There’s a new ace in town, and his name is Cole Ragans. The Kansas City Royals have seemingly found themselves an ace, and he’s helping them put all the pieces together. After April’s slate of games, the Royals are 18-13 and find themselves in second place in the AL Central. They’re only trailing the Cleveland Guardians, who got off to a scorching start. On Tuesday, Cole Ragans was on the mound when the Royals secured their 17th victory in April. Those 17 wins are a Royals franchise record for the most wins in April.
#HEYHEYHEYHEY-PRIL
Our 17 wins in the month of April are a new franchise record! pic.twitter.com/JJLNaKIyIn
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) May 1, 2024
Royals Franchise Record Led by Cole Ragans
Ragans, 26, had a breakout season in 2023 and came into his own after joining the team from the Texas Rangers. Ragans was part of the trade that netted the Rangers Aroldis Chapman for their World Series run. He also started the game in which the Royals franchise record was set at 17 wins in April.
His final line against the Toronto Blue Jays was stellar. Ragans threw 6.1 innings, allowing only four hits and one run. He walked three and struck out nine while securing the win, improving to 2-2 on the season and making this year’s Royals franchise history.
The left-hander only had one bad start this season, and that was against the Baltimore Orioles, who are ripping the cover off the ball. Ragans is currently in the 80th percentile in whiff percentage, 75th percentile for K%, and has limited hard contact outside the Orioles start. He has emerged as their shutdown ace, totaling 36.2 innings with a 3.44 ERA. Ragans has struck out 46 batters and displays the level of dominance typical of aces.. The only knock on Ragans is the traffic he allows. He’s walked 13 batters this season and given up 37 hits. That makes his WHIP work out to a 1.27, which is higher than you’d like to see.
The Royals by the Numbers
Coming into the season, some analysts believed in the Royals young core and that they’d take a step forward. Much of that involved franchise shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and the extension he signed in the offseason.
The Royals franchise record 17 wins in April didn’t just happen because of two players, though. During the season, the Royals offense is 13th in runs scored, and the pitching staff is 7th in MLB. Their run differential of +45 is tied for second in MLB with the Atlanta Braves. En route to the Royals franchise record for wins in April, the team has really come out firing on all cylinders, even if their offense could stand to find another gear.
If the Royals can continue this run, they’ll make some noise in an AL Central that seems up for grabs each year. With Cole Ragans leading the way for a starting staff that’s third in MLB in ERA, the Royals can continue this stellar start to the season and build on the franchise record.
