Royals right-hander Kris Bubic keeps rehab on track with two scoreless innings at Triple-A Omaha

Kris Bubic moved one step closer to a full return with his second rehab outing, pitching two scoreless innings for Triple-A Omaha on Saturday night. The Royals right-hander completed the session on a modest pitch count, throwing 22 total pitches with 15 recorded for strikes, according to the team’s official game story.

Bubic’s second rehab start came just three days after he logged a scoreless frame on Wednesday with Omaha. That quick turnaround, and the fact that he again finished without allowing a run across two innings, are the kinds of checkpoints teams typically look for when a pitcher is rebuilding rhythm while managing long-term recovery.

The rehab assignment is more than a box-score exercise. For a starter working back, each appearance carries a dual purpose: testing physical readiness and restoring execution, especially as pitch count rises and innings increase. Bubic’s willingness to work into a full two frames, rather than stopping early or needing an extended break, fits the general progression teams use to move a pitcher from early ramp-up into later stages of a return-to-role plan.

Bubic’s Saturday performance also matters because it comes from the Royals’ internal infrastructure of evaluation in the minors. Triple-A outings let the organization observe how the pitcher behaves against higher-quality hitters, how effectively he commands his pitches, and whether his stuff holds for multiple turns through a lineup. Omaha’s role in that process is straightforward: it provides a competitive environment without the same immediate consequences as a big-league start.

The Royals have characterized Bubic’s comeback as a recovery from elbow and shoulder trouble. MLB rehab appearances are designed to address the physical side first, then layer in competitive readiness, and this second start suggests the early return plan has continued to progress without a setback that forced a pause or reduction in work.

What to watch next is whether Bubic continues the upward pattern in innings and pitch totals across subsequent rehab outings. In particular, the organization will likely emphasize sustained effectiveness, not just a clean inning or two. If he can build on the 22-pitch, two-inning platform while maintaining control and preventing late-inning runs, the path back toward a potential big-league role becomes clearer.

For now, the immediate takeaway is simple: Bubic’s second rehab effort again resulted in zero runs and a controlled workload, giving the Royals another data point as they calibrate timing and readiness for his next step. Whether that ultimately translates into a major-league activation will depend on how he responds as the schedule advances.