Royals' Ace Ragans Expected to Make Next Start After Thumb Scare

Tests reveal no fractures for struggling left-hander after taking comebacker off thumb

Apr. 11, 2026 at 3:00am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the motion of a baseball pitcher and batter, with sharp overlapping planes in vibrant team colors representing the physical intensity of the sport.A cubist interpretation of the physical demands and fragility of professional baseball, as Royals ace Cole Ragans narrowly avoids a serious injury from a line drive off the bat of Guardians star Jose Ramirez.Kansas City Today

The Kansas City Royals' ace left-hander, Cole Ragans, is set to make his next start after a recent injury scare. Ragans exited Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians with a thumb contusion, but tests revealed no fractures, offering relief for the struggling Royals team. Despite the setback, Ragans remains optimistic and says he's 'good to go' for his next outing.

Why it matters

This injury marks a challenging season for Ragans, who has struggled with a 5.91 ERA and an 0-3 record. The incident highlights the physical demands of professional baseball and the importance of player health and safety, especially for a team like the Royals that has been underwhelming so far this season.

The details

The 92.4 mph comebacker from Jose Ramirez, a star player for the Guardians, struck Ragans on the left thumb, causing him to exit the game early. While the injury was not severe, it serves as a reminder of the fragility of even the most talented pitchers.

  • Ragans exited Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians with a thumb contusion.
  • Tests revealed no fractures in Ragans' thumb.

The players

Cole Ragans

The Kansas City Royals' ace left-hander who has struggled with a 5.91 ERA and an 0-3 record this season.

Jose Ramirez

A star player for the Cleveland Guardians whose 92.4 mph comebacker struck Ragans on the left thumb.

Kansas City Royals

The struggling MLB team that Ragans pitches for, currently 5-7 on the season.

Cleveland Guardians

The opposing team that Ragans was facing when he suffered the thumb injury.

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What they’re saying

“I'm good to go for my next start.”

— Cole Ragans, Royals Pitcher

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Ragans' resilience and positive attitude are commendable, and it will be interesting to see if he can turn his season around and become a key factor in the Royals' success going forward.