Ryan Borucki is no stranger to having to work his way onto a major-league roster. Back in 2023, he entered spring training with the Cubs as a non-roster invitee and had to scratch and claw for a big-league opportunity. 

Borucki didn't break camp with the big-league club that year, but he stayed the course, overcame being designated for assignment in May and ended up landing in Pittsburgh where he had a breakout season out of the bullpen. 

Now, two years later, Borucki is coming off a challenging 2024 season that included a significant injury, a setback and then he struggled upon his return. He returned to the Pirates this offseason on a minor-league deal and is competing for a roster spot as a non-roster invitee with his sights set on regaining his 2023 form and a big-league role.

"Just gotta go out and control what you can control," Borucki said Wednesday. "I have to make good pitches and keep getting better outing to outing. That's really all you can do. You can only do so much with stuff out of your control, so you gotta go out there, just keep pitching and being available." 

Borucki was initially placed on the injured list with left triceps inflammation in April and his 2024 season quickly turned into a year plagued by that injury. He spent nearly five months recovering, enduring rehab stints down in Class AAA Indianapolis and fighting to work his way back before ultimately returning in September. 

During that final month of the season, Borucki didn't find favorable results over the course of 10 appearances. He allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits with four walks and seven strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings. It wasn't the production he was looking for, but at that point, Borucki was simply happy to be on a major-league mound. 

"It was just more of the perspective of it. I was coming off a really good year the season prior, and had a good start in the first series, but the arm just didn't bounce back," Borucki said. "It's just a very frustrating four months with a lot of trial and error stuff. Obviously, I didn't finish the way I wanted to, but it was more reflecting on how I was more happy just to be able to pitch and be healthy again, rather than sitting on the bad results that I had. It was just more motivating going into the offseason to get better, and yeah, kinda bounce back and have a year like I did in 2023." 

The Pirates could certainly benefit from Borucki making the team and replicating the success he had back in 2023. That year, he compiled a 4-0 record with a 2.45 ERA and a 0.74 WHIP in 38 appearances. He limited opposing hitters to a .183 batting average and totaled 33 strikeouts with just four walks in 40 1/3 innings. 

"We saw Borucki at the end of '23, he was one of the best left-on-left guys, or best left-handed relievers in baseball," Derek Shelton said. "It's just making sure he stays healthy, making sure he's able to execute pitches at the bottom half of the zone. When he does that, he's really effective." 

The Pirates have plenty of left-handed options aiming to carve out roles within their bullpen, and Borucki is certainly in the conversation. He's made four appearances so far this spring and has given up just one unearned run in four innings. He's allowed two hits, walked five and struck out four. On Wednesday against the Blue Jays, he surrendered a hit and picked up a strikeout in a scoreless inning of work. 

Most importantly, though, Borucki feels healthy. He had a productive offseason and put himself in a good position to compete for a big-league role and potentially thrive in it.

"I've definitely been making some good adjustments this offseason, getting more consistent," Borucki said. "I've been throwing some good pitches, staying down more in the zone. I'm throwing a new splitter and my sweeper has gotten a lot better than years prior. So, I'm getting on it. Every outing I'm getting better."