Royals Lose Two 40-Man Pitchers to Surgery

The Kansas City Royals just announced that two of their right-handed pitchers had elbow surgeries. That wipes out some key arms for the 2026 season and really shakes up the club’s pitching depth.

Ryan Bergert had Tommy John surgery to fix a torn ulnar collateral ligament. Ben Kudrna needed fixation surgery for an olecranon stress fracture.

Both injuries are season-ending for 2026. The Royals have already taken both players off the 40-man roster, which complicates their minor-league starting-pitching depth and long-term plans.

Injury developments and surgical details

Ryan Bergert — At 26, Bergert was coming off a strong start in Triple-A Omaha after the Royals picked him up from the Padres in July 2025. He started feeling elbow discomfort, and that eventually led to Tommy John surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament.

Bergert had been pitching for the Storm Chasers before the injury popped up. His recovery is going to be something Kansas City fans keep an eye on for the next couple of years.

Ben Kudrna — Kudrna, a 2021 second-round draft pick and Blue Valley Southwest alum, had fixation surgery for an olecranon stress fracture. That’s an injury right at the tip of the elbow, which is pretty different from Bergert’s UCL tear.

Kudrna’s surgery ends his 2026 season before it even began. Now, the focus shifts to his rehab and how soon he’ll be ready to pitch again.

Key facts at a glance

• Ryan Bergert — right-handed pitcher, 26; Tommy John surgery to reconstruct the UCL; acquired from the Padres (July 2025).
• Ben Kudrna — right-handed pitcher, 2021 second-round pick; olecranon stress fracture fixation surgery.
• Both players are expected to miss the entire 2026 season and have been removed from the Royals’ 40-man roster.
• The surgeries deplete the club’s Triple-A starting pitching depth and force organizational adjustments.

Impact on the Royals’ pitching depth and roster construction

Losing both arms at once really dents the Royals’ depth chart. By taking Bergert and Kudrna off the 40-man roster, Kansas City opens up two spots—but they also lose two possible rotation options for 2026.

With a Tommy John recovery and an olecranon fracture rehab both on the table, the organization has to rethink its minor-league rotations. Managing the pitching pipeline through Omaha and the rest of the system just got a lot trickier.

What the Royals must do next

The Royals now have to re-balance their minor-league rotation and look for new options, whether that’s from within or outside the system. They’ll probably consider promotions from the Storm Chasers and maybe even bring in someone new to help steady the 2026 staff.

The team will also keep a close eye on Bergert and Kudrna’s recoveries, weighing immediate needs against the hope that both can bounce back and contribute down the road. There’s a lot up in the air, honestly, and it’s anyone’s guess how the Royals will patch things together.

Recovery timelines and long-term outlook

The Royals confirmed the surgeries but didn’t share any recovery timelines besides calling them season-ending. No one announced a specific return date.

Usually, Tommy John reconstructions keep players out for well over a year before they’re game-ready again. Olecranon fracture recoveries seem to depend on the case and always need careful rehab.

Kansas City plans to keep a close eye on Bergert’s and Kudrna’s progress. They’re hoping both guys can work their way back into the organization’s plans by 2027—or maybe later, if rehab takes longer.

For now, it’s all about protecting health and trying to keep the farm system’s depth intact. The staff will need to get creative and find ways to handle this setback.

Keywords: Royals injuries, Ryan Bergert, Ben Kudrna, Tommy John, UCL reconstruction, olecranon stress fracture, 40-man roster, Triple-A depth, Storm Chasers, minor-league pitching

 
Here is the source article for this story: Pair of Royals pitchers on 40-man roster undergo surgery