The Kansas City Royals received encouraging news in their postseason pursuit as Cole Ragans, their Opening Day starter, made his first mound throw since sustaining a rotator cuff injury on June 5. Although a full comeback is not imminent, this progress marks a significant milestone for Ragans and the team amid a tightening playoff race.
The left-handed pitcher, an All-Star and fourth-place finisher in the 2024 Cy Young Award voting, had to leave a start early due to the injury and has been sidelined since. His absence has been felt deeply as the Royals fight to maintain their position on the fringe of the playoff contention.
Projected Timeline for Ragans’ Return to the Royals’ Rotation
As the regular season enters its final seven weeks, Royals starters are expected to make roughly eight to nine more starts. Ragans faces a demanding path toward a potential September return, needing to complete several stages of rehabilitation before pitching again in a game.
Anne Rogers of MLB.com highlighted the significance of Ragans’ bullpen session, noting that the pitcher’s comeback remains months away. She shared,
“It’s a big day for Cole Ragans as he takes the next step in his recovery from a left rotator cuff strain,”
—Anne Rogers, MLB.com
Ragans threw the bullpen session on Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium, his first time pitching off a mound since the injury occurred in June.
Regarding the recovery process, Rogers stated,
“This is just the first step in Ragans’ build-up, so it will still take some time before we potentially see him back here. He’ll have to do bullpens, live (batting practices), and then a rehab assignment. But it will be September by the time we’re talking about a return, it’s still a good first step.”
—Anne Rogers, MLB.com
Ragans’ Performance Before Injury and Royals’ Outlook
Before his injury, Ragans made 10 starts, posting a 5.18 ERA over 48 2/3 innings. Despite the high ERA, his 2.43 FIP suggests that bad luck contributed to less favorable results. Impressively, he was striking out 14.1 batters per nine innings, demonstrating his dominance when healthy.
While the Royals remain hopeful that Ragans can contribute down the stretch, they understand the risks involved with his recovery timeline. The team must rely on other starter options should any setbacks arise, as their playoff hopes depend on steady pitching depth.
Importance of Ragans’ Return for the Royals’ Playoff Chances
With the season quickly advancing, Cole Ragans’ potential comeback could significantly influence the Royals’ ability to compete in the postseason. His presence strengthens their rotation, providing both experience and skill at a critical time.
The journey to a full recovery will be demanding, requiring continued patience and cautious progress, but the recent bullpen session marks a promising early step. How Ragans performs in the coming weeks will be vital to Kansas City’s playoff ambitions as they navigate the pressure of a competitive MLB race.