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It’s the home opener! Even those excitement might be tempered a bit by the fact there are no fans, adding back to the excitement is the fact that the Royals will start 22-year old left-hander Kris Bubic to make his Major League debut. Bubic becomes the second player from the Royals’ 2018 draft class to debut this year, joining Brady Singer.
According to Curt Nelson, director of the Royals’ Hall of Fame, Kris Bubic is the seventh known Royal to make the jump from A-ball to the Majors (not including Rule 5 picks). The others: Meibrys Viloria, Donnie Murphy, Dee Brown, Mike Sweeney, Jeff Granger and Buck Martinez.
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) July 31, 2020
Incidentally, the White Sox will also feature a 2018 draftee making his Major League debut, as they have promoted second baseman Nick Madrigal to the big league roster, designating former Royals reliever Kelvin Herrera for assignment. Bubic and Madrigal are already a bit familiar, having faced each other when Bubic was at Stanford and Madrigal was at Oregon State. When they matched up in 2018, Madrigal struck out, tripled, and walked.
Tonight's White Sox lineup vs. Kansas City
— Madrigal On 35th (@SoxOn35th) July 31, 2020
1. Tim Anderson (SS)
2. Yoan Moncada (3B)
3. Jose Abreu (1B)
4. Yasmani Grandal (DH)
5. Eloy Jimenez (LF)
6. Luis Robert (CF)
7. James McCann (C)
8. Adam Engel (RF)
9. Nick Madrigal (2B)
SP: Dallas Keuchel pic.twitter.com/ZeRmotSn5X
Tonight’s Royals lineup vs. LHP Dallas Keuchel—
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) July 31, 2020
Merrifield RF
Mondesi SS
Perez C
Soler DH
Franco 3B
McBroom 1B
Gordon LF
Starling CF
López 2B
Kris Bubic P
The Royals also announced Ronald Bolaños will make the start on Saturday, while Sunday’s starter is still to be determined (Jackson Kowar? Daniel Lynch? Asa Lacy?????). To make room for Bubic on the roster, they played left-hander Foster Griffin on the 45-day Injured List with a forearm strain. The team also placed pitcher Jorge López on the bereavement list, and no details were given.