Royals pitcher Cole Ragans experiences setback in elbow rehab. Here’s the latest
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- Royals left-hander Cole Ragans is sidelined 2–3 days with left-elbow discomfort.
- Ragans will be shut down 2–3 days and not throw before re-evaluation.
- Ragans made a Triple-A rehab start of 4⅓ innings but woke up with elbow pain.
Kansas City Royals star Cole Ragans’ eagerly awaited journey back from the 15-day injured list has hit a slight road bump.
On Monday, Royals manager Matt Quatraro said the 28-year-old left-handed pitcher is still dealing with left-elbow discomfort stemming from Valgus Extension Overload (VEO) or “pitcher’s elbow.”
Ragans, who made a strong rehab start for Triple-A Omaha on Saturday, will be sidelined 2-3 days before being re-evaluated by team doctors. He will not throw during that time, but the Royals remain optimistic despite the setback.
“He’s going to be shut down for a couple days, no throw, and hopefully very similar symptoms that he had before,” Quatraro said. “So hopefully they resolve in a couple of days and he can resume throwing.”
Ragans’ Saturday rehab start with the Storm Chasers couldn’t have gone much better. He gave up a leadoff homer but pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing just the one run. His so-called peripheral numbers were encouraging, too, as he threw 44 of his 68 pitches for strikes.
Trouble surfaced on Sunday, however: Quatraro said Ragans awoke with discomfort in his elbow after feeling good during the game.
“He didn’t feel it in the bullpens and he didn’t feel it in the game,” Quatraro said of Ragans’ elbow discomfort. “It just got flared up from pitching in the game. … Any time a guy like that doesn’t feel well, it’s not good for us. But, hopefully, these symptoms can resolve and we get him back out there.”
The Royals are currently without two starters. Ragans is joined on the IL by fellow left-hander Kris Bubic. Bubic experienced soreness in his pitching elbow and has been sidelined since May 18 (retroactive to May 15).
Right-hander Stephen Kolek has emerged in their stead. The 29-year-old acquired last year from San Diego has yet to allow a run through two starts. He threw a complete-game shutout against the Seattle Mariners on Saturday at Kauffman Stadium.
Kolek has occupied Ragans’ spot in the rotation. The Royals utilized a bullpen game when Bubic’s turn came up against the Boston Red Sox last week.
Ragans has a 4.84 ERA in eight starts this season. He has recorded a per-nine strikeout rate of 11.5 while walking 23 batters.
This story was originally published May 25, 2026 at 2:19 PM.
