Royals Announce Cole Ragans News After Missing One Month

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin M. Groe | Last updated Jul 6, 2025 4:21 PM ET

Cole Ragans is in his fourth major-league season and third with the Kansas City Royals. The Texas Rangers selected the left-hander in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft, and after undergoing two Tommy John surgeries in the minors, he made his big-league debut in 2022.

In June 2023, Kansas City acquired Ragans and outfielder Roni Cabrera from Texas in exchange for closer Aroldis Chapman. The Royals wagered on Ragans’ upside, while the Rangers bolstered their bullpen on the way to a World Series title.

In his first twelve starts as a Royal, Ragans took off, posting a 2.64 ERA with 89 strikeouts in just 71 innings of work to go with a 5–2 record. He carried that second-half 2023 surge into an All-Star appearance and a fourth-place finish in AL Cy Young voting in 2024.

This year, Ragans hit a setback when a left rotator cuff strain landed him on the 15-day injured list on June 11 (retroactive to June 8). He was shut down for four weeks and slated for an early-July re-evaluation.

On Sunday, ahead of the series opener in Arizona, he underwent a follow-up MRI with encouraging results. Manager Matt Quatraro confirmed Ragans will begin throwing tomorrow—a critical first step in his return this season.

Injury update on Cole Ragans: He had his follow up MRI and received positive results, manager Matt Quatraro said. The plan is for Ragans to begin throwing again tomorrow. Still a ways to go, but good first step. #Royals
— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) July 6, 2025

In ten starts this year, Ragans went 2–3 with a 5.18 ERA, a drop-off from his last two seasons. Kansas City will be counting on him to regain the form that made him such a reliable arm once he rejoins the rotation.

At 42–48 and 5.5 games back of a playoff spot, the Royals will need the spark Ragans’ return could deliver as they aim for consecutive postseason trips.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: