Cole Ragans, the Kansas City Royals ace, is undergoing tests for a left groin injury after leaving a recent game against the Colorado Rockies prematurely. The left-hander struggled, giving up four runs in three innings before being replaced. Manager Matt Quatraro noted Ragans had mobility issues, which may have impacted his pitching performance. Despite his troubles, the bullpen excelled, securing a 7-3 victory for the Royals.

In other injury updates, right-hander Alec Marsh is set to begin a new throwing progression following shoulder soreness, with hopes of a return by June. Likewise, outfielder Dairon Blanco is progressing well from an Achilles injury and might soon commence a rehab assignment.

The Kansas City Royals finished the 2024 season with an 86-76 record, securing the second wild card in the American League. They swept the Orioles but fell to the Yankees in the ALDS.

While the pitching staff showed promise, the offense struggled, particularly in the postseason, with key players like Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino underperforming.

Despite these challenges, the Royals made significant progress, marking their first winning season since 2015 and showcasing the talent of Witt, who emerged as a superstar.

Looking ahead, the team must address weaknesses in the outfield and bullpen while considering free-agent acquisitions to bolster their roster for a competitive 2025 season.

Rick Lucks reflects on his 10 bold predictions for the 2024 fantasy baseball season, revealing a mixed bag of outcomes. While some predictions, like Shota Imanaga's performance, were spot on, others fell flat, including expectations for players like Tyler O'Neill and Blake Snell.

Overall, Lucks recorded a disappointing 2-8 record on his predictions, but he acknowledges that the spirit of some predictions, particularly regarding the Kansas City Royals, was closer to reality than the final tally suggests.