Dodgers Activate Kris Bubic, Designate Ryan Ward For Assignment
Kris Bubic is officially joining the Dodgers’ pitching staff, but activating him required the organization to make a difficult decision involving one of its longest-tenured minor leaguers.
The Dodgers activated Bubic from the 60-day injured list Wednesday and designated Ryan Ward for assignment to create an opening on the 40-man roster.
Paul Gervase was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City in the corresponding move on the active roster.
Bubic joins the Dodgers after completing six scoreless rehab appearances, while Ward’s future with the organization becomes uncertain after finally making his Major League debut earlier this season.
Bubic Returns After Four-Month Absence
The Dodgers acquired Bubic from the Kansas City Royals at the August 3 trade deadline while he was still recovering from elbow and shoulder soreness.
Bubic had not appeared in a Major League game since May 14.
The left-hander made nine starts for Kansas City before the injury, recording a 4.11 ERA with 51 strikeouts and a 1.23 WHIP. He was coming off a breakout 2025 season in which he posted a 2.55 ERA over 20 starts and earned his first All-Star selection.
Although Bubic has primarily worked as a starter during his career, the Dodgers prepared him for a potential bullpen role during his rehab assignment.
Bubic pitched on consecutive days last week and recorded four outs in his final appearance Sunday. Those assignments allowed him to experience some of the situations he could encounter as a reliever.
The results were encouraging.
Bubic did not allow a run across 5⅔ innings for Oklahoma City, surrendering only two singles and two walks while striking out nine of the 21 batters he faced.
That represents a 42.9 percent strikeout rate during his rehab assignment.
Bubic Could Audition For An October Bullpen Role
The Dodgers have not promised Bubic a place in their postseason bullpen.
His performance over the final portion of the regular season will help determine whether he earns one.
Bubic gives the Dodgers another left-handed option capable of covering multiple innings. His starting experience could be valuable if the club needs length behind a short start or wants a reliever who can face a lineup more than once.
The Dodgers also need to see how his arm responds after an extended absence.
Bubic’s rehab results were impressive, but 5⅔ minor-league innings are not enough to guarantee that he is ready for high-leverage postseason situations. His velocity, command and recovery between appearances will all be evaluated during the remaining games.
If his stuff carries over, Bubic could give the Dodgers another intriguing option when they construct their October pitching staff.
Ryan Ward Loses His 40-Man Roster Spot
Making room for Bubic required the Dodgers to remove someone from the 40-man roster.
Ward became that player.
The 28-year-old spent seven seasons in the organization after the Dodgers selected him in the eighth round of the 2019 MLB Draft. He played 725 minor-league games and accumulated more than 3,200 plate appearances before receiving his first call to the majors in April.
Ward appeared in 20 games across two stints with the Dodgers, batting .218/.283/.455 with three home runs, four doubles and 12 RBIs in 60 plate appearances.
His most memorable moment came June 10, when he hit his first Major League grand slam against the Pirates. It was his third home run with the Dodgers.
Ward returned to Oklahoma City after his second stint and batted .249 with a .349 on-base percentage, 18 home runs and a .429 slugging percentage across 105 Triple-A games this season.
That followed a dominant 2025 campaign in which he won Pacific Coast League MVP honors and the Joe Bauman Award as Minor League Baseball’s home-run leader.
Ward’s Time With Dodgers May Not Be Over
The designation does not necessarily mean Ward has played his final game in the organization.
The Dodgers can trade him or place him on outright waivers. Another club could claim him and add him to its 40-man roster.
If Ward clears waivers, the Dodgers could outright him to Triple-A and retain him as organizational depth.
His left-handed power and ability to play left field and first base could attract interest from another team, particularly after he demonstrated that his minor-league production could translate into some power at the Major League level.
Whatever happens next, Ward completed a difficult climb that took him through four seasons in Triple-A before he finally reached the majors.
Gervase Returns To Triple-A Without Appearing
Gervase’s latest stay with the Dodgers lasted only two days.
He was recalled Monday after Emmet Sheehan was optioned, giving the Dodgers a fresh bullpen arm during a stretch of 10 consecutive game days.
Gervase was not needed in either of the next two games because Tarik Skubal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto each completed seven scoreless innings.
With Bubic now ready to join the bullpen, Gervase was optioned without appearing during the brief stint.
The move gives the Dodgers an opportunity to evaluate Bubic immediately while adding another potential postseason piece to an unsettled bullpen.
It also places Ward’s future in the hands of the waiver process after one of the organization’s longest journeys to the majors.
Bubic now has an opportunity to pitch his way into the Dodgers’ October plans, while Ward must wait to learn whether his seven-year run with the organization will continue.