Cole Ragans
{{short description|American baseball player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Cole Ragans
|image = Cole Ragans (53063037130) (cropped).jpg
|caption = Ragans with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2023
|team = Kansas City Royals
|number = 55
|position = Pitcher
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|12|12}}
|birth_place = Gainesville, Florida, U.S.
|bats = Left
|throws = Left
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate = August 4
|debutyear = 2022
|debutteam = Texas Rangers
|statleague = MLB
|statyear = May 16, 2025
|stat1label = Win–loss record
|stat1value = 20–20
|stat2label = Earned run average
|stat2value = 3.60
|stat3label = Strikeouts
|stat3value = 435
|teams =
- Texas Rangers ({{mlby|2022}}–{{mlby|2023}})
- Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2023}}–present)
| awards =
}}
Cole Gatlin Ragans (born December 12, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Texas Rangers.
Amateur career
Ragans attended North Florida Christian High School in Tallahassee, Florida.{{cite news|url=http://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/preps/2016/06/08/nfcs-ragans-equally-ready-college-pros/85595256/|title=NFC's Ragans equally ready for college or pros|newspaper=Tallahassee Democrat|author=Miller, Brian|date=June 8, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/preps/2016/02/18/baseball-preview-cole-ragans-ace-nfcs-new-pitching-staff/80593658/|title=Baseball preview: Cole Ragans the ace of NFC's new pitching staff|newspaper=Tallahassee Democrat|access-date=July 5, 2016}}{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Brian |date=June 9, 2016 |title=NFC pitcher Ragans chosen in 1st round of MLB draft |url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/2016/06/09/nfcs-ragans-drafted-st-round-texas-rangers/85680722/ |access-date=August 4, 2022 |website=Tallahassee Democrat}} In his senior season, Ragans went 9–0 with a 0.90 ERA and 104 strikeouts over 70 innings. He committed to play college baseball for the Florida State Seminoles.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Brian |date=April 29, 2016 |title=FSU recruit Cole Ragans tosses shutout as NFC beats St. Joseph in regional baseball semifinal |url=https://www.staugustine.com/story/sports/high-school/2016/04/30/fsu-recruit-cole-ragans-tosses-shutout-nfc-beats-st-joseph-regional/16310355007/ |access-date=August 4, 2022 |website=St. Augustine Record}}
Professional career
=Texas Rangers=
Ragans was drafted by the Texas Rangers, with the 30th overall selection, in the first round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/mlb/texas-rangers/article82916902.html|title=Rangers select high school lefty Cole Ragans with No. 30 pick|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|access-date=July 5, 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/texas-rangers/rangers/2016/06/09/five-things-know-first-round-pick-lhp-cole-ragans-including-similarity-rangers-ace|title=Five things to know about first-round pick Cole Ragans, including his similarities to a Rangers ace|date=June 10, 2016|newspaper=The Dallas Morning News|access-date=July 5, 2016}} He signed with Texas for a $2,003,400 signing bonus.{{Cite web |last=Posner |first=Ryan |date=June 14, 2016 |title=Rangers agree to terms with top 3 Draft picks |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/rangers-agree-with-1st-round-pick-cole-ragans-c183983110 |access-date=August 4, 2022 |website=MLB.com}}
After signing, Ragans was assigned to the AZL Rangers of the Rookie-level Arizona League, posting a 4.70 ERA in {{frac|7|2|3}} innings. He spent 2017 with the Spokane Indians of the Low-A Northwest League, where he pitched to a 3–2 record and a 3.61 ERA along with 87 strikeouts in {{frac|57|1|3}} innings.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=666142#/career/R/pitching/2017/ALL|title=Cole Ragans Stats, Highlights, Bio|website=MiLB.com|access-date=May 29, 2018}}
Ragans underwent Tommy John surgery in March 2018 and missed all of the 2018 season.{{cite web|author=RotoWire Staff |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rangers-cole-ragans-undergoes-tommy-john-surgery-647349/|title=Rangers' Cole Ragans: Undergoes Tommy John surgery|website=CBSSports.com|date=March 28, 2018 |access-date=July 6, 2018}} On May 14, 2019, the Rangers announced that Ragans had suffered a tear in the graft of his surgically repaired left elbow during his rehabilitation process. The tear resulted in a second Tommy John procedure which resulted in him missing the entire 2019 season.{{cite news|author=Jeff Wilson|url=https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/mlb/texas-rangers/article230384284.html|title=Ragans' comeback from Tommy John halted. It's more bad news for a Rangers prospect|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|date=May 14, 2019|access-date=May 14, 2019}} Ragans did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ragans opened the 2021 season with the Hickory Crawdads of the High-A East.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/cole-ragans-returns-from-second-tommy-john-surgery/|title=Cole Ragans Returns From Second Tommy John Surgery|author=Jeff Wilson|website=Baseball America|date=May 29, 2021|access-date=June 2, 2021}} In June 2021, Ragans was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2021-futures-game-rosters|title=Futures Game rosters are STACKED|author=Jim Callis|website=MLB.com|date=June 30, 2021|access-date=June 30, 2021}}{{Cite web|last=de los Santos|first=Justice|date=June 30, 2021|title=Winn, Ragans to rep Texas at Futures Game|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/rangers-prospects-cole-winn-cole-ragans-to-all-star-futures-game|access-date=July 19, 2021|website=MLB.com}} Ragans was promoted to the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Central on July 18, after going 1–2 with a 3.25 ERA and 54 strikeouts over {{frac|44|1|3}} innings for Hickory.{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=RotoWire|date=July 19, 2021|title=Rangers' Cole Ragans: Debuts in Double-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rangers-cole-ragans-debuts-in-double-a/|access-date=July 19, 2021|website=CBSSports.com}} He finished 2021 after posting a 3–1 record with a 5.70 ERA and 33 strikeouts over {{frac|36|1|3}} innings for Frisco. Ragans returned to Frisco to open the 2022 season, going 5–3 with a 2.81 ERA and 65 strikeouts over {{frac|51|1|3}} innings, before being promoted to the Round Rock Express of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League on June 14.{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=Evan |date=June 13, 2022 |title=Rangers promote pitching prospect Cole Ragans to AAA Round Rock |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/rangers/2022/06/13/rangers-promote-pitching-prospect-cole-ragans-to-aaa-round-rock/ |access-date=June 17, 2022 |website=The Dallas Morning News}} Over 8 starts for Round Rock, Ragans went 3–2 with a 3.32 ERA and 48 strikeouts over {{frac|43|1|3}} innings.{{Cite magazine |last=Postins |first=Matthew |date=August 3, 2022 |title=First-Round Pick to Make Rangers, MLB Debut |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/news/cole-ragans-mlb-debut-texas-chicago-white-sox-first-round |access-date=August 4, 2022 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}} He was named the Texas Rangers 2022 Nolan Ryan Pitcher of the Year.{{Cite web |last=Bigley |first=Zach |date=October 3, 2022 |title=Former Riders sweep 2022 Rangers MiLB awards |url=https://www.milb.com/news/former-riders-sweep-2022-rangers-milb-awards |access-date=November 20, 2022 |website=MiLB.com |language=}}
On August 4, 2022, Texas selected Ragans' contract and promoted him to the active roster for the first time.{{Cite web |last=Hoyt |first=Joseph |date=August 3, 2022 |title=Touted Rangers prospect Cole Ragans' perseverance finally leads to first MLB callup |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/rangers/2022/08/03/touted-rangers-pitching-prospect-cole-ragans-to-make-mlb-debut/ |access-date=August 4, 2022 |website=The Dallas Morning News}}{{cite magazine |last1=Postins |first1=Matthew |title=First-Round Pick to Make Rangers, MLB Debut |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/news/cole-ragans-mlb-debut-texas-chicago-white-sox-first-round |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=August 5, 2022 |language=en |date=August 3, 2022}} In his MLB debut that night versus the Chicago White Sox, Ragans allowed one unearned run over five innings while recording three strikeouts.{{Cite magazine |last=Postins |first=Matthew |date=August 4, 2022 |title=Cole Ragans Debuts in Rangers Victory |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/news/cole-ragans-mlb-debut-texas-beats-chicago-white-sox-mlb-recap |access-date=August 5, 2022 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}} Over 9 game for Texas, Ragans went 0–3 with a 4.96 ERA and 27 strikeouts over 40 innings in 2022.{{Cite magazine |last=Postins |first=Matthew |date=October 29, 2022 |title=Rangers 40-Man Roster Wraps: Cole Ragans |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/news/texas-rangers-40-man-roster-cole-ragans-profile-review-offseason |access-date=November 20, 2022 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=}} He went 2-3 with a 5.92 ERA in 17 appearances with the Rangers in 2023.
=Kansas City Royals=
On June 30, 2023, the Rangers traded Ragans and minor league outfielder Roni Cabrera to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Aroldis Chapman.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/aroldis-chapman-traded-to-rangers|title=Royals send Chapman to Rangers for 2 players|work=MLB.com|date=June 30, 2023|first=Anne|last=Rogers}} After joining the Royals and moving from the bullpen, where he had made all of his 2023 appearances with Texas, to the starting rotation, Ragans saw increased success across his first 47 innings with Kansas City.{{cite web|url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-cole-train-has-taken-kansas-city-by-storm/|title=The Cole Train Has Taken Kansas City by Storm|work=FanGraphs|date=September 5, 2023|first=Esteban|last=Rivera}} He received the AL Pitcher of the Month Award for his performance in the month of August.
In 2024, after posting a 3.28 ERA in 19 starts, Ragans was selected to his first All-Star Game.{{Cite web |last=Rooney |first=Liam |title=Former NFC, current Kansas City Royals pitcher Cole Ragans selected to MLB All-Star Game |url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/2024/07/08/former-nfc-baseball-star-cole-ragans-selected-to-mlb-all-star-game/74323230007/ |access-date=September 2, 2024 |website=Tallahassee Democrat |language=en-US}} On September 6, in a game versus the Minnesota Twins, Ragans became the fifth pitcher in Royals history (after Zack Greinke in 2009, Kevin Appier in 1996, Dennis Leonard in 1977, and Bob Johnson in 1970) to strike out 200 batters in a single season.{{Cite web |title=With record-setting 200th K, Ragans helps Royals pass Twins for 2nd place |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/cole-ragans-makes-royals-history-strikes-out-200th-batter-win-vs-twins |access-date=September 7, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}
On February 14, 2025, Ragans signed a three-year, $13.25 million contract with the Royals covering his final pre-arbitration year and his first two arbitration years. Ragans will earn $1.25 million in 2025, $4.5 million in 2026, and $7.5 million in 2027.{{cite web|title=Royals reward Ragans with new 3-year contract|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/cole-ragans-new-contract-with-royals|work=MLB.com|date=February 15, 2025|first=Anne|last=Rogers}} In his first 10 starts for the Royals, he logged a 2-3 record and 5.18 ERA with 76 strikeouts. On June 11, Ragans was placed on the injured list with a rotator cuff strain;{{Cite web|title=Royals Place Cole Ragans On IL With Rotator Cuff Strain|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/06/royals-place-cole-ragans-on-il-with-rotator-cuff-strain.html|access-date=July 8, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} he was transferred to the 60-day injured list on July 8.{{Cite web|title=Royals Select Cam Devanney, Transfer Cole Ragans To 60-Day IL|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/07/royals-select-cam-devanney-transfer-cole-ragans-to-60-day-il.html|access-date=July 8, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{baseballstats|mlb=666142|espn=41054|br=r/raganco01|fangraphs=21846|brm=ragans000col|retro=R/Pragac001}}
{{2016 MLB Draft}}
{{Texas Rangers first-round draft picks}}
{{Kansas City Royals Opening Day starting pitchers}}
{{Kansas City Royals roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ragans, Cole}}
Category:American League All-Stars
Category:Arizona League Rangers players
Category:Baseball players from Gainesville, Florida
Category:Frisco RoughRiders players
Category:Hickory Crawdads players
Category:Kansas City Royals players
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers
Category:Omaha Storm Chasers players
Category:Round Rock Express players