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3 minor-league options to replace Bubic in KC Royals rotation

By Jacob Milham |
/ Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
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If things were not bad enough for the KC Royals, they certainly got worse with Kris Bubic's injury. The team announced the lefty starter will require Tommy John surgery, shelving Bubic for the rest of the year. It is a big blow to an already shallow rotation, especially since Bubic was having a strong start to 2023. The Royals deployed reliever Taylor Clarke as an opener during his scheduled start, and the bullpen members held the Los Angeles Angels to two runs. It was a good pitching performance by the staff, but using relievers as openers is not a sustainable method. The Royals will have to add a pitcher to the rotation, whether they have a good option or not.

The KC Royals have to do address the rotation soon after Kris Bubic's surgery. What, if any, reinforcements could come from the minors?

Daniel Lynch has yet to begin any rehab assignment, so his return is not imminent. He suffered a left shoulder strain during a spring training game against the San Diego Padres, and Royals fans thought it was much worse. He waved for help on the mound immediately after a pitch. Such a quick response usually signals the worst, and Lynch's description of the injury is not pretty.

“It felt like my arm was stretching out of the socket, going with the ball," Lynch said. "To feel all that, I was like, I can’t go any further. It was just kind of a shocking thing. I was so excited for the season."

The strain landed him on the IL to start the season, and there have been few updates about Lynch's progress.

There are some relievers with starting experience in Kansas City, but none are particularly enticing. Chances are, the team turns to their farm teams for a new rotation member. Who could the Royals call up to replace Bubic's spot in the rotation?

Mike Mayers

Let's get the least inspiring or intriguing option out of the way. Veteran pitcher Mike Mayers is currently the most experienced pitcher in Triple-A Omaha, but his performances so far are nothing to write home about.

The 31-year-old righty has been primarily a relief option in his MLB career in St. Louis and Los Angeles. Mayers has made 198 appearances since 2016, with only six starts. But the Royals have been deploying Mayers as a starter for the Storm Chasers. In his five starts and appearances with Omaha, Mayers has a 7.36 ERA through 22 innings of work. His command issues have persisted, with him averaging nearly four walks per nine innings. Mayers is only a season removed from his career peaks in 2020 and 2021, but nothing is going his way in Omaha. To be fair, the pitching struggles for the Storm Chasers could be systemic, as most of Omaha's starters and relievers are struggling to start 2023.

Mayers is a sensible option if the Royals want to continue deploying an opener or if they want to stretch Mayers out even more. Three of his five appearances in 2023 have gone at least five innings, a respectable amount to ask of a spot starter in the MLB. In addition, Mayers has allowed only five earned runs across those three outings.

The Royals do not have much invested in Mayers as a player. This is his first year with the organization, and it could be his only one. Mayers does not have any options remaining, so if the Royals call him up, it is a gamble on their part. He would have to pass through waivers to return to Omaha when that time comes. For now, Mayers remains an option in lieu of the Royals rushing another young pitcher to The Show.

Austin Cox

Pitcher Austin Cox was among Omaha's best pitchers in 2022, and the 26-year-old might be in line for his MLB debut this year.

Cox was a non-roster invitee to spring training in both 2022 and 2023, performing sparingly with the major league team. He is a member of the pitcher-heavy 2018 draft class, where the Royals selected him in the fifth round. Cox has not been a highly touted prospect, ranking #50 in FanGraph's rankings of Kansas City prospects.

In 2023, Cox has been working on improving his fastball, slider, and curveball in the minor leagues, hoping to earn a spot on the roster later in the season. He has shown promising results so far, with a 3.14 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 14.1 innings pitched. His current 10.67 K/9 is his highest since rookie ball in 2018. His command issues are plauging him still against Triple-A batters, evident by his more than five walks per nine innings. The stuff is certainly there, but Cox's control of it is far from ideal.

Cox fits the "soft-tossing lefty" profile perfectly, but there are plenty of players in that profile with successful streaks in the majors. It's possible that Cox could surprise everyone and become a reliable starter or bullpen arm for the Royals. However, it's also possible that he may struggle to adjust to the major league level and never quite live up to his potential. The Royals will never know either way until they see Cox in Kansas City.

Alec Marsh

The Royals rarely have a pitcher skip Omaha en route to Kansas City. But if they need a hot arm to be a temporary addition to the rotation, they could do much worse than Alec Marsh.

The Royals selected Marsh 70th overall in the 2019 MLB Draft, and the 24-year-old righty has a solid case for the major league club. He pitched across both Double-A and Triple-A in 2022, with nearly 125 innings in 27 games. His 27 home runs allowed and 7.32 ERA at Double-A are concerning, especially adding in his 54 total walks. But Marsh's strikeout stuff is among the best in the Kansas City farm system, and that has continued to 2023.

Marsh has bounced back in Northwest Arkansas, sporting a 1.93 ERA while averaging nearly 10 strikeouts per nine innings. He only has three starts for the Naturals this season, never allowing more than two runs or walking more than two batters in a game. FanGraphs has positive projects for Marsh in the next few years if he joins the rotation in 2023. He is very hot right now for the Naturals and could benefit from the "Raid the Zone" mentality in the major leagues.

While Mayers or Cox are both more experienced and sensible pitching options for the Royals, Marsh's promotion would be exciting for Royals fans who want to see some younger pitching additions. Marsh is top-20 prospect, according to FanGraphs and MLB.com. Out of those pitchers ranked ahead of him, he is producing the best and looks major-league ready. Marsh would be a splashy and risky move for the Royals, but one they should consider at this juncture.

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