Two weeks after appearing the MLB All-Star Game, former Archbishop High and Stanford star Kris Bubic’s breakthrough season is over.
The Kansas City Royals announced on Monday that the 27-year-old left-hander has a strained rotator cuff. The injury is serious enough to end Bubic’s season, but it appears he won’t require surgery.
Bubic hails from San Jose and starred at Archbishop Mitty. He was picked by the Royals in the second round of the 2018 draft out of Stanford.
Archbishop Mitty High School Monarchs starting pitcher Kris Bubic (21) throws against the Bellarmine College Preparatory Bells in the first inning for their CCS Open Division semifinal baseball game at San Jose Municipal Stadium in San Jose, Calif. on Wednesday, May 28, 2014. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Bubic injured his elbow in 2023 and missed most of the season recovering from Tommy John surgery, including a full ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction. Last season Bubic helped anchor the Royals bullpen along with fellow Bay Area product Lucas Erceg.
Bubic returned to the Royals rotation this season and had been on the the breakout stars in the American League. He is 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA this season, earning his first All-Star selection. He gave up three runs and recorded just one out in the Midsummer Classic in Atlanta.
Kris Bubic #50 of the Kansas City Royals throws a pitch during the sixth inning of the MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park on July 15, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
He came out of the All-Star break strong, allowing three hits in five shutout innings against Miami, but left Saturday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians after allowing three earned runs on three hits and four walks in 2 2/3 innings.
“Physically, something’s not right,” he told reporters after Saturday’s game.
Bubic was placed on the injured list Sunday.
The Royals entered play on Monday 52-54 and four games out of the final wild-card spot in the American League.