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Royals Pitcher Ragans Suffers Elbow Setback, Playoff Push in Doubt
25 May
Summary
- Cole Ragans' elbow pain has returned, delaying his return to the Royals.
- Ragans experienced a setback after a recent rehab outing for Omaha.
- The Royals' playoff aspirations may be impacted by his recurring injury.
Kansas City Royals left-handed pitcher Cole Ragans has encountered a setback in his recovery from left elbow impingement. The 28-year-old, initially placed on the 15-day injured list on May 8th, felt recurring elbow symptoms after a recent rehab start on Saturday for the Omaha Storm Chasers. This development has temporarily halted his progress toward rejoining the major league club. Ragans' initial outing on Saturday saw him pitch 4.1 innings with one earned run allowed, which had encouraged the team.
Ragans' injury history includes a difficult 2025 season where he spent time on the 60-day injured list. Despite struggling with the big league club in previous seasons, he demonstrated significant potential in 2024, finishing fourth in AL Cy Young voting with a 3.14 ERA and 223 strikeouts over 186.1 innings. The Royals, currently fourth in the AL Central and four games back from a Wild Card spot, were aiming for a playoff push.
As of May 25, 2026, the team is on an upswing after a series win against the Seattle Mariners. However, Ragans' continued absence due to elbow pain presents a challenge to their postseason ambitions. The team will host the New York Yankees on Memorial Day, with hopes that both Ragans' health and the offense's recent success can align for a strong summer run.
