Kris Bubic – Kansas City Royals Biography, Contract, Net Worth Information

Kris Bubic has made a name for himself in Major League Baseball since debuting with the Kansas City Royals in 2020. Born in Cupertino, California, he pitched for Stanford University before the Royals picked him 40th overall in the 2018 MLB Draft.

His journey from college standout to pro ballplayer really highlights his determination and skill on the mound.

As of May 2025, Kris Bubic pulls in $3,000,000 for the season with the Kansas City Royals, up from his $2,200,000 salary in 2023. This one-year contract shows the team still believes in his growth and potential.

Bubic’s financial progression matches his growing value to the Royals as he keeps sharpening his pitching.

Besides his current earnings, Bubic has built an estimated net worth of $5,099,876 through his baseball career. He started his pro journey in July 2020, making his MLB debut during the pandemic-shortened season.

Since then, he’s worked to carve out a spot in the Royals’ rotation, dealing with all the ups and downs that come with pitching at baseball’s top level.

Early Life and Education

Kris Bubic’s path to Major League Baseball started well before he ever pitched for the Kansas City Royals.

His early years laid the foundation for his baseball success, thanks to family support, academics, and steady athletic growth.

Family Background and Childhood

Born August 19, 1997, in Cupertino, California, Kristofer Bubic grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. His family encouraged his early interest in baseball and supported him along the way.

As a kid, Bubic showed natural athleticism that went beyond just baseball. But pitching grabbed his attention early, and being a lefty quickly became a defining feature for him.

He played in the Bay Area’s competitive youth baseball scene, getting plenty of chances to test himself against strong competition. Those years in local leagues and development programs helped him hone his mechanics.

High School and Amateur Baseball Career

Bubic attended Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, California, where he became a standout pitcher. His high school years brought impressive stats and more attention from college programs.

At Archbishop Mitty, he developed his signature pitching style, especially a deceptive changeup that would become his pro calling card. His coaches worked with him to refine his mechanics and build up his arm.

He also played in well-known amateur showcases and tournaments during the summers. These events boosted his profile among college coaches and pro scouts.

College Years at Stanford University

After high school, Bubic picked Stanford University over schools like Arizona State, Oregon, Georgia, and Oklahoma. At Stanford, he balanced tough academics with the demands of Pac-12 baseball.

He improved each season in college as his pitching arsenal grew. By his junior year, he’d become one of Stanford’s most reliable starters, with some dominant outings that caught the pros’ attention.

Stanford’s structured environment and academic pressure helped Bubic develop the mental toughness he’d need in pro baseball. His time at Stanford shaped him both as a pitcher and as a person.

Professional Baseball Career

Kris Bubic’s pro career began when the Kansas City Royals drafted him in 2018. Since then, he’s become a key part of their rotation, showing off his left-handed stuff at the highest level.

Draft and Entry Into MLB

The Royals picked Kris Bubic 40th overall in the 2018 MLB Draft out of Stanford. He signed with the Royals on June 18, 2018, kicking off his professional journey.

He moved quickly through the Royals’ farm system, impressing scouts with his changeup and solid command. Even without blazing fastball speed, he kept hitters off-balance and earned promotions.

He made his big league debut in the shortened 2020 season. He jumped straight from High-A to the majors, which really showed the Royals trusted his skills and mental game.

Milestones with Kansas City Royals

Bubic now forms part of the Royals’ young pitching core with Brady Singer and Alec Marsh. The Royals have watched his development closely as they build around talents like Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino.

In 2023, Bubic hit a rough patch when he needed Tommy John surgery and missed a big chunk of the year. His rehab and comeback became a key storyline for the Royals’ pitching plans.

For 2024, Bubic landed a $3,000,000 contract with the Royals, which shows the team’s ongoing investment in his future.

When he’s healthy, Bubic has shown flashes—he can change speeds well and keep hitters guessing with his main pitches.

Key Performances and Statistics

Standing 6’3″ and weighing 225 pounds, Bubic uses his size to his advantage on the mound. His career has had promising moments, though like many young pitchers, he’s been a bit inconsistent.

During his best stretches, he’s generated weak contact and kept on-base percentages in check. His changeup is his best pitch, often getting swings and misses from both righties and lefties.

If you look at advanced stats like wRC+ against, Bubic has shown he can limit damage in tough spots. His career numbers so far show a pitcher still growing in the majors:

• ERA usually between 4.00 and 5.00
• Strikeout rates that show he can miss bats
• Walk rates that sometimes push his WHIP up

His current net worth sits at $5,099,876, which reflects his professional earnings as he keeps working to establish himself as a big-league starter.

Current Contract and Career Earnings

Kris Bubic’s financial path with the Royals has grown a lot since his MLB debut in 2020. His earnings mirror his development as a pitcher and the team’s belief in his potential.

Contract Details With the Kansas City Royals

Bubic is currently under a 1-year, $3 million contract with the Royals for 2025. That’s a solid jump from his previous salaries and shows the club still trusts him, even after his injury.

The contract is fully guaranteed, giving Bubic some financial peace of mind as he continues his comeback from Tommy John surgery, which kept him out for most of 2023.

The Royals first signed him to a standard rookie contract after drafting him in 2018, and he’s worked his way up their salary ladder since.

Salary Progression and Arbitration

Bubic’s salary has climbed steadily since he entered MLB. He started at the league minimum and moved up to about $2.2 million before reaching his current $3 million.

With less than six years of MLB service, Bubic is still under team control through arbitration. This system lets players negotiate raises based on performance while staying with their original team.

Arbitration has worked out for Bubic so far, helping him get salary bumps even after missing time with injury. He’s on track to hit free agency in a few years, and if he keeps improving, his market value could jump.

Endorsements and Additional Income Sources

Bubic has picked up some extra income through endorsements and appearances, but nothing huge yet compared to the sport’s bigger stars.

As a Stanford grad, he’s kept ties that let him do some speaking gigs and work at baseball camps in the offseason. These activities bring in a bit of extra cash and help him build his brand.

He’s also active in Royals community events. While these are mostly about giving back, they help him get established in Kansas City—who knows, maybe more lucrative deals will come as he gets more recognition.

For now, his extra income mostly comes from regional partnerships and baseball-specific opportunities, not big national endorsements.

Net Worth and Financial Overview

Kris Bubic has built up solid financial value during his MLB career, with his salary rising steadily since his debut. His contracts and net worth reflect his progress as a pro pitcher for the Royals.

Estimated Net Worth

Bubic’s net worth is about $5.1 million, based on available financial info. That number comes from his career earnings in the majors, mainly with the Royals.

He’s seen his value go up through salary arbitration. In 2023, he earned $2.2 million, and his salary jumped to $3 million for 2024.

His financial path really shows the typical rise of a young MLB pitcher, moving from a rookie deal to bigger contracts as he proves himself.

Comparison With Peers

Compared to other MLB pitchers with similar experience, Bubic’s earnings land in the middle for starting pitchers at his service time. The arbitration system has let him boost his pay based on what he’s done and how long he’s been around.

A lot of pitchers with three or four years in the league make between $2 and $4 million a year, so Bubic’s $3 million salary fits right into that range.

Unlike some pitchers who lock in massive extensions before free agency, Bubic has taken the year-to-year arbitration route. That gives him steady raises and keeps his options open for the future.

The biggest jump in his pay happened when he re-signed with Kansas City for $3 million, which was a 36% boost from his previous $2.2 million deal.

Personal Life and Off-Field Activities

Off the field, Kris Bubic keeps things pretty balanced with other interests and community involvement. He’s committed to giving back, and his personal pursuits show there’s more to him than just the game.

Charitable Work and Community Engagement

Since joining the Royals in 2020, Bubic has gotten more involved in the Kansas City community. He jumps into the team’s outreach programs and works with local youth baseball groups to help develop young talent.

When the season ends, he heads over to food banks in Kansas City and back home in Cupertino, California, to volunteer. That kind of dedication to community service shows he really gets the responsibility that comes with being a pro athlete.

Bubic seems especially drawn to education-focused charities, maybe because of his own time at Stanford University. He drops by children’s hospitals pretty often, just to bring a little happiness to kids dealing with tough health issues.

Some veteran starters might shy away from community events, maybe because they worry about injuries or just want to rest. But Bubic? He actually makes it a point to meet fans face-to-face at organized meet-and-greets.

Interests Beyond Baseball

When he’s not on the field, Bubic finds ways to unwind that go far beyond baseball. He likes to read—actually, he’s a bit of a bookworm—and sometimes tosses out book suggestions to fans on social media.

He’s also really into automotive engineering. You might spot him at a Formula 1 event, especially if McLaren’s racing. That technical side of him? It kind of matches his analytical pitching style.

Stanford didn’t just teach him baseball. It sparked his interest in business and investing too. Instead of just focusing on the game, Bubic takes charge of his growing net worth of over $5 million.

Music is another big thing for him. He plays guitar whenever he gets the chance. Some teammates say he’s got real talent, and he’ll sometimes bring his guitar along for clubhouse jam sessions on the road.

When the season ends, he heads outdoors. Hiking and soaking up California’s scenery help him stay in shape and clear his mind.