CINCINNATI -- Another day, another Blue Jays reunion at Great American Ball Park.
Seeking to strengthen its late-inning options against left-handed batters in high-leverage situations, Toronto on Tuesday selected southpaw Ryan Borucki from its Triple-A Buffalo roster.
Borucki was designated for assignment on Aug. 15 by Pittsburgh after pitching to a 1-3 mark and a 5.28 ERA in 35 games with Pirates.
Borucki was picked up shortly thereafter by the team that gave him his professional start, as the Blue Jays signed him on Aug. 25. He reported to Buffalo and pitched last Wednesday, earning the win while recording five outs and allowing one hit, one walk and a hit batter.
Borucki’s real value is in retiring left-handed batters. With Pittsburgh, he fanned 14 of the 60 left-handers he faced, holding them to a .132 batting average and posting a 0.75 WHIP.
“I think [Blue Jays manager John Schneider] knows what I'm really good at doing and what I've kind of struggled [with] in my career, and he knows I'm very good, very effective against lefties,” Borucki said before Tuesday night’s game in Cincinnati. “And so I feel like he'll probably use me in the way that he knows that is going to be the most successful.”
Borucki’s arrival comes one day after Isiah Kiner-Falefa was added for infield position roster depth. Borucki is looking forward to the adrenaline of pitching in a playoff race with a team that is trying to hold onto first place in the American League East and hold off the Yankees and Red Sox.
“This is different than when I was with the Pirates,” Borucki admitted. “I mean, every game matters here now, and he'll be putting me in spots that he knows probably you're going to succeed in. So just go do my job.”
The 31-year-old Borucki is not only returning to a team he pitched for from 2018 through the Trade Deadline in ‘22 before a trade to Seattle, but he’s also pitching for a manager that knows him very well. Schneider was Borucki’s manager when he made his pro debut with the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays in 2012.
“This started in the GCL. And now, it's very cool,” Borucki said. “I've seen him grow. He's seen me grow. He's seen me as an 18-year-old kid, and now he's seen me as a 31-year-old. He's probably the longest relationship I've had in this game. To think he's the only guy that was on that GCL team that's probably still going at it, and he's probably the longest relationship I've had in this game.”
“GCL, yeah, pretty cool. I talked to him when we signed him,” Schneider said. “Obviously, when he was in Triple-A, and then again [Monday] and today. Good to catch up with him. Familiar face, a guy you trust, and can get lefties out. So really, really happy to have that.”
To make room for Borucki on the 28-man roster, lefty Easton Lucas was optioned to Buffalo.