Royals left-hander Kris Bubic resumed his rehab assignment with a 1-2-3 first inning for Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday night.
Bubic needed just eight pitches to retire the side in order against Columbus. He mixed in four pitches and topped out at 92.7 mph with his four-seam fastball.
Bubic first landed on the IL on May 18 (retroactive to May 15) after experiencing left elbow soreness following his May 14 start against the White Sox. Though Bubic expected his IL stint to be a short one, he suffered a setback following his first rehab start on June 9 when he experienced shoulder soreness.
The 28-year-old Bubic pitched to a 4.11 ERA in nine starts before landing on the IL. He’s a year removed from making the All-Star team for the first time, pitching to a 2.55 ERA in 116 1/3 innings across 20 starts in 2025.
The Royals (34-47) are eight games out of first place in the American League Central. They’ve played better lately, winning five of their past seven games, and an eventual return from Bubic would help shore up a rotation that is designed to be the team’s strength.
Kansas City’s starting pitchers have combined for a 4.37 ERA, which ranks 16th best in the Majors.