Kansas City Royals' Breakout Lefty Named Opening Day Starter

Cole Ragans, who impressed after being acquired in a trade last season with the Texas Rangers, has been named the Opening Day starter for the Kansas City Royals.

The Kansas City Royals have named left-handed pitcher Cole Ragans as their Opening Day starter.

Per Anne Rogers of MLB.com:

Cole Ragans will be the #Royals Opening Day starter, the team announces.

Cole Ragans will be the #Royals Opening Day starter, the team announces.

— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) March 18, 2024

The 26-year-old was a breakout sensation for the Royals a season ago and is looking to continue his ascent in 2024. He was acquired in a midseason trade last year with the Texas Rangers (for Aroldis Chapman), and immediately paid big dividends. As a starter with Kansas City, he went 5-2 with a 2.64 ERA.

He made his major league debut with Texas in 2022 and is 7-8 lifetime with a 3.90 ERA. He served in both starter and reliever capacities with Texas but is now set to try to become a frontline ace.

Given his success last year, it's not surprising that he earned the Opening Day start, but it's still noteworthy he was given the honor over the longer-tenured Brady Singer and the higher-paid Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha, who were signed this offseason to multi-year deals.

The Royals finished fifth in the American League Central last season and had the second-worst record in baseball but they are hoping to greatly improve this year after signing Wacha, Lugo, Adam Frazier, Hunter Renfroe, Chris Stratton and Will Smith. Furthermore, they will get a full season of Ragans and just locked up superstar Bobby Witt Jr. to a long-term deal.

The Royals open the season on March 28 at home against the division-rival Minnesota Twins. First pitch of that game is set for 4:10 p.m. ET.

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