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If the 2026 season for the Royals couldn’t get any worse, the last blow might have just been dealt. Currently sitting tied with the Colorado Rockies for the worst record in baseball at 35-53 (.398), Kansas City has little room for error<\/a> if any hopes of a playoff berth still remain within the ballclub. Both the pitching and batting have faltered as the season’s gone on, and while reinforcements seemed imminent on the mound, Cole Ragans won’t be returning to action for quite a while.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Royals manager Matt Quatraro relayed to reporters on Thursday that<\/a> 28-year-old ace pitcher Cole Ragans underwent a UCL repair in his left elbow that will keep him sidelined for another 10-12 months. It’s an injury that the left-handed Ragans sustained in early May and<\/a> hadn’t been able to ramp up back to action much at all. It left the Royals perplexed as to what the ailment was and how serious.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Unfortunately, the questions have been answered as this injury was worse than anyone expected and will now keep Ragans out not only for the remainder of this season, but for at least the entire first half of next year as well. What this means for the Royals’ starting rotation<\/a> is simple. Not good. What it means for Cole Ragans’ future career aspirations might be even worse.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ragans came to the Royals by way of a trade with the Texas Rangers prior to the 2023 season. He had played and started in just nine games and posted a subpar 4.95 ERA. His first year in Kansas City was mainly acclimating to becoming a full-time starter, and in 2024, his second campaign with the Royals, Ragans broke out completely, making his first All-Star appearance and coming fourth in Cy Young voting. He pitched 186 innings over 32 starts with an impressive 3.14 ERA and 4.97 WAR.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nCole Ragans UCL repair surgery is a massive loss for KC and a career-altering injury for the LHP.<\/h2>\n