The Royals announced that lefty Cole Ragans He was placed on the 15-day disabled list, which has been reinstated until May 7, due to a sprained left elbow. They chose the left again Eric Cerantola. In parallel movements, remember the right-handers Stephen Kolek again Steven Cruz.
Ragans started in Kansas City on Wednesday and left after throwing 58 pitches in three innings. After the game he said he felt pain and tightness under his triceps and elbow. He has had Tommy John surgery twice but said this was different. Manager Matt Quatraro said removing Ragans from the game was a defensive move and he could make his next start.
Last night, Qutraro provided more information, according to MLB.com’s Anne Rogers. The captain said that Ragans was diagnosed with valgus extension overload and that the next steps will be determined by how Ragans feels in the coming days. Less than 24 hours later, it appears the Royals have decided to put Ragans on the shelf for at least a few weeks.
Ragans is capable of ace-type results, as he showed in 2024 when he posted a 3.14 earned run average over 32 starts. He hasn’t been at that level since then, and injuries seem to be playing a significant role. He made only 13 starts last year, with a 4.67 ERA, missing time due to a groin strain and a rotator cuff strain. He has a 4.84 ERA this year. Maybe a reset would help him get back on track.
There is no better time for a striker with the talent of Ragans to go back but time in this case works relatively well. The Royals just lost Ryan Bergert again Ben Kudrna in season-ending surgery, removing several depth options. Kolek has also been in IL for most of this year with an oblique strain but has been able to start rehabbing in the past few weeks.
He came out of IL this week and made one start, filling in on time Noah Cameron back stiffness. Kolek threw six solid innings and got a W but was quickly optioned to the minors, as the Royals only needed him to start. This injury to the Ragans forced them to retreat quickly. Normally, the baby pot should sit for 15 days, but an exception is made when someone else enters the IL.
Most likely, Kolek will step into the rotation spot left by the Ragans, alongside Cameron, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha again Chris Bubic. Kolek, acquired from the Padres last year, has a 4.03 ERA in 165 1/3 innings of work. He served as a reliever in 2024 but was extended last year to good results, posting a 3.51 ERA. His 16.7% strikeout rate was low but his 6.7% walk rate and 51.4% ground ball rate were both good numbers.
He has a six-pitch mix that includes a four-seamer, sinker, slider, cutter, changeup and sweeper. He had an even strikeout last year, using all of those pitches between 26% and 6% of the time. Statcast also classified one pitch as a curveball. He’s made four starts in his rehab assignment now, with a 2.76 ERA in those.
While Ragans is out and Kolek is up, the depth is a lot thinner than it was not too long ago. As mentioned, Bergert and Kudrna are both out for the year. Luinder Avila he is currently in a long role helping out in the bullpen. Mason Black again Mitch Spence they are on the 40-man roster but are currently on option work at Triple-A.
Photo courtesy of Steven Bisig, Imagn Images
