Former Mundelein grad ready to pitch for hometown crowd

He wears uniform No. 56 because his boyhood idol did.

He works quickly on the mound, pumps strikes and retires hitters without mid-90s heat - just like his boyhood idol did.

Ryan Borucki even throws left-handed because ... well, the fact that Mark Buehrle did too is just coincidence.

And on Sunday, when he takes the mound for the Toronto Blue Jays at Guaranteed Rate Field to face the White Sox, Borucki will be able to look up at the 300 level to his right and see "56 Buehrle" on the short wall of the first deck.

In his first trip to Chicago as a major-league baseball player on Friday, he took a moment to enjoy the view.

"I went out there and threw a side (session) and got to see '56 Buehrle' (retired White Sox number) up there," said Borucki, the 24-year-old rookie and 2012 Mundelein High School graduate who made his big-league debut this summer. "It's cool just to look around this park and actually be on the field, instead of being in the seats."

Funny how it's all worked out.

Borucki, who grew up a White Sox fan, last pitched on Tuesday, allowing 2 unearned runs in 6 innings against Minnesota. It was his fourth quality start in 5 starts as a big-leaguer. He wasn't scheduled to pitch this weekend against the White Sox.

But when the Blue Jays decided to keep starting pitcher Marco Estrada (blister on his throwing hand) on the disabled list and push back his start to Monday against Oakland, manager John Gibbons decided to give his young lefty a chance to pitch in front of family and friends.

"Someone said that he would love the opportunity, but I was like, 'If Marco's back (from the DL), it's not going to happen,' " Gibbons said. "Sure enough, the baseball gods step in.

"They do all the time," Gibbons added, smiling wide.

And Borucki can't wait.

"It will be a dream come true," Borucki said. "I've come to this park many, many times to watch. Pitching in this stadium will be awesome in front of all my friends and family that have supported me throughout when I was at Mundelein."

It's been a long journey for the kid who grew up just a short distance away in the northern suburbs. A year after graduating from Mundelein, Borucki, who was drafted by Toronto in the 15th round in 2012, underwent Tommy John surgery. Just a little more than a year ago, he was still in Class A.

"I was a two-pitch pitcher (fastball, changeup) for a while," Borucki said.

But then he developed a slider. He was suddenly on the fast track, finishing 2017 in Class AAA Buffalo, and that's where he started this season. The Blue Jays called him up to start against the reigning World Series champion Astros on June 26 in Houston, he allowed 2 runs in 6 innings and, sans one rough start against the hard-hitting Red Sox, he's pitched consistently well.

Borucki was sent down to Class AAA before the all-star break, but only to throw a couple of bullpens. He was promoted again this week.

"How he throws is exactly how you want to teach somebody to throw a baseball, especially from the left side," Blue Jays catcher Luke Maile said. "It's an old-school approach in that he relies mainly on a sinker and a changeup. He's got that pitcher's type body. He's got good angle on it. He's able to throw strikes with all of his pitches. His command is plus. He's got a bright future ahead of him, and we're lucky to have him."

Borucki has gotten hitters out with a two-seam fastball (89-92 mph), changeup and slider. In 29 innings, he's struck out 23, walked 10 and posted a 2.79 ERA. He'll be looking for his first big-league win (0-2 record) when he throws against the White Sox.

"When you come up, any level, you don't really know how your stuff is going to play," Borucki said. "I'm just pitching with confidence."

He's also appreciating his opportunity, listening and acting like he belongs.

"He's a consummate professional already," Maile said. "He gives off that aura. One of the things that I'm impressed with is the way he's handled the small amount of adversity he's had. He's been in a lot of tough spots early in games, and he's found a way to chew up innings and make good things happen for us."

What would you expect from a kid who idolized Buehrle? Buehrle happened to be pitching for the Blue Jays late in his career when Borucki was drafted, and their paths nearly crossed one spring training.

"I was just watching his bullpen, and then when he went out to the mound I watched how he worked and attacked hitters," Borucki said. "I never talked to him because I was too afraid. I was just a little high school kid. I didn't want to bother him."

On Sunday, below that "56 Buehrle" sign, a grown-up Ryan Borucki will try to do his best Mark Buehrle impression.

Mundelein will be watching.

"I have a lot of pride in where I come from and that program," said Borucki, the first MHS player to make it to the major leagues. "To be able to represent them this way means a lot."