Mar 31, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin,; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Kris Bubic pitches in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Credit: Benny Sieu|Imagn Images
In a game in which the Royals scored 10 runs, Kris Bubic is the story and was the Royals MVP.
Kris got busy in this one, spinning a gem in his first start since April 15, 2023. A few days after that start he landed on the IL and had to undergo Tommy John surgery. He came out of the pen in 24’ and he proved to be a vital piece that the Royals could still depend on. But the Royals always viewed him as a piece for the rotation.
Bubic got to work right away as he struck out the side to start the game.
His final line was spotless. He went six innings and blanked the Brewers at home. His eight strikeouts were one shy of his career high.
Bubic is finding more success lately because of the changes he’s made to his game over the years. He had to reinvent himself after missing an entire year of baseball and came back stronger than ever.
He was a first round pick for the Royals; a part of the infamous 2018 draft class that saw the Royals take five college arms in the first round. He might be the best pitcher out of that group. It looks like Bubic and Brady Singer are the prizes of that haul. Bubic is nothing like the pitcher we last saw start for the Royals in 2022. Na He’s throwing his fastball more and it even has increased in velocity to 93-94 mph from the last he was a full-time starter in 2022.
This is a great development for Bubic, who could really make a difference for this Royals rotation. The Royals’ front line starters have got off to cold starts. Having a pitcher like Bubic at the end of your rotation is a luxury. He’s never been a high strikeout guy, but he might be now. His fastball velocity is at its peak right now. He’s using his changeup less but added velocity to it (28% usage-80.7 mph in 2022; 17% usage 85.2 mph in 2024). He also scrapped his Curveball for a Sweeper and it was his second-most used pitch on Monday.
Salvy added his first dinger of the year:
And your boy Maikel Garcia absolutely DROVE this ball out in a hurry at 108.8 mph for his second hardest hit ball in his career according to Royals Data Dugout. He’s raised his average to .385 and his OPS is a blistering 1.390. Those numbers at the bottom of the lineup will put you in position to score a lot of runs.
Bobby Witt Jr turned in his first 2-hit performance of the year, Massey went 2-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, and even Renfroe had two steaks today (that’s RBI for you non-baseball folks).
But let’s have a chat about Jonathan India shall we? I think I’m about to fall in love with this white man. He took a 100 mph fastball to the dome against the Guardians on Sunday, but found a way to make it in the lineup against the Brewers. I wasn’t sure if we were going to see him for a while after the Royals said they would take a couple of days to evaluate him. Apparently the evaluation was a waste of time because he had arguably the best day of anyone at the plate.
He went 3-5 with 2 RBIs, raising his average to .375 with a .849 OPS. He’s been just what the doctor ordered for a team that desperately needed a proper table setter for the middle of the order. I knew India would be a solid addition but I didn’t know the kind of baseball player he would be. I didn’t know he was a dude like that. He’s tough beyond measure. He’s easily been the most impressive player through the first four games of the season. Fans are starting to gravitate to the new Royal and his luscious lettuce.
Who’s been the most impressive Royal so far this season? There’s a few guys that could fit that category in my opinion.
India would be my choice. Kris Bubic deserves some love. Maikel has surely impressed. Let me know what yall think! Catch yall tomorrow.
Bank On It! 
Leave a comment