Better know your Blue Jays 40-man: Ryan Borucki

Ryan Borucki first came up to the Blue Jays in late-June of the 2018 season. Before the season, we had him #6 on our top prospect list, so when he had a 3.87 ERA in 17 starts, we weren’t surprised.

Unfortunately, 2019 was a lost season, missing much of it after surgery for bone spurs. He made two starts in late July, and they didn’t go well, giving up 10 runs in 6.2 innings.

Last year Borucki didn’t make the opening day roster but was up a few days later. He spent the season being a 1 inning (or less) reliever. He pitched in 21 games and went an inning or more (went 1.1 twice) 11 times. He had a 2.70 ERA. In 16.2 innings, he allowed 12 hits, 12 walks (6.48/9) with 21 strikeouts (11.34/9). Batters hit .200/.329/.300 against him. He was much better vs. LHB (.125/.275/.156) than RHP (.286/.394/.464).

By Fangraphs, last year he didn’t throw his four-seam fastball, going with a sinker (47.8% of the time, throwing it 95.1 MPH), slider (37.9%, 87.9 MPH), and changeup (14.3%, 85.3 MPH)

He’d be the perfect LOOGY if we were allowed to have a one-out reliever.

PECOTA figures Ryan to pitch in 57 games, all out of the pen, for a total of 48 innings with a 4.39 ERA. They also think he’ll walk fewer (3.79/9) and strikeout less (8.87/9).

ZiPS sees 30 games, but 17 starts, with a 4.77 ERA. I’m pretty sure he won’t be making 17 starts.

If the Jays are going to have Anthony Kay start with the Bisons, his competition for lefty in the pen will be non-roster invites Francisco Liriano and Tim Mayza (and they might go with more than one left).