth and competition to a White Sox bullpen that still has multiple open spots heading into 2026.
The Chicago White Sox made another addition to their pitching depth on Sunday, agreeing to terms on a minor-league contract with left-handed pitcher Ryan Borucki.
Borucki grew up just north of Chicago in Mundelein, Illinois, and has been a lifelong Chicago sports fan—rooting for both the Bears and the White Sox. When he made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018, Borucki wore No. 56 in honor of his favorite player, Mark Buehrle.
It’s an easy fit, and one White Sox fans will have little trouble rooting for in 2026 if Borucki earns a roster spot.
A 15th-round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft out of Mundelein High School, Borucki worked his way through the minor leagues and eventually climbed into the top 10 of Toronto’s farm system. As noted, he made his big-league debut with the Blue Jays in 2018 and has since carved out a respectable MLB career.
Across eight seasons and three organizations—the Blue Jays, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Seattle Mariners—Borucki has appeared in 187 major-league games, posting a 15–12 record with a 4.28 ERA and 214 strikeouts over 256.1 innings.
He enjoyed early success as a starter, but has since settled into a bullpen role. Still, Borucki offers versatility, with experience as both a spot starter and a long-relief option.
That role remains very much up for grabs for the White Sox heading into 2026.
I initially thought veteran left-hander Sean Newcomb would be the favorite to claim that long-relief spot, which seemed like the logic behind Chicago bringing him in. But after hearing Newcomb discuss his goals for the upcoming season, it appears the organization is preparing to give him a real opportunity to compete for a rotation spot during spring training.
If Newcomb sticks in the rotation, that opens the door for someone like Borucki to make the club as the bullpen’s long left-hander.
The White Sox are likely to carry three lefties in their bullpen. Chris Murphy feels like a lock for one of those spots, but beyond that, competition should be fierce among pitchers like Brandon Eisert, Tyler Gilbert, Bryan Hudson—and now Borucki.
With more than 80 percent of his pitches coming via a sinker, slider, or splitter, Borucki thrives on inducing ground balls. That profile offers an intriguing change of pace compared to many of the current relief options on Chicago’s staff.
And that’s why Borucki appears to have a fairly clear path to cracking the 26-man roster—provided he takes care of business in spring training.