Ragans heads back to IL, Erceg returns following rehab assignment in Omaha

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Kansas City Royals pitcher Cole Ragans is headed to the injured list for the second time this season.

The Royals announced Wednesday that Ragans is heading to the 15-day injured list due to a left rotator cuff strain. The move comes after Ragans made one start following an initial stint on the injured list due to a groin strain.

Ragans pitched 3 innings, allowing 5 hits, 3 walks and 5 earned runs during a start against the St. Louis Cardinals last week. The left rotator cuff strain is another arm injury for Ragans, who has twice undergone Tommy John Surgery in his career.

This season, Ragans has a 5.18 ERA and a 2-3 record in 10 starts. After being one of the league leaders in strikeouts during an All-Star season in 2024, the Royals’ Opening Day starter has only gone six innings or more in two of his starts in 2025.

While Ragans heads to the injured list, standout reliever Lucas Erceg was reinstated from the injured list on Wednesday.

Erceg was placed on the IL in late May with what the club said was a low back strain. The Royals star reliever has a 1.96 ERA in 23 innings of work.

The Royals also made another bullpen swap, designating Trevor Richards for assignment and recalling Jonathan Bowlan from Triple-A Omaha. The two pitchers were shuffled between Omaha and Kansas City over the weekend after Bowlan pitched on consecutive days.

Richards appeared in three games with the Royals. He failed to record an out on Sunday in the ninth inning of Kansas City’s 7-5 win over the White Sox, leading closer Carlos Estevez to have to enter the game and extinguish a bases-loaded situation.

Bowlan has appeared in nine games this season with the Royals and has a 1-1 record and 4.09 ERA.

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