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Kris Bubic Impresses Royals in Spring Training Return
Royals' 2025 All-Star pitcher looks to rebound from injury-shortened season
Published on Feb. 15, 2026
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Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Bubic impressed in his first live batting practice session of spring training, showing no signs of the left rotator cuff strain that sidelined him for much of the 2025 season. Bubic, who was an All-Star in 2025, is looking to rebound and secure a long-term deal with the Royals as he enters the final year of his current contract.
Why it matters
Bubic's successful return from injury is crucial for the Royals, who struggled without their top starting pitchers like Bubic, Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo down the stretch in 2025. The Royals will need Bubic healthy and performing at a high level if they hope to compete in the AL Central in 2026.
The details
Bubic threw to live hitters for the first time in nearly seven months on Saturday, showcasing his full arsenal of pitches. He felt good about his performance, noting his fastball command was there and he's looking forward to building up his workload in the coming weeks. Royals manager Matt Quatraro was encouraged by what he saw, noting Bubic didn't appear apprehensive at all and his velocity looked good.
- Bubic's last appearance was on July 26, 2025 against the Cleveland Guardians.
- Bubic began feeling discomfort in his shoulder after that start and was shut down by the Royals.
- Bubic was finally cleared to start throwing again and had a normal offseason to build up for the 2026 season.
- Bubic is expected to throw another live session on February 18, 2026 and then get into game action.
The players
Kris Bubic
A starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals who was an American League All-Star in 2025 before missing the second half of the season with a left rotator cuff injury.
Matt Quatraro
The manager of the Kansas City Royals.
What they’re saying
“I felt good about it. You know, everything was pretty normal in terms of the movements and the velocities coming out of it. Some normal soreness today because it was my first live, but I look forward to doing it again here in a couple of days.”
— Kris Bubic (kansascity.com)
“Getting back out there is step No. 1. Just hearing the feedback, too, right away has been great. You know, just seeing a hitter in the box is great as well. It's great to always have the support of my teammates.”
— Kris Bubic (kansascity.com)
“I didn't watch for the movement profiles or anything. I was more watching to see if he was apprehensive at all. And it certainly didn't look like it. His velocity was good. He used his pitches and it seemed like his delivery was in a good spot. So, I was really encouraged.”
— Matt Quatraro, Royals Manager (kansascity.com)
What’s next
Bubic is expected to throw another live session on February 18, 2026 and then get into game action as the Royals ramp up his workload this spring.
The takeaway
Bubic's successful return from injury is a crucial development for the Royals as they look to rebound in 2026 and keep their top starting pitcher in the fold long-term. His performance in spring training will go a long way in determining if the Royals can reach a contract extension with the 2025 All-Star.
