Cole Ragans, the ace for the Kansas City Royals, is currently positioned as a leading contender for the American League Cy Young Award, boasting the third-best odds at +850, trailing only Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers and Garrett Crochet of the Boston Red Sox.
In the 2024 season, Ragans showcased his prowess on the mound, finishing with an 11-9 record and a 3.14 ERA. His performance was pivotal in leading the Royals back to postseason play, where they triumphed over the Baltimore Orioles in the wild card round before facing the New York Yankees in the ALDS.
Ragans, a former first-round draft pick by the Texas Rangers in 2016, was traded to the Royals in 2023. He emerged as one of the top strikeout pitchers, registering 223 strikeouts in 186.1 innings, and led the American League in strikeouts per nine innings. His impressive season earned him a spot in the All-Star Game and a fourth-place finish in the Cy Young voting.
With a career record of 18-17 and a 3.46 ERA, Ragans forms a strong starting rotation alongside Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo. The Royals, who finished second in the American League Central, are aiming for greater success in 2024, having already added infielder Jonathan India to their roster.
