Royals' Cole Ragans Announces Personal News on Wednesday

Ragans’ focus has momentarily shifted away from baseball as the new year begins. On Wednesday, he and his wife Tori shared a personal announcement.

Accompanied by a series of photos, the couple posted an ultrasound image revealing they are expecting their first child. “An extra special bump day coming this summer ,” the caption read.

Ragans’ journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. Drafted in the first round by the Texas Rangers in 2016, he battled injuries early in his career and did not debut until 2022.

His first taste of the big leagues was rocky, as he struggled to find consistency and command. In 2023, however, his career took a dramatic turn when the Rangers traded him to Kansas City in exchange for veteran reliever Aroldis Chapman.

Almost immediately, Ragans found his stride with the Royals, flashing dominant stuff in the second half of that season and cementing himself as a fixture in the rotation.

The pinnacle came in 2024, when Ragans delivered one of the best pitching seasons in franchise history. He earned his first All-Star selection, finished fourth in American League Cy Young voting and helped lead Kansas City back to the postseason.

Over 32 starts, he posted a 3.14 ERA and struck out 223 batters, showcasing both durability and dominance. That campaign established him as the ace of the staff and gave the Royals confidence that they had a frontline arm to build around.

Now, with his health restored and his personal life bringing new joy, Ragans enters 2026 looking to recapture that form and once again anchor Kansas City’s rotation.