Royals' Cole Ragans optimistic after early exit against Guardians

Despite getting hit by a line drive, the pitcher believes he will recover quickly.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 10:23pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's throwing motion broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color, representing the unpredictability of sports injuries.A cubist interpretation of a Royals pitcher's injury scare captures the fragmented nature of the game and the uncertainty facing the team.Kansas City Today

Kansas City Royals pitcher Cole Ragans was pulled from his start against the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday after getting hit by a line drive. However, Ragans remains optimistic about his recovery, telling reporters he 'should be good' despite the early exit.

Why it matters

Ragans has struggled to start the 2026 season, posting a 5.91 ERA in his first three outings. If he misses time due to the injury, it could prevent him from getting more opportunities to improve his standing in the Royals' rotation this year.

The details

Ragans' first three starts of the season have not gone well, as he was shelled for three home runs in his debut against the Atlanta Braves and took the loss in his second outing despite pitching six innings and allowing just one run. On Wednesday, he was pulled after recording just two outs when he was hit by a line drive off the bat of Jose Ramirez.

  • Ragans' first start of the season came against the Atlanta Braves.
  • His second outing saw him go six innings, allowing four hits and one run.
  • On Wednesday, April 8, 2026, Ragans was pulled from his start against the Cleveland Guardians after 0.2 innings.

The players

Cole Ragans

A 28-year-old pitcher for the Kansas City Royals who has struggled to start the 2026 season.

Jose Ramirez

The Cleveland Guardians third baseman whose line drive hit Ragans and forced him to exit the game early.

Kansas City Royals

The MLB team that Ragans pitches for, who are hoping he can recover quickly from the injury.

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What they’re saying

“While the Royals haven't stated anything publicly following Wednesday's loss, Ragans spoke with reporters, in which he feels that he 'should be good,' as reported by MLB.com's Anne Rogers.”

— Cole Ragans, Pitcher

What’s next

If Ragans is to miss time, it would prevent him from getting more opportunities to improve his standing in the Royals' rotation this season.

The takeaway

Ragans' early-season struggles and the latest injury scare highlight the challenges he faces in regaining his All-Star form from 2024 and 2025. The Royals will be hoping he can recover quickly and get back on track to solidify his spot in their starting rotation.