Royals Well-Represented at WBC - But Cole Ragans Has His Eyes on October
The Kansas City Royals will be sending a strong contingent to the 2026 World Baseball Classic, with several key players suiting up for their home countries. But one of their biggest names - and arguably their most important arm - won’t be making the trip.
Let’s start with who will be playing. Bobby Witt Jr., the Royals’ electric shortstop and franchise cornerstone, is set to represent Team USA.
Over in the Venezuelan dugout, veteran catcher Salvador Perez and rising infielder Maikel Garcia will suit up for a squad that’s always dangerous in international play. Italy’s roster will feature a pair of Royals in Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone, while Seth Lugo is headed to Puerto Rico’s pitching staff.
Carlos Estévez, another key arm in the Royals’ stable, will represent the Dominican Republic.
So yes, the Royals will be all over the WBC map this spring.
But Cole Ragans won’t be joining them - and that decision speaks volumes about where both he and this Royals team are headed.
A Mature Move from the Royals' Ace
Ragans was invited to pitch for Team USA, a dream opportunity for most players. But instead, he turned it down.
Why? Because he’s focused on something bigger: helping the Royals get back to October.
“He was asked by Team USA to pitch for them,” Royals GM J.J. Picollo said.
“And very mature decision by him to decide not to - as tempting as it was. But in his mind, he wanted to be healthy.
He wanted to ramp up into the season and not be ramped up going into spring training.”
This isn’t just about workload management. Ragans is coming off a season where he battled through a left rotator cuff strain - an injury that sidelined him for a big chunk of the year. He made it back in September and gave the Royals a glimpse of what he can do when healthy: a 2.77 ERA over his final three starts, showing the kind of poise and power that made him a 2024 All-Star and a top-four finisher in the AL Cy Young race.
Now, with a full offseason of rest and recovery behind him, Ragans is locked in on 2026 - and beyond.
“In the conversations that we had, he mentioned October, too,” Picollo added. “(He said), ‘I need to be healthy in October, too.’ And you know, that makes me feel good because he is thinking about the team.”
That’s the kind of mindset you want from your ace. Not just thinking about Opening Day, but thinking about how he can still be dominant when the leaves start to turn and the games really start to matter.
A Leader in the Making
At 28, Ragans is entering the heart of his prime. His career numbers - 19-14 with a 3.32 ERA across 57 games - are solid, but the Royals believe the best is yet to come. And if he can stay healthy, there’s every reason to believe he’ll be back in the Cy Young conversation this fall.
He’s not just a frontline starter - he’s the guy in Kansas City’s rotation now. And with a young, hungry roster around him, the Royals are hoping to make some serious noise in the American League this year.
That starts in Surprise, Arizona, where pitchers and catchers report on February 10. The full squad hits the field on February 16, and Opening Day looms on March 27, when the Royals face the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park.
Fans tuning in this spring will get to see plenty of Royals talent on the international stage. But back in Arizona, one of the most important pieces of the puzzle will be quietly putting in the work - focused not on March, but on what could be a very special October.