Cole Ragans Has Emotional Message After Getting Opening Day Nod
Ragans seemed to appreciate being counted on to start the season for Kansas City.
The Kansas City Royals know who they want on the mound when the 2026 season begins, and it's no surprise that Cole Ragans is their guy. For the third year in a row, the 28-year-old lefty will take the ball on Opening Day when Kansas City travels to Atlanta to face the Braves on March 27. "It's something that I don't take for granted or don't take lightly," Ragans said.
"Just for them to have the belief in me to go out there and get us going means a lot. " Why the Royals Picked Ragans The decision was about as straightforward as it gets. When Ragans is healthy, he is one of the best pitchers in the American League, and the Royals have seen that with their own eyes.
In 2024, Ragans went 11-9 with a 3. 14 ERA across 32 starts while striking out 223 batters, which earned him his first All-Star selection and a fourth-place finish in AL Cy Young voting. Cole Ragans, 3Ks in the 1st.
pic. twitter. com/aIkSgttrfw ā Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 24, 2025 Manager Matt Quatraro did not hesitate when talking about the decision, calling Ragans a frontline starter and saying the team is better the more starts he makes.