MLB Star: I'm working on getting Croatian citizenship

Kris Bubić, a prominent pitcher for Major League Baseball's Kansas City Royals, is actively working to obtain Croatian citizenship with the hope of competing for the country in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The 28-year-old left-handed pitcher sees it as a significant opportunity to connect with his heritage and experience Croatian culture.

Bubić has been in contact with the Croatian consulate in the U.S. to initiate the citizenship process. "It would be a great opportunity to share, to experience the culture a little more. And I would be excited to be able to do that," he told Hina news agency. The prospect of playing in the Olympics, especially in Los Angeles, which is relatively close to his birthplace in Cupertino, California, holds special appeal for him and his family.

Born and raised in the U.S., Bubić's connection to Croatia stems from his father, Mladen, who was born in Zadar, and his mother, Jela, who is Croatian-American. While he doesn't speak Croatian fluently, he knows basic phrases. He is currently recovering from an elbow injury but hopes to return to the field within a couple of weeks.

Bubić explored various sports growing up but ultimately gravitated towards baseball, a sport he deeply enjoys despite its inherent challenges. He was drafted by the Royals in 2018 after a collegiate career at Stanford University. He quickly progressed through the minor leagues, earning accolades, and made his MLB debut in 2020. A career highlight was being selected for the All-Star game last year, an experience he described as incredible and "cool."

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Bilo bi lijepo igrati kod kuće. Kada bi to uspjeli bilo bi nevjerojatno. Moja obitelj i prijatelji bi bili uzbuđeni. Imam puno članova obitelji i prijatelja još uvijek u Kaliforniji i općenito na zapadnoj obali.