Young Ace Cole Ragans to Start 2024 Season for Royals

As the 2024 MLB season approaches, the Kansas City Royals have made a bold statement by naming Cole Ragans as their Opening Day starter against the Minnesota Twins. At just 26 years old, Ragans has already established himself as a rising star in the Royals’ pitching rotation, and his selection for the prestigious opening game is a testament to the faith the organization has placed in his abilities.

Ragans’ journey to this point has been far from easy. Drafted in the first round by the Texas Rangers in 2016, he endured two Tommy John surgeries on his left elbow, a setback that would have derailed many promising careers. However, Ragans’ unwavering determination and hard work saw him through these challenges, and he emerged stronger than ever.

His breakthrough came in 2023 when the Royals acquired him in a trade deadline deal that sent reliever Aroldis Chapman to the Rangers. Ragans wasted no time in making an impact, posting an impressive 2.64 ERA across 71 2/3 innings with the Royals, along with a 31.1% strikeout rate and a 9.4% walk rate.

What sets Ragans apart is his electric stuff. His fastball averaged a blistering 96.5 mph last year, occasionally touching triple digits, a significant increase from his previous seasons. He credits this velocity jump to his offseason work with Tread Athletics, a training program that has helped him unlock his full potential.

But Ragans’ arsenal extends far beyond just his fastball. He introduced a slider to his repertoire last year, which he threw 10% of the time and generated a remarkable 40% whiff rate. His curveball, changeup, and cutter round out a diverse and formidable array of pitches, making him nearly unhittable at times.

Ragans’ standout performance in the second half of the 2023 season caught the attention of the baseball world. His 26-inning scoreless streak from August 18 to September 10 ranks sixth-best by a Royals starting pitcher all-time, a remarkable feat for a pitcher in his first full season in the majors.

Despite the presence of veteran free agent acquisitions like Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha, the Royals’ decision to entrust Ragans with the Opening Day start speaks volumes about their confidence in his abilities and their belief in his potential to lead the pitching staff.

“There was a feeling from the get-go that Cole had deserved this based on what he did last year,” said Royals general manager J.J. Picollo. “The veteran guys are well respected, but I think it says something that you’re giving it to the guy that really took the ball and was one of the best pitchers in the league last year.”

For Ragans, the honor of starting on Opening Day is a dream come true, a culmination of the hard work and perseverance he has displayed throughout his career.

“To get to start in the big leagues, to have that opportunity, it’s what you dream of,” Ragans said. “To go out and compete every fifth day. To give your team a chance to win. All I want to do is win. That’s all I care about. I don’t care about anything else but winning.”

As the Royals embark on their quest for contention in 2024, they will look to Ragans to set the tone and lead the way. With his electric stuff, unwavering determination, and a maturity beyond his years, Ragans has the potential to become a true ace and a cornerstone of the Royals’ pitching staff for years to come.