Kris Bubic won’t breaking camp in the Royals rotation, as the club announced Friday that he’s been optioned to Triple-A Omaha to begin the 2021 season.
Entering camp, Bubic seemed to have a good chance of cracking the Opening Day rotation. A former top 100 prospect, he debuted with the Royals early in the 2020 season and went on to make 10 starts and total 50 innings, ranking third and fourth on the team in those respective marks. Bubic worked to a 4.32 ERA in that time, adding solid ground-ball (46.6) and strikeout (22.1) percentages but posting a slightly elevated 9.9 percent walk rate.
For a 23-year-old making the jump directly from Class-A Advanced to the Majors, it was a strong showing. Bubic finished on a high note as well, turning in a 2.96 ERA with 30 strikeouts through 27 1/3 innings over his final five starts of the season. He also struggled in Spring Training, however, yielding eight runs (seven earned) on 14 hits and four walks with four strikeouts through 7 1/3 frames.
With Bubic out of the picture, at least for now, the rotation in Kansas City comes a bit more clearly into focus. The Royals have Brad Keller, Danny Duffy and Mike Minor all set in place. Right-hander Brady Singer, another former top prospect who debuted alongside Bubic in 2020, has been excellent thus far in Spring Training and could be the favorite for the fourth spot. Jakob Junis could be in line for the fifth spot, although the Royals have several non-roster players still in camp, including veteran Ervin Santana and top prospects Daniel Lynch and Jackson Kowar.
I can see Junis starting again. His new cutter seems to be a good pitch. At least in ST.
Depending on inevitable April rainouts, the Royals may not need a 5th starter for 3 or 4 weeks. Wouldn’t surprise me if Royals want Bubic to keep getting regular work and regain his form from last year, then call him up when he appears ready.
In the meantime, they have several guys who can start (and they have used the designated opener approach a few times).
Junis really doesn’t do it for me, but fact is he was better then Bubic in ST. We’ll see him back soon though.
Wont breaking camp?
In Arizona,after that Mexican buffet,it was breaking wind camp
It’s a little disappointing to see Bubic optioned but it’s understandable. Of the “Big 4” fr the ’18 draft he was the youngest of the group, the last drafted (picked @ #40), wasn’t projected to make it to the majors in 2022. Despite these facts, he was the 2nd to be called up and even held his own in the majors. Not bad for a guy who hasn’t pitched above Hi-A. Looking forward to seeing a lot more of him in the future.
Bubic- isn’t that term of endearment used by the Dbag in the Nakatomi towers to the German terrorists as he gave up John McClains identity for some VIP treatment
I really want to see Junis as an opener and Duffy as the longman. I’m sick of watching Duffy be great through 4 and then put up a crooked number in the 5th.
Other notes: the above poster is correct, we won’t need 5th starter for at least two weeks. Also, I think once we get into the meat of the season Royals will do a 6-man rotation to limit the innings on all the kids after last year.