Kris Bubic and Lucas Erceg didn’t anticipate playing on the same baseball team this year.
But that unexpected scenario came to pass when Erceg was traded to the Kansas City Royals from the A’s on July 30, just ahead of the MLB trade deadline. Suddenly, two Bay Area natives found themselves in the same major-league bullpen.
The two local pitchers have a lot in common.
Erceg grew up in San Jose and attended Westmont High School, Cal and Menlo College. He was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the second round of the 2016 MLB draft.
Bubic hails from San Jose and starred at Archbishop Mitty. He was picked by the Royals in the second round of the 2018 draft out of Stanford.
Kris Bubic #50 of the Kansas City Royals pitches in the eighth inning against the New York Yankees during Game Three of the Division Series at Kauffman Stadium on Oct. 09, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Both played for the CCB Prime club baseball program. Today, they’re the setup man (Bubic) and closer (Erceg) for an MLB playoff team.
“When I first got traded over, the first thing my agent said was, ‘Hey, you’re gonna be with Kris, so that’ll be a really cool experience,’” Erceg said. “And I was like, ‘Sounds great.’ Because he always sounded like a great guy, great teammate and all that. To have two Bay Area guys is a true testament to what type of talent is out there.”
Erceg, 29, and Bubic, 27, never played on the same CCB Prime team but previously knew each other peripherally. Now, they’re pitching back-to-back in the back end of the Royals’ bullpen.
“It’s wild how small the baseball world is in general, and the fact that we are both in this position now,” Bubic said. “He has his own journey and the way he got here. For me as well, neither of us started off the year active on the Royals.”
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Kris Bubic throws during the eighth inning in Game 3 of an American League Division baseball playoff series against the New York Yankees Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Bubic was drafted as a starting pitcher and had served in that role for Kansas City until 2023, when he injured his elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery, including a full ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction.
As Bubic built himself back up to be a starter this year, the Royals’ rotation had emerged as one of the best in baseball. So Bubic instead slotted into a bullpen role, where he began as a low-leverage reliever but gradually transitioned to more meaningful late-game appearances.
Erceg spent much of the 2024 season as the A’s setup man but has closed for Kansas City since being traded. Both players didn’t anticipate becoming vital members of the Royals’ pen, but they’re happy to be succeeding together now.
“We have so much time to watch the game, see how it unfolds,” Erceg said. “We’re both fairly new to the bullpen, so we’re constantly learning new things from each other.”
Kansas City Royals pitcher Lucas Erceg (60) and catcher Salvador Perez (13) celebrate after beating the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the American League baseball playoff series, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Brewers drafted Erceg as a position player originally. He dabbled in pitching and even toyed with the idea of becoming a two-way player before converting to pitcher full time in 2022.
It’s been onward and upward since then. Erceg debuted with the A’s in 2023, earned the setup role this season and compiled 11 saves in 23 regular-season appearances after the trade to Kansas City.
“I kind of have the advantage on a lot of the pitchers that are in the league – I understand how hard hitting is,” Erceg said. “So as long as I can execute my pitches, I know I’ll be in a good spot.”
Erceg can throw up to 100 miles per hour. He remembers exactly what that felt like to face in the batter’s box.
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“I’ve tried hitting 99 plenty of times,” Erceg said. “I’ll tell you what, man, the blink of an eye is less than that.”
Both Erceg and Bubic are making their mark in the postseason. Each pitcher has posted a 1.93 ERA in four playoff appearances while pitching 4 2/3 innings. Erceg has three saves as well.
For Erick Raich, their club coach with CCB Prime, this October has been validating for two young men who have weathered adversity in different forms.
Bubic recovered from a career-threatening injury, while Erceg overcame serious struggles with alcoholism. Erceg has been sober since June 10, 2020, a date visible on his glove each time he takes the mound.
The date 06/10/2020 is displayed on Kansas City Royals pitcher Lucas Erceg’s (60) glove during the ninth inning of Game 2 of the American League baseball playoff series against the New York Yankees, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
“You could take out them pitching in the big leagues right now and being where they’re at, and I’m still proud of them because of what they have overcome and accomplished in their life,” Raich said. “So this is a nice cherry on top, but either way, I’m proud of them.”