Cole Ragans named Opening Day starter

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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MAY 05: Cole Ragans #55 of the Kansas City Royals pitches during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium on May 05, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Opening Day is a day of tradition. And it is starting to become a tradition that Cole Ragans starts on Opening Day for the Royals.

Ragans was named the starter for the March 27 opener against the Braves in Atlanta, the third consecutive year he has been given the honor.

Cole Ragans will be the sixth pitcher in @Royals history to start on Opening Day in three (or more) consecutive seasons. The others:

RHP Gil Meche (3, 2007-09)
RHP Jeff Suppan (3, 2000-02)
RHP Kevin Appier (5, 1992-97)
LHP Bud Black (3, 1984-86)
RHP Dennis Leonard (3, 1978-80)

— Nick Kappel (@NickKappel) March 18, 2026

Ragans was limited to just 13 starts last year, missing two and a half months with a rotator cuff strain. He returned late in the year for three starts and gave up just four runs, striking out 22 of the 48 hitters he faced. Overall heahad a 4.67 ERA with 98 strikeouts in 61.2 innings, the second-highest strikeout rate in baseball for anyone with at last 50 innings.

Ragans has yet to win on Opening Day – he gave up two runs in six innings in a loss to the Twins in 2024 and gave up three runs in five innings in a no-decision to the Guardians last year.

The Royals have not officially named the rest of the starters, but the rotation is expected to include Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Kris Bubic, and Noah Cameron. Ryan Bergert was optioned to the minors on Tuesday.

Royals Opening Day starters​

Wally Bunker 1969-1970

Dick Drago 1971-1972

Steve Busby 1973, 1975

Paul Splittorff 1974, 1976-1977

Dennis Leonard 1978-1980, 1982

Larry Gura 1981, 1983

Bud Black 1984-1986

Danny Jackson 1987

Bret Saberhagen 1988, 1990-1991

Mark Gubicza 1989

Kevin Appier 1992-1997, 1999

Tim Belcher 1998

Jeff Suppan 2000-2002

Runelvys Hernandez 2003

Brian Anderson 2004

Jose Lima 2005

Scott Elarton 2006

Gil Meche 2007-2009

Zack Greinke 2010, 2022, 2023

Luke Hochevar 2011

Bruce Chen 2012

James Shields 2013-2014

Yordano Ventura 2015

Edinson Volquez 2016

Danny Duffy 2017-2018, 2020

Brad Keller 2019, 2021

Cole Ragans 2024-2026

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