Kris Bubic activated from the Injured List

The lefty returns after Tommy John surgery.

After missing 15 months, Kris Bubic was activated from the Injured List today and is set to make his 2024 debut after Tommy John surgery last year. To make room on the roster, the Royals optioned pitcher Walter Pennington to Triple-A and designated pitcher Colin Selby for assignment.

Bubic has pitched parts of four seasons with the Royals and has a 4.85 ERA in 325 innings. He was off to a good start in 2023 with a 3.94 ERA in three starts until he was shut down. He has been slowly rehabbing and was pitching well in Omaha with a 2.63 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings. General Manager J.J. Picollo has called this a “rehab year” for Bubic, so expect the Royals to take things slow with him. He has been pitching short relief stints lately in the minors, so expect that to be his role in the big leagues.

Pennington made his MLB debut last night and retired both hitters he faced, one by strikeout. The Royals needed a 40-man roster spot for Bubic, so that cost them Selby, who gave up three runs - two earned - in three innings with the Royals earlier this year. He had a 5.85 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 20 innings for Omaha.