Kansas City Royals send Kris Bubic back to the minors to make room for Jon Heasley
In order to make room on the active roster for Thursday night’s starting pitcher, Jonathan Heasley, the Kansas City Royals optioned left-hander Kris Bubic to Triple-A Omaha prior to their series finale against the Texas Rangers.
Heasley, a native of Plano, Texas, made his first start of the season in the majors. Like Bubic, Heasley was part of the Royals’ 2018 draft class that also included pitchers Daniel Lynch, Brady Singer and Jackson Kowar.
Lynch and Singer are now in the majors, while Bubic will join Singer and Kowar in the Triple-A starting rotation. Though Royals general manager J.J. Picollo recently indicated that Singer could be expected back in the majors in the near future.
Bubic, who made five starts for the Royals this season, was moved from the rotation to the bullpen last week due to ineffectiveness through the first month.
Bubic, 24, went 0-3 with a 13.14 ERA in his five starts. He has allowed 18 earned runs, 18 hits and 11 walks (a 2.35 WHIP) in 12 1/3 innings. He has eight strikeouts in that span.
His last start came on May 4 against the St. Louis Cardinals. Bubic allowed four runs, two hits — including a three-run home run— and two walks in 1/3 of an inning in a 10-0 loss. That was his second start that did not last one full inning.
Bubic’s only relief appearance since being taken out of the rotation came in the ninth inning Wednesday night with the Royals leading 8-1. He gave up a solo home run to Rangers star shortstop Corey Seager, the third homer for Seager in two games against the Royals.
The Royals went on to win 8-2.
