Kris Bubic is set to begin a new rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha after a setback brought his first attempt to an early end earlier this month. The Kansas City Royals announced the move as the left-hander continues working his way back from the injured list.
Bubic has been sidelined since May 18 with left elbow soreness. The Royals placed him on the 15-day injured list after he experienced more discomfort than expected following his May 14 start against the Chicago White Sox.
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Before the injury, Bubic had made nine starts for Kansas City during the 2026 season. He posted a 3-2 record with a 4.11 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts across 50.1 innings. The 28-year-old had been a regular part of the Royals’ rotation through the season’s first six weeks before the elbow issue interrupted his year.
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.
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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.
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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.
Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Bubic (50)Peter Aiken-Imagn Images
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.
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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.
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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.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source sports.yahoo.com ’
