Royals Place Cole Ragans on IL, Return Uncertain

The Kansas City Royals have placed All-Star left-hander Cole Ragans on the 15-day injured list with a left rotator cuff strain, his second IL stint this season after a recent groin injury. Ragans last pitched on June 5 against the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing five runs over three innings in his first game back. The timeline for his return is uncertain, as the rotator cuff issue may require more than the minimum 15 days of recovery. Despite Ragans' absence, the Royals' rotation remains stable with six available starters, including Kris Bubic, Noah Cameron, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, and Michael Lorenzen. The club also reinstated reliever Lucas Erceg from the injured list, recalled right-hander Jonathan Bowlan from Triple-A Omaha, and designated Trevor Richards for assignment. Ragans, who finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting in 2024, holds a 2-3 record with a 5.18 ERA this season.