{"id":2050645,"date":"2025-09-26T01:54:25","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T01:54:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2050645"},"modified":"2025-09-26T01:54:25","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T01:54:25","slug":"royals-28-year-old-may-have-won-himself-a-starting-job-next-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/royals-28-year-old-may-have-won-himself-a-starting-job-next-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Royals 28-Year-Old May Have Won Himself A Starting Job Next Season"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"style_hfl21i-o_O-style_uhlm2\"\/>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_n3sdw7zju\">Having a long and successful career in Major League Baseball is all about seizing an opportunity &#8212; which might only come around once for any individual player.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_w7veiv4uf\">Kansas City Royals right-handed pitcher Stephen Kolek has never been a lock to be a successful big-leaguer. He was a much less heralded prospect than his older brother Tyler, and after he was selected in the 11th round of the 2018 draft, he bounced around three minor-league systems.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_oq5uyngtg\">Kolek debuted last season with the San Diego Padres, but his trade to the Royals this summer may have jump-started his career. It all depends on how much the Royals are willing to believe the pitcher they saw this month can keep up the good work. <\/p>\n<div data-mm-id=\"_izmwda3jx\" class=\"\">\n<div class=\"style_120ff32\">\n<figure data-id=\"_izmwda3jx\" class=\"base_1ruub6q\" data-mm-type=\"image\"><canvas class=\"style_1e28o3x-o_O-initial_9vayoh\"\/><picture class=\"base_1emrqjj-o_O-initial_fzbddc-o_O-style_1a1csmw\"><source\/><source\/><source\/><img class=\"base_1emrqjj-o_O-initial_fzbddc-o_O-style_1a1csmw\" alt=\"Stephen Kolek\" title=\"Stephen Kolek\"\/><\/picture><noscript><picture class=\"base_1emrqjj\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_4799,h_2699,x_0,y_1\/c_fill,w_360,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01k60q6hq7y5nnsy8xqc.jpg 1x, https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_4799,h_2699,x_0,y_1\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01k60q6hq7y5nnsy8xqc.jpg 2x, https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_4799,h_2699,x_0,y_1\/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01k60q6hq7y5nnsy8xqc.jpg 3x\" media=\"(max-width: 719px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_4799,h_2699,x_0,y_1\/c_fill,w_620,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01k60q6hq7y5nnsy8xqc.jpg 1x, https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_4799,h_2699,x_0,y_1\/c_fill,w_1240,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01k60q6hq7y5nnsy8xqc.jpg 2x, https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_4799,h_2699,x_0,y_1\/c_fill,w_1240,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01k60q6hq7y5nnsy8xqc.jpg 3x\" media=\"(max-width: 1079px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_4799,h_2699,x_0,y_1\/c_fill,w_620,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01k60q6hq7y5nnsy8xqc.jpg 1x, https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_4799,h_2699,x_0,y_1\/c_fill,w_1240,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01k60q6hq7y5nnsy8xqc.jpg 2x, https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_4799,h_2699,x_0,y_1\/c_fill,w_1240,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01k60q6hq7y5nnsy8xqc.jpg 3x\" media=\"(min-width: 1080px)\"\/><\/picture><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<p><figcaption class=\"tagStyle_1ulimm5-o_O-text_1j8vahs\">Sep 11, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Stephen Kolek (32) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images \/ David Richard-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_qcus97vjn\">Kolek arrived alongside fellow righty Ryan Bergert in the trade with San Diego, and it was Bergert who immediately joined the major league rotation. Kolek was kicked to Triple-A Omaha, but injuries to other starters allowed him five starts with the Royals down the stretch.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_u1n9utg6s\">In those five starts, though, he put up a snazzy 1.91 ERA and allowed just 23 baserunners in 33 innings. The Royals quite obviously won&#8217;t tip their hand this soon, but Kolek just may have done enough to earn himself a rotation look next spring. <\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_iyvy6dvlk\">\u201cHe should have a lot of confidence,\u201d manager Matt Quatraro said after Kolek&#8217;s final start of the season on Wednesday (<a target=\"_blank\" class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_1gn6yjz\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/royals\/news\/stephen-kolek-battles-as-royals-lose-vs-angels\" target=\"_blank\">via Anne Rogers<\/a> of MLB.com). \u201cHe took advantage of his opportunity and did a great job. There\u2019s a lot to like about what we saw.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_r0e7w4nur\">The existing starting pitching depth the Royals have won&#8217;t work in Kolek&#8217;s favor. If everyone is healthy coming into camp, the Royals probably have five locks: Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Kris Bubic, Michael Wacha, and Noah Cameron.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_4n31pou2w\">However, the Royals know that injuries are a near certainty for starting pitchers at this point. A year ago, Alec Marsh was likely a preseason favorite to grab a rotation spot &#8212; and he never wound up throwing a pitch all season. <\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_cs2g8ovp5\">Kolek will get his shot next season at some point as long as he stays healthy. And if he proves this five-start stretch was no fluke, he just might ingrain himself in the Royals&#8217; long-term plans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_zezo6uyjm\"><em><strong>More MLB: <\/strong><\/em><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_1gn6yjz\" href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/royals\/news\/predicting-3-royals-who-won-t-be-back-after-disappointing-2025-season-jackson3\"><em><strong>Predicting 3 Royals Who Won&#8217;t Be Back After Disappointing 2025 Season<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.si.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Having a long and successful career in Major League Baseball is all about seizing an opportunity &#8212; which might only come around once for any individual player. Kansas City Royals right-handed pitcher Stephen Kolek has never been a lock to be a successful big-leaguer. He was a much less heralded prospect than his older brother [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2050646,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2050645","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-royalty"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Royals-28-Year-Old-May-Have-Won-Himself-A-Starting-Job-Next.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2050645","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2050645"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2050645\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2050646"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2050645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2050645"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2050645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}