Kansas Royals Starting Pitcher Kris Bubic Out For Remainder Of Season
Here’s the hard truth, Royals fans: Kris Bubic’s breakout season has come to a screeching halt, and it’s like watching a movie cut off just before the best scene. The Royals announced that their All-Star left-hander will miss the rest of the 2025 season due to a left rotator cuff strain.
It is particularly harsh given how stellar Bubic looked in the first half of the season. Before the All-Star Break, he was sitting pretty with a jaw-dropping 2.48 ERA, earning his first All-Star nod. It all unraveled during his final outing against Cleveland on Saturday when he walked the first four batters he faced. Talk about a nightmare start. He lasted just 2.2 innings, gave up four runs, and left everyone scratching their heads as to what was happening.
“I knew something wasn’t right physically,” Bubic admitted after the game. Less than two days later, Bubic found himself not just on the injured list but out for the season entirely. How will the ballclub fare without him?
A Slippery Slope: The Royals’ Pitching Woes
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Bubic’s injury couldn’t come at a worse time for the Royals, who are already battling an uphill climb toward an American League Wild Card spot. If you’re one of the optimists who were still holding out hope despite a few bumps in the road, here’s a reality check. With Bubic joining Cole Ragans and Michael Lorenzen on the IL, the Royals’ rotation looks more like a patchwork quilt than a cohesive unit.
Ragans, still on the mend from his own rotator cuff strain, might be a month away from returning, and Lorenzen? Well, he’s progressing, but rehab starts are still probably on the horizon. You know it’s bad when journeyman Rich Hill, at a spry 45 years young, is the one stepping in to plug a rotation gap. The timing of all this chaos couldn’t be worse, with the MLB Trade Deadline looming in just a few days. The Royals desperately need reinforcements for both their offense and pitching staff.
Bubic’s Big Year, Now on Hold
Here’s what makes this sting even more. Bubic wasn’t just good this year; he was fantastic. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023, Bubic returned to the big leagues as a reliever in 2024, logging only 66 innings between his rehab and Major League appearances. But 2025 was the year. It was his first full season back in the rotation, and he silenced every doubter who thought he might not bounce back. He logged 116.1 innings this season, showcasing not just durability, but also the kind of stuff that makes him one of the AL’s best when healthy.
This injury? It is not just a roadblock for Bubic. It is a wave that ripples across the entire Royals organization and their playoff ambitions. And just to rub some salt in an already raw wound, Bubic is up for arbitration this offseason, with free agency looming after 2026. You can’t help but wonder what his future with Kansas City might look like.
What’s Next For the Royals?
If you’re still invested in this season’s Royals storyline, the team has a mountain to climb. With 4.5 games to make up in the AL Wild Card race and three teams ahead of them, the focus has no choice but to shift. The question now becomes how the front office will respond, especially as the deadline looms.
Do they push for pitching depth at the deadline? Can they eke out enough improbable wins to hang around in the playoff conversation? Or is it time to consider selling off key pieces and thinking long-term? No matter the route, Bubic’s absence leaves a gaping hole—one that’s going to take more than one arm to fill.
Final Thoughts
Losing Bubic’s caliber of performance midway through the season is devastating. For the Royals, it’s yet another spanner in what has already been a wrench-filled season. But hey, if baseball’s good at one thing, it’s finding ways to keep us on the edge of our seats, for better or worse. Here’s hoping Bubic’s recovery goes smoothly and that Royals fans find a reason to keep believing.
