Kris Bubic‘s season ended before it ever really got started. The Royals lefty is scheduled to undergo full ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery, or Tommy John surgery, the team announced on Friday.
Bubic hit the 15-day injured list this past Sunday with a left forearm flexor strain following his five-inning outing against the Braves. After that start — which was cold and rainy — Bubic described tightness in his forearm, and he went for imaging the next day.
After seeking a second opinion in California on Thursday, Bubic decided to undergo elbow surgery. The typical recovery timeline for Tommy John surgery is 12-15 months.
The surgery news comes at an unfortunate time for the Royals, who are 4-15 entering Friday’s series opener against the Angels in Anaheim, and for Bubic, who looked like he had turned a corner in 2023. After three years of up-and-down results and a 4.89 career ERA from 2020-22, Bubic made sweeping changes to his arsenal this offseason. He added a slider, changed the grip of his changeup and saw an increase in velocity this season.
Before the start against the Braves, Bubic had a 1.64 ERA in two starts with 13 strikeouts and just one walk.
The Royals will use an opener in Anaheim on Friday in place of Bubic, with Taylor Clarke starting and Ryan Yarbrough following with the bulk of the innings. Who takes over that fifth spot in the next turn remains to be seen. Lefty Daniel Lynch is still on the injured list with a left rotator cuff strain but figures to return by mid-May. Yarbrough could take over until then, or the Royals could call up a starter from Triple-A, like Jonathan Heasley or Mike Mayers.
