The Kansas City Royals saw their winning streak come to an end yesterday with a 5-2 loss, but the bigger story unfolded before the first pitch even happened. Two promising young pitchers are now facing season-ending injuries, casting a shadow over what had been an encouraging stretch for the club.
Right-handers Ryan Bergert and Ben Kudrna both underwent elbow surgeries on Wednesday. Bergert had a full ulnar collateral ligament repair—better known as Tommy John surgery—while Kudrna, the Royals' No. 9 prospect, had an olecranon stress fracture repair. Both are expected to miss the remainder of the 2025 season.
Bergert was poised to be a key piece of the Royals' future. Acquired from the Padres alongside Stephen Kolek at last year's trade deadline, he opened the season at Triple-A Omaha but was widely viewed as the top option if Kansas City needed a starter or a fresh bullpen arm in the big leagues. Now, that depth takes a major hit.
Kudrna's setback is equally tough. He made just one start—lasting only two innings in Triple-A—before landing on the injured list on April 6. The olecranon is the bony tip of the elbow, and fractures there often stem from overuse in throwing athletes. Surgical repair typically involves placing screws to stabilize the bone, and recovery will keep him sidelined for the long haul.
On a brighter note, the Royals' farm system is flashing some serious promise. Shortstop Josh Hammond, the team's 28th overall pick last year out of a North Carolina high school, has been red-hot for Single-A Columbia. Through 20 games, he's slashing .316/.398/.526 with eight doubles (third-most in the Carolina League) and 11 extra-base hits (tied for fifth-most). The right-handed slugger entered the draft with above-average power potential, and as he gets more comfortable this summer, it might not be long before those hard-hit balls start clearing the fences.
Elsewhere in Royals news, the team continues to lean heavily on platoons for many of its hitters, a strategy that has sparked plenty of discussion among fans. Meanwhile, Kevin O'Brien highlighted the Royals' ongoing struggles on the road—an issue that hasn't been fixed even after moving their series to Sacramento. And over in the Cardinals system, Nathan Church is making a habit of robbing game-winning hits, adding a little extra sting to the loss.
For Royals fans, it's a day to reset. The winning streak is over, but every good run starts with a fresh start.