Royals Receive Devastating Cole Ragans Update

It looks like the Kansas City Royals won't be getting their ace back anytime soon.

Manager Matt Quatraro announced before Tuesday's game that starter Cole Ragans is expected to undergo an elbow procedure.

Ragans left his start against the Cleveland Guardians on May 6 after experiencing tightness in his elbow and triceps. He was quickly placed on the 15-day injured list with a left elbow impingement while also dealing with valgus extension overload, better known as pitcher's elbow.

At first, the rest appeared to be helping. Ragans began a rehab assignment just a couple of weeks later. But during his rehab start with Triple-A Omaha on May 23, he experienced elbow stiffness and was shut down again.

He resumed throwing a little over a week ago but suffered another setback. The Royals then transferred their left-handed ace to the 60-day injured list.

Now, after seeking multiple opinions, Ragans is expected to undergo surgery on his pitching elbow, extending his timeline even further. How long he will be sidelined, and whether he will return this season, remains unknown.

“We anticipate it being a surgical procedure," Quatraro said. "We don’t know, as of right now, what it means. He’s got to see another doctor as well, but we anticipate it being surgical.”