CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 08: Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans (55) leaves the game during the first inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians on April 8, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH.

Royals' Ragans exits after pitching hand struck by liner

9 days ago
Icon Sportswire / Getty

Kansas City Royals ace Cole Ragans left Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians after taking a comebacker off his pitching hand.

Ragans was hit by a José Ramírez liner in the first inning.

The Royals announced Ragans suffered a thumb contusion, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com.

Manager Matt Quatraro said postgame that Ragans didn't break any bones, per Royals broadcaster Joel Goldberg.

The left-hander initially stayed in the game after a lengthy visit by Quatraro and head athletic trainer Kyle Turner but departed after facing the next two hitters - including Chase DeLauter, who hit a two-run double.

Ragans logged just 61 2/3 innings (13 starts) in 2025 due to multiple injuries.

The 28-year-old finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting in 2024.

XRedditFacebookWhatsAppEmailSMS
MORE STORIES