The Kansas City Royals announced Cole Ragans will get the Opening Day starting pitching nod against the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday, March 27 at Kauffman Stadium.

This marks the second straight season Ragans has toed the rubber on Opening Day for KC. He finished the 2024 season with an 11-9 record and a 3.14 ERA. Ragans pitched in 32 games, making 32 starts and going 186.1 innings pitched, striking out 223 and walking 67.

So far in Spring Training, Ragans has made five starts with a 2-1 record and has 21 strikeouts and five walks in 14 innings of action.

The Royals and Guardians will open the season next Thursday with a 3:10 p.m. first pitch.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716411828410.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
                        <figcaption>Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>The Kansas City Royals announced Cole Ragans will get the Opening Day starting pitching nod against the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday, March 27 at Kauffman Stadium.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rollin&#39; with Ragans. <a href="https://t.co/WRxHtlrxVy">pic.twitter.com/WRxHtlrxVy</a></p>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1901415695629627892?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>This marks the second straight season Ragans has toed the rubber on Opening Day for KC. He finished the 2024 season with an 11-9 record and a 3.14 ERA. Ragans pitched in 32 games, making 32 starts and going 186.1 innings pitched, striking out 223 and walking 67.</p><p>So far in Spring Training, Ragans has made five starts with a 2-1 record and has 21 strikeouts and five walks in 14 innings of action.</p><p>The Royals and Guardians will open the season next Thursday with a 3:10 p.m. first pitch.</p>

⚾ Royals name Ragans Opening Day starter