Player News

• Royals' Cole Ragans: Gets Opening Day nod

  4D ago • By RotoWire

  Manager Matt Quatraro announced Thursday that Ragans will start Opening Day against the Guardians on March 27, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. The announcement comes after Ragans surrendered two runs across 2.2 innings on 83 pitches in a Cactus League game against the Rockies on Sunday. The 27-year-old has had a bumpy spring training, but in 2024 he notched a 3.14 ERA across 186.1 innings in 32 games. This will be the ace's second Opening Day start after getting the nod in 2024.

  SEE FULL ARTICLE

• Royals' Cole Ragans: Punches out six Thursday

  14D ago • By RotoWire

  Ragans allowed one hit and struck out six over three scoreless innings in Thursday's Cactus League win over the Cubs. He did not issue a walk. The lefty was able to exact a measure of revenge against a Cubs team that rocked him for seven runs over 2.1 innings back on March 1. Ragans noted after the game he was hitting his spots and keeping hitters off balance Thursday after execution was an issue his last time out, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. Ragans, the presumptive Opening Day starter for Kansas City, also mentioned that his goal this year is to be unpredictable to lefties to combat his rather surprising reverse splits from a season ago.

  SEE FULL ARTICLE

• Royals' Cole Ragans: Fires two scoreless in spring debut

  23D ago • By RotoWire

  Ragans gave up two hits and a walk while collecting two strikeouts over two scoreless innings during his Cactus League debut against the Athletics on Monday. In his first appearance since signing a contract extension to remain with the Royals through 2027, Ragans looked as sharp as ever Monday. He threw 25 of his 34 pitches for strikes and averaged 96.9 mph on his fastball (compared to 95.5 mph during the 2024 regular season). The 27-year-old southpaw figures to be one of the leading candidates to start Opening Day against the Guardians on March 27, though the Royals haven't made an official announcement yet.

  SEE FULL ARTICLE

• Royals' Cole Ragans: Set to start ALDS Game 2

  10/03/2024 • By RotoWire

  Ragans (calf) will start Monday in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Yankees, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. Ragans exited his wild-card series start versus the Orioles after six shutout innings due to left calf cramps, but his readiness for the start of the ALDS doesn't seem to be in question. The left-handed Ragans -- who will be pitching on five days' rest -- will be preceded by Michael Wacha in Game 1.

  SEE FULL ARTICLE

• Royals' Cole Ragans: Leaves with cramps

  10/01/2024 • By RotoWire

  Ragans was pulled from Tuesday's wild-card game against Baltimore due to left calf cramps. Prior to suffering his injury, Ragans had cruised through six shutout innings on 80 pitches while striking out eight batters. The severity of his injury is unknown, though the Royals won't need to make a decision on his availability until the ALDS, provided the team advances past the O's.

  SEE FULL ARTICLE