Kansas City Royals’ pitcher Kris Bubic will undergo Tommy John surgery, which will result in him missing the rest of the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) season. The injury is a significant blow to both the Royals and the 24-year-old, who was enjoying a breakout season.
Bubic has been one of the Royals’ most consistent pitchers this season, posting a 7-4 record with an ERA of 3.31 over 31 games. He also recorded 127 strikeouts over 129 innings pitched, leading the team in both categories. The left-hander’s performances helped the Royals to push for a playoff spot in the American League Central division.
However, Bubic’s injury, which was diagnosed on September 10, will mean he misses the rest of the season and undergoes a lengthy rehabilitation period. Tommy John surgery is a common procedure for pitchers who suffer from a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), a significant injury that often takes well over a year to recover from.
This is not the first time that Bubic has suffered from an injury during his professional career. In 2019, he missed a month of minor league action due to a lat strain. Nonetheless, at that time, Bubic bounced back to record solid statistics for the remainder of the season, which eventually earned him a MLB call-up.
It is a cruel blow for the Royals, who will now have to look for alternative options to fill Bubic’s spot. The injury means that Kansas City will miss one of their best pitchers at a crucial stage of the 2023 season as they battle for a spot in the postseason. Bubic’s absence will leave a significant void in the Royals’ rotation, with his fellow starters having to step up and deliver.
Kansas City Royals’ General Manager Dayton Moore expressed his disappointment on the news of Bubic’s injury, saying that Bubic has been a “key part of the team’s success this year” and wished him a “successful rehabilitation.” Given the lengthy recovery process associated with the procedure, it is unlikely that Bubic will feature for the Royals during the 2024 campaign either.
It’s an unfortunate situation for the talented left-hander, who has shown tremendous potential in his short time in the MLB. Bubic will now have to focus on his rehab, aiming to come back stronger in the 2025 season. The young pitcher has a bright future ahead of him, and with the Royals fighting for a place in the playoffs, they will be hoping that his teammates can rally to get them over the line without their star left-hander.
