Pirates Select Contract of LHP Borucki; Hernandez Placed on 15-Day IL

The Pittsburgh Pirates have selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Ryan Borucki from Triple-A Indianapolis. To make room on the 26-man roster, the Pirates placed left-handed pitcher Jose Hernandez on the 15-Day IL with a right calf strain.

Borucki elected free agency from the Chicago Cubs on May 7, 2023, and then signed a minor league contract with the Pirates on May 9.

The 29-year-old lefty was drafted in the 15th round in the 2012 amateur draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, and he stayed in their system until 2022 when he was designated for assignment and picked up by the Seattle Mariners.

Borucki’s stint with Seattle didn’t last long as he elected free agency from them in November of ’22.

The lefty has played a total of 75 games in the majors (19 starts) and has pitched a total of 170 innings in his five-year span between Toronto and Seattle.

Borucki holds a career ERA of 4.45.

I can see why the Pirates like Borucki, as he offers mainly a sinker (50.4% usage) in his three-pitch arsenal. In addition, Borucki throws a slider (38.6%) and a changeup (11.1%).

Borucki’s sinker in ’22 averaged 95.1 mph, but it was his slider that had the most effect, with a whiff% of 42.5%. Granted, this is based on 21 games (19 innings).

In ’23, Borucki pitched in eight games for the Pirates Triple-A affiliate and posted a 1-0 record with three hits given up, no earned runs, six walks, and four strikeouts in 8.1 innings pitched.