Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Monday that Ragans (elbow) will be shut down for 2-to-3 days after not bouncing back well from Saturday's rehab start with Triple-A Omaha, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Ragans pitched well in the outing, striking out three over 4.1 innings of one-run ball. Quatraro noted that while Ragans' left elbow was not sore during the start, afterward he felt similar symptoms to when he landed on the 15-day injured list earlier this month with an elbow impingement. Ragans had been trending toward rejoining the Royals' rotation this week, but now that he's had a setback, his timetable is up in the air.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Looks good in rehab start
Rotowire
Ragans (elbow) struck out three batters and allowed one earned run on three hits and one walk across 4.1 innings Saturday in his rehab start with Triple-A Omaha.
Seeing his first game action in two weeks, Ragans came through with a positive outing at Omaha, recording 13 outs on 68 pitches (44 strikes) while averaging 95.2 mph with his fastball during the start. Per Anne Rogers of MLB.com, manager Matt Quatraro said that Ragans is scheduled to return to Kansas City this week for further evaluation before the Royals decide on the lefty's next steps. Quatraro noted that a return from the 15-day injured list after just one rehab start is a "possibility" for Ragans, who could re-enter the rotation as soon as Friday's road game against the Rangers.
The Royals announced Friday that Ragans (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Saturday.
Ragans has been sidelined since May 6 with an elbow impingement but has been throwing bullpen sessions for the past week. He's now ready to face live hitters in a game setting and shouldn't need more than one or two rehab starts before rejoining the Royals' rotation. The left-hander has a 4.84 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 45:23 K:BB across 35.1 innings this season. Ragans has elite swing-and-miss stuff, but his 15.2 percent walk rate is in just the sixth percentile leaguewide, while opponents also have a sky-high 15.7 percent barrel rate against Ragans.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Another bullpen on tap
Rotowire
Ragans (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Ragans felt strong after firing a 30-pitch bullpen Sunday, setting him up for another side session Tuesday. It remains to be seen whether the southpaw will need a rehab assignment, but either way, he appears on track to return from the injured list when first eligible or shortly after.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Completes bullpen session
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Ragans (elbow) felt good after throwing a 30-pitch bullpen session Sunday, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
The left-hander landed on the injured list with an elbow impingement after his May 6 start against Cleveland, but he was only briefly shut down from throwing and is now back to mound work. Ragans will be eligible to be reinstated during next weekend's series versus the Mariners, though it remains to be seen if he'll require a rehab assignment before returning from the IL.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Dealing with pitcher's elbow
Rotowire
Ragans was diagnosed with valgus extension overload in his left elbow Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Ragans' elbow forced him to make an early exit from his start Wednesday after three innings. The Royals are going to allow the 28-year-old lefty to rest for a few days and see how he feels before determining next steps. Ragans said Thursday that he has already begun to feel better since leaving Wednesday's game, per Rogers, which bodes well for his chances of avoiding a trip to the IL.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Fans 11 Saturday
Rotowire
Ragans (1-4) earned the win Saturday against the Angels, striking out 11 and allowing one run on five hits and no walks over six innings
Ragans earned his first win of the season Saturday while posting his third quality start of the campaign, and he achieved this by punching out a season-high 11 batters. Ragans has a 5.00 ERA in 27 innings this year, although that ERA is inflated by his previous start, during which he allowed seven runs across 4.1 innings against the Yankees. Ragans will try to keep it rolling in his next start, which should be scheduled for next weekend on the road against the Mariners.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Confirmed for next start
Rotowire
The Royals list Ragans (thumb) as their probable starting pitcher for Tuesday's game in Detroit, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Ragans was forced out of his previous start Wednesday in Cleveland in the first inning shortly after taking a 92.4-mile-per-hour comebacker off his pitching hand and was later diagnosed with a left thumb contusion. The southpaw downplayed the issue afterward, and after he seemingly made it through his between-starts bullpen session without incident, he'll take the hill on five days' rest as Kansas City opens its three-game set in Detroit.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Expects to make next start
Rotowire
Ragans said after being removed from Wednesday's start against the Guardians with a left thumb contusion that he "should be good" to make his next start, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Ragans' thumb was struck by a comebacker in the first inning. He initially remained in the game but was unable to continue after the thumb stiffened up on him and affected his command. Ragans will need to show during his between-starts bullpen session that his thumb is no longer an issue, but for now he's tentatively on track to take the ball next week in Detroit.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Suffers thumb contusion Wednesday
Rotowire
The Royals announced that Ragans was removed from his start in Wednesday's game against the Guardians in the first inning due to a left thumb contusion. He recorded two outs via strikeout and was charged with three earned runs on two hits and one walk.
Ragans sustained the injury when he was struck on the hand by a Jose Ramirez comebacker. The southpaw initially stayed in the game, but after struggling with his control against the next two hitters he faced, the Royals opted to pull the plug on his start. Though preliminary X-rays have ruled out any structural damage to Ragans' pitching hand, he'll still need to show that the thumb contusion presents no issues with his ability to grip and command the baseball before the Royals clear him to make his next turn through the rotation. Ragans tentatively lines up to make his fourth start of the season during next week's series in Detroit.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Fans eight in tough-luck loss
Rotowire
Ragans (0-2) took the loss Thursday against the Twins, allowing one unearned run on four hits and one walk while striking out eight over six innings.
Ragans turned in a strong outing and bounced back nicely from his rough season debut, but the southpaw was tagged with the loss due to a defensive miscue and limited run support. His lone blemish came in the second inning when a pickoff attempt by Salvador Perez sailed high and deflected into center field, allowing a run to score. Ragans otherwise kept Minnesota in check, limiting hard contact while once again racking up strikeouts to bump his season total to 13 across 10 innings. After injuries sidelined the 28-year-old for much of last season, Thursday's performance was an encouraging one. Ragans will look to replicate that success in his next start, scheduled to come against Cleveland.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Named Opening Day starter
Rotowire
Ragans will start for the Royals on Opening Day, March 27 in Atlanta.
It will be the third year in a row that Ragans will start KC's first game of the campaign. The left-hander has had an uneven spring, posting an 8.44 ERA and 1.59 WHIP through four games (three starts), but he's also posted a great 15:3 K:BB across 10.2 innings. Ragans will look to stay healthy this year after managing to make just 13 starts in 2025.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Roughed up in spring start
Rotowire
Ragans allowed six runs on five hits, a walk and a hit by pitch over 1.2 innings in Thursday's Cactus League loss to the Rangers. He struck out two.
Ragans was ambushed early, allowing the first three hitters of the game to reach before Jake Burger launched a homer that put the Rangers ahead by four. Kansas City lifted Ragans before sending him back out for the second inning, when he surrendered another home run to Wyatt Langford. While it certainly wasn't a banner outing for the southpaw, his velocity wasn't a concern, as his fastball averaged 96.8 mph and topped out at 98.5 mph. The 28-year-old an injury-riddled and disappointing 2025, as he posted a 4.67 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 13 starts and 61.2 innings. However, a 2.50 FIP, 14.3 K/9 and a career-worst .354 BABIP are data points that have Kansas City believing Ragans can rebound and regain his 2024 form this season.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Punches out 10 in win
Rotowire
Ragans (3-3) earned the win Tuesday, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk over five innings against the Angels. He struck out 10.
Ragans worked four scoreless frames before surrendering a two-run homer to Bryce Teodosio in his fifth and final inning of Tuesday's start. It was an impressive showing for the southpaw in just his second outing back from a left rotator cuff strain that kept him sidelined for more than three months. The 27-year-old has had a tough-luck season with a 5.02 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 12 starts and 57.1 innings, surface numbers that hide a much stronger 2.69 FIP. He's currently lined up for one more regular-season start Sunday against the Athletics, though that has not yet been confirmed.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Activated ahead of start Wednesday
Rotowire
The Royals activated Ragans (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
After being sidelined for more than three months with a left rotator cuff strain, Ragans will make his return to the Royals rotation Wednesday against the Mariners at Kauffman Stadium. Ragans made two rehab starts with Triple-A Omaha prior to being activated, allowing just one run with a 14:2 K:BB over 6.2 innings. The left-hander threw 56 pitches in his most recent rehab outing this past Friday, so his workload will be relatively limited versus the Mariners.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Rejoining rotation Wednesday
Rotowire
The Royals will activate Ragans (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Mariners in Kansas City, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
The upcoming start will mark Ragans' first with the big club since June 5, after a left rotator cuff strain kept him out of commission for more than three months. The southpaw began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha on Sept. 7 and tossed 56 pitches and 3.2 innings in his second and final outing on the farm this past Friday, striking out seven in that start while allowing no runs on one hit and two walks. Though Ragans looked sharp in both of his appearances at Omaha, he's not yet fully stretched out for a typical starter's workload and could be limited to around 70-to-80 pitches Wednesday.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Second rehab start set
Rotowire
Ragans (shoulder) will continue his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Friday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The left-hander made his first rehab appearance with Omaha on Sunday and threw 45 pitches across three innings. Ragans will continue building up his workload Friday and could require another rehab start after that before being cleared to rejoin the Royals.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Embarking on rehab assignment
Rotowire
Ragans (shoulder) is expected to begin his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Sunday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Ragans has spent the majority of the season on the IL and has been on the shelf since mid-June due to a left rotator cuff strain. He ramped up his throwing program with bullpen sessions in mid-August, and the 28-year-old southpaw has progressed enough in his recovery to embark on a rehab assignment. Royals manager Matt Quatraro relayed Friday that Ragans is scheduled to pitch two innings Sunday and could ramp up his workload barring any setbacks.
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Royals' Cole Ragans: Tosses live batting practice
Rotowire
Ragans (shoulder) threw a 30-pitch live batting practice session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
Ragans' recovery from a torn left rotator cuff has been slow and deliberate, with Wednesday marking his first time facing live hitters since he was placed on the injured list June 11. While no firm timeline has been set for Ragans' return, the next step for the 27-year-old would likely be heading out on a rehab assignment to build up his pitch count with the hope of rejoining the big club in the second half of September.
Ragans (shoulder) completed a 40-pitch up-and-down bullpen session Saturday, MLB.com reports.
For the past few weeks, Ragans has thrown multiple bullpen sessions as he begins to build back up again following a prolonged shutdown due to a left rotator cuff strain. Assuming all went well during Saturday's session, Ragans will take the next step forward in his rehab by facing live hitters during the upcoming week. The southpaw could then head out on a rehab assignment, which could set him up for a return from the 60-day injured list around the middle of September. Ragans appears as though he'll get the chance to rejoin the Royals in a starting role, but since he may not have sufficient time to get fully stretched out in the minors, he could be operating with more limited pitch counts than usual once he gets activated.
