4 years agoDespite never pitching above High-A, Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Kris Bubic started 10 games for the Royals in 2020, going 1-6 with a respectable 4.32 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 49 strikeouts in 50 innings pitched. Bubic was drafted in 2018 and went straight into the Rookie-level Pioneer League before progressing to High-A in 2019. That's when Bubic really came to prominence when he made 17 starts totaling 101 2/3 innings with a 2.30 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. He also struck out 110 batters with an impressive 28.1% strikeout rate and a very nice 6.9% walk rate. Understandably, those numbers weren't maintained in the majors, as he had a 22.1% strikeout rate and 9.9% walk rate last year. Bubic has an unusual delivery as a left-handed pitcher with a fastball that sits in the low-90s and is accompanied by a changeup and curveball. Without a fourth pitch, Bubic might struggle to be more than a back-of-the-rotation starter, but he's still only 23 years old and was pitching in college just three years ago. Bubic looks set to be in the Royals rotation in 2021 and based on last year's numbers, he could be a solid fantasy contributor in deeper redraft leagues. The Royals won't offer much run support for Bubic to pick up many wins, but with an ADP around 489, if he can progress and put up an ERA around 4.20 with a 1.30 WHIP and 120 strikeouts, he'll have some fantasy appeal in 2021.--Jamie Steed - RotoBaller