Cole

Ragans

Ragans underwent a less invasive surgical operation to repair his UCL than a full Tommy John ligament replacement or even an internal brace procedure. Basically, the surgeon was able to repair his existing ligament with sutures. The exact nature of the procedure was unknown until he actually had the operation done earlier this month. The positive news is that it wasn’t his third career Tommy John surgery, but he’s still facing a lengthy rehabilitation process. There’s a chance he’s back in Kansas City’s rotation sometime around midseason in 2027.

Based on that timeline, it sounds like he received the internal brace procedure instead of the full Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery for the third time. Either way, he’s going to be shelved until around the All-Star break in 2027.

The exact procedure will be determined once surgeons begin operating and determine the best course of action. It’s possible Ragans winds up requiring a full Tommy John ligament replacement surgery for the third time in his career. The hope for the Royals and fantasy managers is that he needs a less invasive internal brace procedure or different procedure that would carry a much faster return timeline. The 28-year-old has been on the shelf with an elbow impingement since early May and seems highly unlikely to pitch again this season.

Quatraro added that Ragans is set to visit another specialist before determining his next steps. The exact procedure, and whether he’ll be able to return this season, remain unclear. The 28-year-old southpaw has already undergone a pair of Tommy John operations in his career and is expected to require surgery to address an elbow impingement that’s kept him sidelined since early May. Given the circumstances, it’s increasingly unlikely he’ll make any meaningful fantasy impact in the second half. There’s a significant possibility his season is over.

Ragans will seek additional medical opinions on his injured elbow this week after experiencing a setback in his rehabilitation process. There should be more clarity on his next steps and potential return timeline soon, but it does not appear he’s close to rejoining Kansas City’s rotation. The 28-year-old lefty has been on the injured list with an elbow impingement since early May.

Ragans underwent an MRI earlier this week after suffering a setback last week in his recovery from an elbow impingement that put him on the injured list back in early May. Royals manager Matt Quatraro told reporters Tuesday that they want to get a concrete answer in terms of what’s going on with his elbow, which is why he’s being sent to visit another specialist. There should be a clearer idea of his next steps at some point later this week. It certainly doesn’t sound like Ragans will be back at any point in the near future.

“Cole woke up yesterday, not feeling as well arm-wise,” manager Matt 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.” Ragans hasn’t pitched since May 6 and had a 4.84 ERA in eight starts before landing on the injured list for what was originally expected to be a minimal stay.

Ragans was shut down from throwing after he didn’t bounce back from a physical standpoint following a rehab start for Triple-A Omaha back on May 24. The 28-year-old strikeout machine has been working his way back from an elbow impingement that put him on the shelf back on May 8. He remains without a definitive return timeline and is at least a few weeks from making it back to Kansas City.

Quatraro said that Ragans is feeling the same elbow symptoms that caused him to be placed on the injured list earlier in May. The left-hander pitched well in that outing for Omaha while allowing just a run over 4 1/3 innings, but obviously the elbow trouble means more than those results. He’s going to be shut down from throwing for up to three days, and then the Royals will reevaluate the situation.

The 28-year-old southpaw struck out three batters on the night while allowing one base on balls. Ragans threw 68 pitches in the contest (44 strikes) while racking up 10 swings and misses. His fastball touched as high as 97.6 mph. The Royals may want him to make one additional start to get fully stretched out, but his return appears to be near.