Don’t let the team he plays for discourage you from drafting Cole Ragans in your Fantasy Baseball League. Find out why below!
Cole Ragans (Kansas City Royals) Age: 26 | 2023: 7-5 ERA: 3.47 WHIP: 1.16
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Thanks to his impressive performance, Cole Ragans burst onto the baseball scene in 2023 and has already achieved “ACE” status. In just 96 innings pitched, the 26-year-old left-hander struck out 113 batters and maintained an impressive 3.47 ERA, 3.19 FIP, and 1.16 WHIP. Although he can throw a fastball at speeds of 96-97 MPH, his changeup has caught the scouts’ attention, making him one to put on your radar in fantasy and real-life baseball. This pitch has an impressive 35.6% whiff rate.
Additionally, Ragans throws a cutter that averages 91-92 MPH approximately 15% of the time, which many describe as “nasty.” While his 47 walks are a bit concerning, they will likely improve as he gains more experience. Cole Ragans was traded to Kansas City in the previous season as a part of the deal that sent Aroldis Chapman to the Rangers. He made 12 starts for the Royals, performing exceptionally well, posting a dominant 2.64 ERA and 1.07 WHIP across 71 and two-thirds innings. Cole held hitters to a low .201 batting average, with a stellar 28% hard-hit rate and 44% ground-ball rate.
He will to continue to be a strong starter for Kansas City in the upcoming season, including opening day. The Kansas City Royals will outperform their 70.7 PECOTA win projection in 2024, so don’t hesitate to draft Ragans earlier than his average draft position.
Cole Ragans Player Profile
Cole Ragans is a left-handed pitcher who plays for the Kansas City Royals. He was born on December 12th, 1998, in Crawfordville, Florida. The Texas Rangers selected Ragans in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft. Ragans spent the initial years of his career in the Rangers minor league system. There, he demonstrated great potential as a powerful pitcher known for his fastball and curveball.
In 2018, Ragans had Tommy John surgery, which left him out of commission for the entire 2019 season. However, he made a comeback in 2021 and started playing for the Rangers’ High-A affiliate before getting traded to the Royals in July. Ragans has impressive potential, and the Royals see him as a promising young talent. Fans are eagerly anticipating his future success on the mound.
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