The Blue Jays have shut left-hander Ryan Borucki down due to tightness in his left elbow, tweets TSN’s Scott Mitchell. The plan is to re-evalute the 25-year-old within the next few days, but it’s clearly an ominous development after Borucki was limited to just two MLB appearances in 2019 due to elbow troubles. General manager Ross Atkins said that an MRI on Borucki has not revealed any structural damage (Twitter link via Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi).
Borucki isn’t a household name outside of Toronto, but he’s been viewed as an important piece for the Jays as they look to emerge from a rebuilding effort. The former high school draftee ranked among Toronto’s top 20 prospects from 2014-17 before making an impressive big league debut in 2018 when he posted a 3.87 ERA in 17 starts. That season saw Borucki total 97 2/3 innings while averaging 6.2 K/9, 3.0 BB/9 and 0.65 HR/9 with a 46.8 percent ground-ball rate.
The Blue Jays invested heavily in pitching this winter, signing free agents Hyun-Jin Ryu (four years, $80MM) and Tanner Roark (two years, $24MM) in addition to trading for Brewers righty Chase Anderson. That trio was expected to be joined by a returning Matt Shoemaker — who was excellent early in 2019 prior to tearing his ACL — and Borucki. Now, however, it’s difficult to forecast that Borucki will be a go to break camp in the Toronto rotation — or even on the active roster.
Toronto isn’t shy on alternative options. The Jays also signed Japanese righty Shun Yamaguchi this winter, and the former Yomiuri Giant has experience as both a starter and a reliever. Trent Thornton, who paced the Jays in innings pitched last year, remains in the mix. The Blue Jays also have several young options on the cusp of MLB readiness; each of Anthony Kay, Sean Reid-Foley, Jacob Waguespack and T.J. Zeuch has already gotten his feet wet in the Majors and could be in line for a look. Others on the 40-man roster include Thomas Hatch, Yennsy Diaz, Hector Perez and Julian Merryweather.
Whoever opens the season in the fifth spot could end up serving as a mere placeholder anyhow. The Jays have one of baseball’s premier pitching prospects in right-hander Nate Pearson. He and his triple-digit fastball are expected to make their big league debut at some point during the 2020 campaign.
shame this guy is made of glass. the talent is certainly there
Damn, hopefully nothing serious. The kids been Battling back, trying to rehab that elbow for over a year now.
I thought Borucki would have to get past Thornton and Kay for the rotation and by no means had been pencilled in as fifth starter like the article suggests.
Also, is Shoemaker expected to be ready for Opening Day now?
Shoemaker is up and throwing. He is expected to be ready as of now.
Shoemaker threw a side session yesterday along with Ryu and Aumont
blow it up!
What’s new with McGuire? Is he banned from the Dollar Tree?
He was just hanging out……
no, Dollar Tree has a sale on Reece’s Pieces though…
Banned from the back page
So it’s time to go to the pen or call it quits cause he can’t make it past week one of training camp
Unfortunately repeat of a year ago. Borucki showed promise in 2018. Hoping this will be a minor setback.
Unfortunately I don’t think so. When the issue repeats over and over, ESPECIALLY if it’s your arm, and you’re a pitcher, they tend to just keep happening.
Was very hopeful he would bounceback from the injury riddled year last year. 2018 looked like he could be a decent mid to back end arm.
Too bad. Had Tommy John half a dozen years ago, and had surgery in the fall to remove bone spurs. Hopefully its just precautionary.
Blue Jays have more than enough pitching depth to get by while he recovers. If their offense can come together, they should have a formidable squad this year.
More than enough pitching depth? Not even close.
His 2018 numbers were a solid # 3 in the AL, that is more then nothing
They have five major league ready guys who will be starting in Buffalo. The depth is definitely there. All of them might not put up major league numbers right away but the depth is exponentially better than what they’ve had the past couple of years.
Name the 5.
Wajgh…exactly. name the 5. They don’t have anywhere near enough depth.
Pearson, Reid-Foley, Trent Thornton, Waguespack, Merriweather, Anthony Kay, Zuech, which is seven pitchers the Jays can draw on in case of injury. That doesn’t include Pannone, Romano, Diaz, Hatch, Murphy, or Perez that are all on the Jays forty-man roster. Others that could be added are Richardson, plus others that could move up quickly from High A and Double A like Manoah and Williams.. Some of those are destined for the bullpen, but they can also be used in other ways. Don’t you just hate it when facts contradict your bias? lol.
I wouldn’t include Merryweather, I’d limit him to the bullpen if he survives the 40 man crunch.
Gross
Why is that Goat, did ya not see him pitching in the AFL??? He looked really good!!!
I hope he performs. But those were only 6 innings. It was nice to see him throwing hard in his brief stint, I just don’t consider him an arm you can count on. Maybe he’ll be a good reliever though. I think that’s best case scenario.
Hey ashley amongst all those names you listed how many MLB IP do they all have combined? Did you say something about depth?! Get real.
MLB IP doesn’t have much to do with depth. You’ll be hard pressed to find many organizations that have what, three guys with considerable time in the majors who they can stash in AAA. Having MLB ready prospects is better than having guys like Edwin Jackson or Mat Latos or Mike Hauschild, like they have in recent years. They do have SP depth. Who cares how many ML innings said depth has thrown?
Minor leaguers are not depth. End of conversation. And the question wasnt do they have more depth than before, it was do they have enough…and they do not. Nice straw man.
Lol ok great philosophy
Ashley – What facts?
Pearson when he’s given a chance is 1. Thornton is currently in the starting rotation so why include him? Reid-Foley is major league ready? In 2018, 2019 or now?
Waguespack has been quit on. Kay is turning 26 and can’t throw strikes (like Reid-Foley). Zeuch has been an above average minor leaguer. That’s not major league material. Merryweather is awful and pushing 30.
Still can’t name 5. Pearson and Waguespack would make 2 and if Kay figures it out it would be 3. Relievers you mentioned can’t be counted since some of them are probably making the team while others aren’t ready for the majors (Hatch, Murphy, Perez).
ML ready doesn’t mean they have to be stars.
Ability to get through 5 innings is nice but after last season, I’m happy with guys that can go 3.
Just wanna see a few arms progress, not expecting a shutdown playoff rotation here.
Look at some of the pitching used by last season’s playoff teams.
Look at some of the pitching used by last season’s Blue Jays.
Can’t throw strikes doesn’t mean Kay or Reid-Foley aren’t ready.
Above average minor leaguer is exactly major league material, not expecting Zeuch to throw no-hitters at the ML level but he can get through a few innings in a pinch. And he might even be one that progresses?
Teams generally don’t have a rotation full of aces.
Why hold the Jays to a higher standard than the rest of the non-contenders?
Merryweather is a recovery project, all about potential, any of his awfulness has to be taken with a grain of salt. He seems ahead of last year.
Diaz threw some strong AA innings and should be ready for the next test, not as elite as Pearson, but not too far behind. Could give us a spot start in a pinch seems safe to say
Yamaguchi seems like he was brought in as a flex option.
Similar to Wilmer Font.
60-70 innings per week is needed, and I’m expecting to see 5-10 come from Font and Yamaguchi. Bulk relievers count if we’re talking depth.
Ryu, Roark, Anderson, Shoemaker, Thornton.
Then
Pearson, Kay, Zeuch, Diaz, Font/Yamaguchi.
And
Waguespack, Reid-Foley, Perez, Hatch, Murphy, Pannone in bigger pinches.
Be dismissive all you want but it just makes you look like a negative Nelly or a secret Yankee fan.
Get on this Blue Jays bandwagon before it starts to fly again!
Go Jays.
Truth is his numbers were never anything special in 2018.
Put a fork in him.
Put a fork in him?
He had an ERA+ of 110 as a 24 yr old rookie. That’s pretty good. And he had good years in the high minors in 2017 and 2018.
He had a decent rookie campaign but like I said its nothing special. Move on. He was a huge health risk coming into 2020 anyway, that’s why I’m not too worried about “losing” him. I hope this issue is not substantial but thats not what people are saying…
People? Are you taking to “Mr. ScoutsEyes” again?? Lol
I’m not “taking” to anyone. Listen to the local media guys especially TSN. Hey I dont believe most of it but sometimes theres fire where there’s smoke. Borucki is potentially done for good. Sad story tbh. But it happens.
Done for good? where you getting your info? His MRI came up clean, he is experiencing a bit of tightness, so of course he is done LOL you need to take some baseball 101 classes and cut back on those cold beer!
You’ll see and you can apologize later.
TSN stopped talking about the leafs for a minute?
Steve Phillips still the baseball analyst? Headline hunter usually.
Nice optimism JaysFan. Good to have. I’m trying to be optimistic too. Coming off elbow problems and then more problems before Valentine’s Day is not a good look. This is very bad.