KRIS BUBIC NEWS

Giancarlo Stanton hits go-ahead homer in the eighth, Yankees beat Royals 3-2 in Game 3 of the ALDS

Giancarlo Stanton hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning, and the New York Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 in Game 3 of their AL Division Series at Kauffman Stadium

OCTOBER 10 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Steps in for save Bubic picked up the save Sunday against Atlanta, allowing one hit and no walks with one strikeout across a scoreless ninth inning.

Impact The Royals opted for Bubic in the ninth inning instead of regular closer Lucas Erceg, resulting in Bubic's first save of 2024. Erceg hasn't pitched since Thursday, though that outing was Erceg's third time pitching in as many days. Bubic should see high-leverage work in the postseason but save opportunities are still expected to go to Erceg.

SEPTEMBER 30 • ROTOWIRE

Secures first win Bubic (1-1) allowed a hit and struck out two over a scoreless inning to earn the win Thursday over the Nationals.

Impact Bubic has limited opponents to two unearned runs over his last 10 innings while posting a 15:2 K:BB in that span. He kept Thursday's game tied at 4-4 in the eighth inning before the Royals surged ahead in the ninth. Bubic has a 2.76 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 38:5 K:BB over 29.1 innings while adding seven holds this season. He's handled the transition from starter to reliever well and should be part of the Royals' high-leverage mix if they make the postseason.

SEPTEMBER 27 • ROTOWIRE

Frazier's pinch-hit, 2-run single lifts the Royals to a series sweep of the Nationals

The Kansas City Royals completed a series sweep with a 7-4 victory over the Washington Nationals

SEPTEMBER 26 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bobby Witt Jr. passes 100 RBIs for the season as the Royals beat the Pirates 5-1

Bobby Witt Jr. drove in his 100th run of the season with a solo homer in the first inning, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1

SEPTEMBER 14 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Falters in extra innings Bubic (0-1) took the extra-innings loss and a blown save versus the Yankees on Wednesday, allowing two unearned runs on one hit and one walk over 1.1 innings.

Impact Bubic gave up a game-tying sacrifice fly in the 10th inning and then surrendered a walk-off single to Jazz Chisholm in the 11th. The initial runner scored both times, so this outing won't hurt Bubic's ERA, which stands at 3.42 on the year. He's added a 1.14 WHIP and 29:4 K:BB through 23.2 innings, and his impressive control has earned him the opportunity to pitch in high-leverage situations recently. He's added six holds this year, though he also has three blown saves.

SEPTEMBER 12 • ROTOWIRE

Yankees edge Royals 4-3 in 11 innings on infield single by Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a game-ending infield single with one out in the 11th inning and the New York Yankees outlasted the Kansas City Royals for a 4-3 victory

SEPTEMBER 12 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Collects hold Sunday Bubic struck out one over a perfect inning to earn his sixth hold of the year in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Twins.

Impact While he's allowed six runs on 13 hits over his last nine innings, Bubic has more frequently received high-leverage assignments. In that same span, he has five holds and a blown save while adding 11 strikeouts. The southpaw is now at a 3.80 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 27:3 K:BB through 21.1 innings this year, working exclusively out of the bullpen following his return from Tommy John surgery in April of 2023. While he's seen more setup work, Bubic shouldn't be considered a threat to Lucas Erceg as the Royals' closer.

SEPTEMBER 9 • ROTOWIRE

Wacha tosses 7 innings of 4-hit ball, Royals top Twins 2-0 for sweep of closest AL wild-card pursuer

Michael Wacha pitched seven innings of four-hit ball, Garrett Hampson and Salvador Perez drove in runs and the Royals beat the Twins 2-0 on Sunday to complete a series sweep

SEPTEMBER 8 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Perfect in debut Bubic struck out two during a perfect inning in a 10-1 win over the Rockies on Sunday.

Impact Bubic made his first MLB appearance since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April of 2023 and didn't show any rust. He retired the side in the ninth inning and punched out both Jacob Stallings and Michael Toglia. Though Bubic has almost exclusively worked as a starter throughout his career, he's expected to serve in a multi-inning relief role for the back half of the 2024 campaign.

JULY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Bubic embraces new role in return from injury This story was excerpted from Anne Rogers’ Royals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularl...

JULY 7 • MLB.COM

Back from injured list The Royals reinstated Bubic (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Saturday.

Impact Bubic has been on the injured list all season while working his way back from a Tommy John procedure he underwent last April. In nine rehab appearances with Triple-A Omaha, the 26-year-old lefty posted a 2.63 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 27.1 innings. He'll transition to the bullpen as he returns to Kansas City and will likely serve in a multi-inning relief role. Walter Pennington was optioned to Omaha in order to make room on the active roster, and Colin Selby was DFA'd to clear a 40-man spot.

JULY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Back from injured list The Royals reinstated Bubic (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Saturday.

Impact Bubic has been on the injured list all season while working his way back from the Tommy John procedure he underwent last April. In nine rehab appearances with Triple-A Omaha, the 26-year-old lefty posted a 2.63 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 27.1 innings. He'll transition to the bullpen as he returns to Kansas City and will likely serve in a multi-inning relief role. Walter Pennington was optioned to Omaha in order to make room on the active roster, and Colin Selby was DFA'd to clear a 40-man spot.

JULY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Excels in Double-A rehab start Bubic (elbow) struck out three and allowed one hit and zero walks over three scoreless innings in his rehab start Sunday for Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

Impact After a trio of rehab outings in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, Bubic was shifted to Double-A over the weekend and was unfazed by higher-caliber competition. He needed just 36 pitches to retire nine batters, doing so while allowing just one baserunner. Bubic's 30-day rehab window will come to a close in the first week of June, but the Royals haven't yet decided what role he'll fill once he's activated from the 60-day injured list. While he looks as though he'll get stretched out for starting duty, Bubic could have to settle for a long-relief role if No. 5 starter Alec Marsh continues to thrive in the Kansas City rotation.

MAY 22 • ROTOWIRE

Royals starter Kris Bubic making strides in return from Tommy John surgery Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Bubic is close to throwing off a mound this spring.

FEBRUARY 8 • KANSASCITY.COM

Avoids arbitration with KC Bubic signed a one-year, $2.35 million contract with the Royals on Tuesday, avoiding arbitration.

Impact Bubic made only three starts last season before undergoing Tommy John surgery in April, but he'll get a $150,000 raise in 2024, his second year of arbitration eligibility. The left-hander should be able to return to a major-league mound around the All-Star break.

DECEMBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Transferred to 60-day IL Bubic (elbow) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list by the Royals on Wednesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Impact It's a procedural move that removes Bubic from the 40-man roster and allows the Royals to select the contract of Austin Cox from Triple-A Iowa. Bubic underwent Tommy John surgery at the end of April, and the left-hander isn't expected back until the summer months of the 2024 campaign.

MAY 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Undergoes surgery Bubic (elbow) announced Wednesday via his personal Instagram account that he had successful Tommy John surgery.

Impact With his surgery having now been completed, the 25-year-old lefty is in line to miss the remainder of the 2023 season and a large portion of the 2024 campaign as well. Ryan Yarbrough served as a primary pitcher out of the bullpen the first time Bubic's turn in the rotation came up last week, but Yarbrough will work in a traditional starting role Wednesday in Arizona.

APRIL 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Royals lefty Kris Bubic to have Tommy John surgery

Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic will have Tommy John surgery next week

APRIL 22, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Royals LHP Kris Bubic to have Tommy John surgery Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic will have season-ending Tommy John surgery, the team said Friday.

APRIL 21, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Royals lose Bubic to Tommy John surgery Kris Bubic's season ended before it ever really got started. The Royals lefty is scheduled to undergo full ulnar collateral ligament reconst...

APRIL 21, 2023 • MLB.COM

Royals left-hander Kris Bubic to have Tommy John surgery, likely to miss season Royals left-hander Kris Bubic will have Tommy John surgery, which means he’ll face a lengthy recovery period.

APRIL 21, 2023 • KANSASCITY.COM

Requires Tommy John surgery Bubic will undergo Tommy John surgery on his left elbow, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Impact The news puts an early end to Bubic's season, and he will likely be held out for a good portion of the 2024 season as well. The Royals have not yet named a replacement for Bubic in the rotation, but Ryan Yarbrough figures to be a prime candidate for the job.

APRIL 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Needs second opinion Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Bubic will require a second opinion on his elbow after he was diagnosed Sunday with a left flexor strain, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Impact Bubic was placed on the 15-day injured list after initial tests revealed the flexor strain, but Quatraro notes that the Royals still have some "underlying concerns' about the health of the lefty's elbow and will have him get another checkup. The Royals are expected to have an updated timeline on Bubic's return later Monday once the second medical opinion is completed, but the southpaw looks like he could be at risk of missing more than the minimum 15 days.

APRIL 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

KC Royals place Kris Bubic on injured list but have time to make decision on rotation The Royals placed left-handed starter Kris Bubic on the injured list and recalled lefty reliever Josh Taylor from Class AAA Omaha.

APRIL 16, 2023 • KANSASCITY.COM