Royals Make Kris Bubic Decision on Wednesday

Kansas City began Bubic's rehab process on June 9, when he made his Triple-A debut for Omaha. The outing lasted just 1.1 innings, as he allowed six runs, five earned, on eight hits while throwing 49 pitches.

Bubic also experienced shoulder discomfort following that appearance. The Royals shut him down and sent him for additional testing, creating another delay in his recovery process.

An MRI later showed no structural damage to either his elbow or shoulder. With no new injury detected, Bubic resumed throwing and continued building toward another rehab assignment.

The next step came on June 21 when he completed a two-inning bullpen session. Following that outing, the Royals cleared him to return to game action with Omaha.

Bubic's recent injury history has led Kansas City to take a cautious approach with his recovery. During the 2025 season, he made 20 starts and posted a 2.55 ERA with 116 strikeouts across 116.1 innings before a left rotator cuff strain ended his season. His performance earned the first All-Star selection of his major-league career.

The left-hander also underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023. Between the surgery, the shoulder injury, and his current elbow issue, Bubic has dealt with multiple arm-related setbacks over the past four seasons.

Kansas City has also managed several rotation injuries this year. Cole Ragans was transferred to the 60-day injured list on June 17, while Seth Lugo recently returned after missing time with a concussion.

The Royals entered Wednesday's matchup against the Rays with a 34-46 record and have dealt with multiple rotation injuries throughout the season. Bubic remains on the injured list after a shoulder setback interrupted his rehab assignment. Cole Ragans is also expected to miss the remainder of the season after undergoing elbow surgery.

Bubic is eligible for free agency after the 2026 season. USA Today's Bob Nightengale recently reported that the Athletics have shown interest in the left-hander ahead of the trade deadline, adding another layer of attention to his return from the injured list.

For now, Bubic will continue building his workload with Omaha as the Royals evaluate his progress. His latest rehab assignment comes after a setback that interrupted his first attempt to return earlier this month.