Kansas City Royals’ Kris Bubic picks up steam during home stretch of spring training
The previous two springs Kris Bubic spent in big-league camp created doubt and questions in his mind because of lackluster results. In his own words, the Kansas City Royals’ left-hander was “pretty bad” in spring training games the previous two years.
Following an offseason of focus adding the slider as a viable fourth pitch to his arsenal, along with the fastball, changeup and curveball, Bubic has gained confidence with more success this spring training.
Bubic pitched three innings and allowed one run, which scored after he exited the game, in the Royals’ 5-4 win over the Oakland Athletics in a Cactus League game Thursday at Hohokam Stadium.
Clay Dungan and Vinnie Pasquantino each hit home runs for the Royals, while JaCoby Jones had three hits and Bobby Witt Jr. swatted an RBI double.
“This year, I came in just a lot more confident in my abilities,” Bubic said of spring training. “I had finished on a good stretch to end last year. Then I kind of had a good plan going into the offseason, ‘OK, this is what I’m going to attack.’
“And then coming in here, I’m in maybe a little better throwing shape to where I could come in a game and be as sharp as I can out the gate.”
He pointed to confidence as probably the biggest step forward after his first full season in the majors and having experienced some ups and downs and different roles.
Bubic, who made his major-league debut during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, has been encouraged by the progress he’s made with his slider and curveball.
During his collegiate career as well as early on in the minors, he’d been predominantly a two-pitch pitcher and relied on his fastball-changeup combination.
“That’s just another thing that a pitcher had to think about,” Bubic said of the emergence of his breaking pitches. “Or another two things depending on curveball, slider, or if they’re both working that day. It makes it a little easier for me too because if I don’t have one pitch, I can come to the next pitch.”
On Thursday, Bubic recorded three strikeouts and all three came on breaking balls.
Bubic struck out Tony Kemp to start the game as he swung over the top of a curveball. Then Bubic froze Brown with a slider in the second inning for a called third strike, and he did the same to Stephen Vogt in the third with a curveball.
Bubic gave up just two singles in the first three innings. The only extra-base hit he allowed came on a double to start the fourth on a ball slicing away from right fielder Edward Olivares.
Olivares made a diving attempt and got his glove on the ball, but couldn’t hold onto it.
The only other hiccup Bubic ran into was two walks he issued to Sean Murphy.
Bubic came out of the game following the double, and he threw approximately 20 more pitches in the bullpen to bring his pitch count up to roughly 65 pitches.
“He worked ahead in the count, got contact when he needed to, guys made plays for him,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said of Bubic. “I thought he had a real good rhythm. He spun the ball exceptionally well. You didn’t even really see his changeup, but when you did, we know what a weapon that is.”
Brady Singer pitched three innings and allowed two runs on four hits and a walk. He struck out one. A wild pitch in the fifth inning put the runner in scoring position that eventually scored on a groundout for the first run against him. He gave up just one extra-base hit.
Rules changes officially announced
On Thursday, Major League Baseball and the MLBPA jointly announced rules changes for the upcoming season that had previously been reported.
The designated hitter rule has been adjusted to allow a pitcher who bats for himself to remain in the game as a designated hitter even if replaced on the mound.
From Opening Day through May 1st, major-league roster limits will increase to 28 players (29 for doubleheaders). Rosters will not be limited to 13 pitchers from Opening Day through May 1.
In extra-inning games, the rule that each inning begins with a runner on second base has been restored.
Pitching plans
The Royals listed pitchers Jonathan Heasley, Angel Zerpa, Collin Snider and Taylor Clarke as probables for Friday night’s game against the San Diego Padres in Peoria. The game is scheduled for a 8:40 p.m. Central time first pitch.
