{"id":2508616,"date":"2026-07-19T21:07:52","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T21:07:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2508616"},"modified":"2026-07-19T21:07:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T21:07:52","slug":"stephen-kolek-placed-on-15-day-injured-list-as-royals-injury-woes-continue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/stephen-kolek-placed-on-15-day-injured-list-as-royals-injury-woes-continue\/","title":{"rendered":"Stephen Kolek Placed on 15-Day Injured List as Royals&#8217; Injury Woes Continue"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div on-document:qinit=\"q-C9vkSXu6.js#_hW[0]\" q:key=\"QW_9\" q:id=\"6x\"><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=6y q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>It has been a rough first half of the 2026 season for the Kansas City Royals. At 40-59, Kansas City has also been plagued by injuries that have affected every part of the roster.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6z q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"70\">It has been a rough first half of the 2026 season for the Kansas City Royals. At 40-59, Kansas City has also been plagued by injuries that have affected every part of the roster.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=71 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>In 2025, the Royals&#39; rotation was haunted by injuries. Unfortunately, the same has been true this season.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=72 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"73\">In 2025, the Royals&#8217; rotation was haunted by injuries. Unfortunately, the same has been true this season.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=74 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Kansas City announced Sunday that another starting pitcher has been placed on the injured list.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=75 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"76\">Kansas City announced Sunday that another starting pitcher has been placed on the injured list.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=77 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<h2>Stephen Kolek lands on 15-day injured list<\/h2>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=78 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"inline-text-3\" class=\"scroll-mt-24 my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"79\">Stephen Kolek lands on 15-day injured list<\/h2>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=7a q:key=vcaa:https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_6166,h_3468,x_0,y_110\/images\/ReutersImages\/mmsport\/inside_the_royals\/01kxy2fzqb5qj29kpt25.jpg--><!--qv q:id=7b q:key=VjqC:mL_1--><!--qv q:id=7c q:key=deAA:7d_3--><!--qv q:s q:sref=7c q:key=--><!--qv q:id=7d q:key=deAA:7d_2--><!--qv q:s q:sref=7d q:key=--><!--qv q:id=7e q:key=cHU9:7d_1--><!--qv q:id=7f q:key=deAA:e2_0--><!--qv q:id=7g q:key=B0c2:SZ_1--><\/p>\n<figure q:key=\"9m_3\" q:id=\"7h\"><!--qv q:s q:sref=7g q:key=--><!--qv q:s q:sref=7f q:key=--><\/p>\n<div class=\"overflow-hidden undefined\" on:qvisible=\"q-HNKMx1Ny.js#_hW[0]\" on-document:qinit=\"q-BXWQ7fFR.js#_hW[1]\" q:id=\"7i\"><picture style=\"aspect-ratio: 16 \/ 9\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_110,w_6166,h_3468\/c_fill,w_360,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FReutersImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01kxy2fzqb5qj29kpt25.jpg 1x, &#10;    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_110,w_6166,h_3468\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FReutersImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01kxy2fzqb5qj29kpt25.jpg 2x, &#10;    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_110,w_6166,h_3468\/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FReutersImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01kxy2fzqb5qj29kpt25.jpg 3x\" media=\"(max-width: 719px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_110,w_6166,h_3468\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FReutersImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01kxy2fzqb5qj29kpt25.jpg 1x,&#10;    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_110,w_6166,h_3468\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FReutersImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01kxy2fzqb5qj29kpt25.jpg 2x, &#10;    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_110,w_6166,h_3468\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FReutersImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01kxy2fzqb5qj29kpt25.jpg 3x\" media=\"(max-width: 1079px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_110,w_6166,h_3468\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FReutersImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01kxy2fzqb5qj29kpt25.jpg 1x,&#10;    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_110,w_6166,h_3468\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FReutersImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01kxy2fzqb5qj29kpt25.jpg 2x,&#10;    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_110,w_6166,h_3468\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FReutersImages%2Fmmsport%2Finside_the_royals%2F01kxy2fzqb5qj29kpt25.jpg 3x\" media=\"(min-width: 1080px)\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><\/p>\n<p><figcaption q:id=\"7k\">Jun 14, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Stephen Kolek (32) reacts after a defensive stop during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=7l q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>The Royals announced before Sunday&#39;s game against the San Diego Padres that starting pitcher Stephen Kolek was <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Royals\/status\/2078872693961789905\" target=\"_blank\">placed on the 15-day injured list<\/a> with a right flexor strain. Kolek was reinstated from the restricted list\/family medical leave.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=7m q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-5\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7n\">The Royals announced before Sunday&#8217;s game against the San Diego Padres that starting pitcher Stephen Kolek was <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Royals\/status\/2078872693961789905\" target=\"_blank\">placed on the 15-day injured list<\/a> with a right flexor strain. Kolek was reinstated from the restricted list\/family medical leave.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=7o q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Kolek made a rehab start with Triple-A Omaha on Saturday with the hope of returning to Kansas City as soon as this week. Instead, he exited the outing early with a right flexor strain, leaving his timeline uncertain.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=7p q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-6\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7q\">Kolek made a rehab start with Triple-A Omaha on Saturday with the hope of returning to Kansas City as soon as this week. Instead, he exited the outing early with a right flexor strain, leaving his timeline uncertain.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=7r q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>This is another injury setback for Kansas City. Kolek has put together a solid 2026 campaign and has been a productive arm for the Royals this year.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=7s q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7t\">This is another injury setback for Kansas City. Kolek has put together a solid 2026 campaign and has been a productive arm for the Royals this year.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=7u q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Through 54 innings this season, Kolek owns a 4.50 ERA. One of the biggest strengths of the 29-year-old&#39;s campaign has been his ability to limit walks. He has issued just 12 walks, good for a 5.4% walk rate that ranks in the 93rd percentile, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/baseballsavant.mlb.com\/savant-player\/stephen-kolek-663568?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb\" target=\"_blank\">according to Statcast<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=7v q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7w\">Through 54 innings this season, Kolek owns a 4.50 ERA. One of the biggest strengths of the 29-year-old&#8217;s campaign has been his ability to limit walks. He has issued just 12 walks, good for a 5.4% walk rate that ranks in the 93rd percentile, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/baseballsavant.mlb.com\/savant-player\/stephen-kolek-663568?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb\" target=\"_blank\">according to Statcast<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=7x q:key=vcaa:https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=oPPbtiOzpjQ--><!--qv q:id=7y q:key=S4yS:mL_1--><!--qv q:id=7z q:key=EEns:AJ_0--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=81 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Another area in which Kolek has found success is generating ground balls. He has posted a 46% ground-ball rate this season.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=82 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-10\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"83\">Another area in which Kolek has found success is generating ground balls. He has posted a 46% ground-ball rate this season.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=84 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Kolek&#39;s production this year was highlighted by his second career complete-game shutout in late May. In a 5-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners, the right-hander dominated on the mound.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=85 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-11\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"86\">Kolek&#8217;s production this year was highlighted by his second career complete-game shutout in late May. In a 5-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners, the right-hander dominated on the mound.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=87 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>In 108 pitches, he allowed just four hits, one walk and struck out two batters. The victory, anchored by Kolek&#39;s complete-game shutout, snapped Kansas City&#39;s four-game losing streak.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=88 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-12\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"89\">In 108 pitches, he allowed just four hits, one walk and struck out two batters. The victory, anchored by Kolek&#8217;s complete-game shutout, snapped Kansas City&#8217;s four-game losing streak.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=8a q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Kolek joins Kris Bubic, who is on the 60-day injured list, and Cole Ragans, whose 2026 season ended after undergoing left elbow surgery. The injuries continue to for Kansas City, adding to an already frustrating season.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=8b q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-13\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8c\">Kolek joins Kris Bubic, who is on the 60-day injured list, and Cole Ragans, whose 2026 season ended after undergoing left elbow surgery. The injuries continue to for Kansas City, adding to an already frustrating season.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:id=8d q:key=1jXG:QW_7--><!--qv q:id=8e q:key=9yVI:Ef_0--><\/p>\n<div on:click=\"q-PR6RmUkK.js#s_Ytib2zHV0Tc[0 1]\" q:key=\"WY_1\" q:id=\"8f\"><!--qv q:s q:sref=8e q:key=--><\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"google-news-widget\" class=\"voltax-google-preferred-source my-5 p-4 flex items-center gap-4 rounded-lg bg-[#F0F0F0]\">\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 flex-1 items-center gap-3\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\" class=\"shrink-0\"\/><span class=\"font-group-big text-black text-[16px]\">Add us as a preferred source on <span class=\"font-bold\">Google<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Follow si.com on Google News\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=si.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"flex h-[30px] w-[30px] shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-primary font-group-large text-sm font-medium text-white transition-colors hover:bg-secondary focus:bg-secondary md:w-auto md:gap-2.5 md:px-4 md:py-[5px]\"><span class=\"hidden pt-[1px] leading-[1.4] md:inline\">Follow<\/span><svg viewbox=\"0 0 4 8\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"h-[12px] w-[6px] md:h-[8px] md:w-[4px]\"><path d=\"M0.5 0.5L3.5 4L0.5 7.5\" stroke=\"white\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/div>\n<p><!--\/qv--><\/div>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><\/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>It has been a rough first half of the 2026 season for the Kansas City Royals. At 40-59, Kansas City has also been plagued by injuries that have affected every part of the roster. In 2025, the Royals&#8217; rotation was haunted by injuries. Unfortunately, the same has been true this season. Kansas City announced Sunday [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2508617,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":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-2508616","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-royalty"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Stephen-Kolek-Placed-on-15-Day-Injured-List-as-Royals-Injury.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2508616","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=2508616"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2508616\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2508618,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2508616\/revisions\/2508618"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2508617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2508616"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2508616"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2508616"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}