Cole Ragans to Undergo Testing After Elbow Discomfort Halts Progress

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans is set for additional testing after experiencing discomfort during a throwing session. Manager Matt Quatraro confirmed the move to reporters, including Jaylon Thompson of the Kansas City Star, following a setback in Ragans' rehab from an elbow impingement.

Ragans, who has been sidelined since early May, has already had his recovery paused once due to recurring stiffness. “Cole woke up yesterday not feeling as well arm-wise,” Quatraro said. “So when he came out to play catch yesterday, he had to cut it short. So we’re going to get him some more testing in the next couple of days.”

The left-hander made one rehab appearance on May 23 with Triple-A Omaha, but struggled to recover from the outing. That performance marked his only competitive pitching since April. With this latest issue, a return before the All-Star break appears unlikely. To regain game-ready form, Ragans would need multiple rehab starts, which he does not sound close to achieving at this time.

Ragans has battled injuries over the last two seasons. He missed time in 2025 with a groin strain and then re-entered the IL with a rotator cuff injury that sidelined him for three months. After returning for three starts to close the season, he struck out 22 batters in 13 innings. This year, he has been limited to just eight starts.

The Royals are already dealing with multiple absences in the rotation. Lefty Kris Bubic is out with elbow soreness after experiencing shoulder discomfort in a rehab start. Right-hander Seth Lugo is on the seven-day concussion IL after being hit in the head by a Brandon Nimmo liner. With Ragans and Bubic out, the team has turned to Stephen Kolek and Luinder Avila for rotation duties.

The club is still searching for a replacement for Lugo, who is expected to miss at least one start. Mitch Spence could be recalled from Triple-A, though he has struggled at the level. The Royals face a scheduling challenge, as they do not have an off-day until next Saturday. A decision on a replacement is expected soon.