Royals Make Announcement on Cole Ragans' Next Start

The 27-year-old former All-Star was forced to leave last Thursday's game against the Colorado Rockies after pitching three innings due to tightness in his groin. Ragans didn't feel comfortable warming up before the game against the Rockies, before surrendering four runs on three hits - two of them homers - and two walks before being replaced by Angel Zerpa. 

"Cole was not 100%," catcher Salvador Perez said Thursday. "I could tell from the bullpen he was not right."

Following a 2024 campaign in which he finished fourth in the Cy Young voting, Ragans has gotten off to a slow start in 2025. In six starts, Ragans is 1-1, with a 4.40 ERA and nine walks. His 46 strikeouts, however, are second in the AL behind New York Yankees' Carlos Rodón. 

The move to scratch Ragans is a precautionary move. 

“He wanted to pitch tomorrow,” manager Matt Quatraro said on Tuesday ahead of the Royals' series opener against the Rays. “We’re trying to be on the cautious side, just making sure that when he does pitch again, the groin is behind him.” Ragans is not expected to go on the injury list.

25-year-old Noah Cameron, who will be making his MLB debut on Wednesday, has been lights out for Omaha. In five starts, the left-hander has gone 2-0 with a 3.22 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. He's also punched out 27 batters in 22 and one-thirds innings. Two weeks ago, Baseball America ranked Cameron among the  five hottest pitching prospects in baseball. 

Cameron, who pitched for Central Arkansas, was originally drafted by Kansas City in the seventh round (199th overall) of the 2021 MLB Draft.