The Kansas City Royals took another major injury hit when ace Cole Ragans exited his start on May 6 after three innings. The left-hander was diagnosed with triceps soreness and elbow soreness afterward.
“It got to a point where I didn’t feel like I needed to push it anymore,” Ragans told MLB.com’s Anne Rogers. “Talked to [pitching coach Brian] Sweeney and all of them, and figured that was the best decision.”
The following day, Rogers dropped a concerning update regarding both Ragans and closer Carlos Estevez. Ragans has a valgus extension overload in his left elbow, and Estevez has a rotator cuff strain.
Both injuries are very concerning for the Royals, who’ve won nine of their last 12 games to climb out of an 8-17 start. They sit only 2.5 games back of the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central division. Any lengthy absence for both Ragans and Estevez could undermine their attempts to win their first division title since their 2015 championship season.
Royals Await Cole Ragans’ Test Results on Injured Elbow
With Ragans nursing an elbow problem, the Royals have to be careful to prevent a more significant injury. The next few days will determine what the next steps are, per Rogers. A valgus extension overload, also known as pitcher’s elbow, is an overuse injury involving the elbow.
Rogers reported that Ragans underwent testing. That likely will include imaging of his injured elbow to see if there is any structural damage. The left-hander told Rogers that he felt good and nothing out of the ordinary. Ragans has undergone two Tommy John procedures as a prospect in the Texas Rangers‘ system.
“I’ve been through the elbow stuff,” Ragans told Rogers. “I know it’s not what I’ve been through before. We’ll do some other stuff and kind of go from there.”
Manager Matt Quatraro expressed optimism, believing it to not be serious, and is hopeful that his ace will make his next start.
Should Ragans require a stint on the injured list, the club could turn to Stephen Kolek or Mitch Spence to fill that spot in the rotation.
Carlos Estevez Shut Down with Rotator Cuff Strain
The latest setback for Estevez continues the trend of a nightmare season for the Royals’ closer. His velocity was down 5 MPH in Spring Training, averaging 89.4 MPH, and hasn’t completely recovered.
In his lone outing, which came on Opening Day, he yielded four runs in a third of an inning. His appearance ended when he was struck in the left foot by a Michael Harris II comebacker, and he was subsequently placed on the injured list.
Estevez had embarked on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha. He was pulled from his May 6 outing when his velocity was reported down, per Rogers. According to Baseball Savant’s Statcast search, the right-hander averaged 90.0 MPH on his four-seamer, lower than the 91.2 MPH figure from his lone MLB outing.
With a rotator cuff issue, Estevez will be shut down for at least the next three weeks. During his absence, right-hander Lucas Erceg has assumed the closer’s role. Erceg has been a solid stopper for the Royals, with a 3.52 ERA and an American League-leading 10 saves.
So while Estevez hopes to get back to at least his 2025 form when he saved 42 games, the team is in good hands with the back of their bullpen. Erceg, Daniel Lynch IV, Matt Strahm, and Nick Mears have combined for 32 shutdowns and only eight meltdowns. The Royals can afford to continue to rely on those four relievers while their closer gets healthy.
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