Summary
Pitch Profile
At-Bat
Sequencing
Batted Ball
Trends
AI Analysis
Training Regimen
Cole Ragans
LHP | KC | Age: 28
Pitcher Performance: 5/10/2025 vs BOS
4.2 IP, 4 R, 7 Hits, 2 BB, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 95 Pitches
Start
D+
Models
Stuff C
Loc C+
Ovr C
Primary Fastball: Four-Seam
Velo 95.1
Ext 6.1'
IVB 16.7"
HB 14.6"
Usage
vs LHB% vs RHB%
55%
FF 44%
42%
5%▼
3%
FC 7%
9%
4%▲
5%▲
32%
SL 13%
5%
3%▼
5%▼
6%
KC 17%
23%
9%▲
3%
CH 14%
20%
5%▼
Arrows show change vs prior season usage
Pitch Type Metrics (This Game)
(Δ) = vs prior-season avg
Type #VeloMaxIVBHB SpinrTiltHtSide VAAHAAExtStuff+
FF 44 95.1 (-0.4) 98.0 16.7" 14.6" 2601 4:28 6.28 +1.22 -4.9° -0.1° 6.1' 154
FC 7 88.7 (-1.6) 90.1 6.2" -0.1" 2666 4:54 6.12 +1.60 -6.7° -1.7° 6.1' 75
SL 13 84.5 (-0.2) 86.6 -3.5" -2.0" 2717 10:47 6.14 +1.51 -8.8° -1.8° 6.0' 99
KC 17 79.8 (-0.6) 81.7 -13.1" -11.5" 2449 10:56 6.29 +1.42 -9.9° -2.5° 6.0' 120
CH 14 84.1 (-0.4) 85.4 12.4" 16.8" 2026 3:59 6.20 +1.34 -6.8° +0.3° 6.2' 134
KC Roster Leaderboard (through 2025-05-10)
Sorted by K-BB%  |  today's pitcher highlighted
#PitcherPitchesFF VeloK%BB%K-BB%CSW%Whiff%
1 Hunter Harvey 79 95.3 41.2% 0.0% 41.2% 31.6% 11.4%
2 Cole Ragans 712 95.5 38.0% 7.6% 30.4% 32.0% 15.6%
3 Lucas Erceg 240 97.9 22.8% 1.8% 21.1% 24.2% 10.4%
4 John Schreiber 231 93.5 26.2% 8.2% 18.0% 29.9% 12.1%
5 Kris Bubic 729 92.2 24.4% 6.7% 17.6% 30.6% 13.7%
6 Carlos Estévez 287 95.1 21.6% 8.1% 13.5% 22.3% 7.3%
7 Michael Lorenzen 732 94.3 20.7% 7.3% 13.5% 27.3% 11.3%
8 Taylor Clarke 61 95.1 13.3% 0.0% 13.3% 26.2% 6.6%
9 Seth Lugo 768 92.0 18.4% 7.0% 11.4% 27.1% 7.7%
10 Michael Wacha 696 93.2 18.4% 7.6% 10.8% 25.0% 9.6%
11 Steven Cruz 134 98.1 21.1% 10.5% 10.5% 21.6% 10.4%
12 Chris Stratton 295 91.0 19.5% 9.1% 10.4% 27.8% 12.5%
13 Angel Zerpa 296 95.4 16.4% 6.8% 9.6% 24.0% 4.4%
14 Sam Long 159 93.5 16.7% 11.1% 5.6% 23.3% 6.9%
15 Daniel Lynch IV 262 94.0 12.7% 8.5% 4.2% 27.5% 9.9%
16 Noah Cameron 79 92.1 12.0% 20.0% -8.0% 17.7% 6.3%
FF - 4-Seam FastballFC - CutterSL - SliderKC - Knuckle CurveCH - Changeup
Grades based on KC roster percentiles through 2025-05-10  |  Stuff+ = composite percentile vs roster (100 = avg)
Movement
6"12"18"24"RiseDropArm SideGlove Side
Dashed outlines = season averages
vs LHBLocationsF
vs RHBLocationsA-
Release Point
Release — OverheadRelease — Side (Extension)Side (ft) →Extension (ft) →Height (ft)4567-3-2-10123567
Filled dots = today  |  Dashed rings = season average release point
Location Heatmaps — by Pitch Type × Batter Hand
4-Seam Fastball
FF vs LHBFF vs RHB
Cutter
FC vs LHBFC vs RHB
Slider
SL vs LHBSL vs RHB
Knuckle Curve
KC vs LHBKC vs RHB
Changeup
CH vs LHBCH vs RHB
FF - 4-Seam FastballFC - CutterSL - SliderKC - Knuckle CurveCH - Changeup

Pitch-by-pitch

#CountPitchVeloIVBHBLocationResult

AI Breakdown (Claude Opus 4.7)

Generating

Movement · this AB
Location vs batter
Release — Overhead
Release — Side (Extension)
Pitch-to-Pitch Transitions (within at-bats)
From \ ToFFFCSLKCCHTotal
FF17
49%
1
3%
7
20%
6
17%
4
11%
35
FC3
60%
0
0%
1
20%
1
20%
0
0%
5
SL4
33%
2
17%
1
8%
3
25%
2
17%
12
KC4
40%
0
0%
1
10%
2
20%
3
30%
10
CH5
56%
1
11%
0
0%
0
0%
3
33%
9
Cell shading = transition frequency from that pitch type
2-Strike Putaway Breakdown
Pitch2K CountKsPutaway%Whiff%
FF 16 3 19% 6%
FC 1 0 0% 0%
SL 6 1 17% 17%
KC 9 3 33% 22%
CH 4 1 25% 25%
Putaway% = strikeouts per 2-strike pitch of that type
Exit Velocity vs. Launch Angle-20°20°40°60°507090110Barrel ZoneLaunch Angle (°)Exit Velo (mph)
Red-shaded region = barrel zone (EV ≥ 98, LA 8-32°)
Contact Quality by Pitch Type
PitchBIPAvg EVHard-Hit%Barrel%xwOBAconxSLGcon
FF 5 82.2 40% 0% 0.434 0.626
FC 2 107.9 100% 0% 0.402 0.479
KC 2 86.6 50% 0% 0.411 0.478
CH 4 94.5 50% 25% 0.211 0.287
BIP = balls in play  |  Hard-Hit = EV ≥ 95  |  xwOBAcon/xSLGcon = expected stats on contact

Coach Summary

Ragans struggled significantly today against Boston, marking his worst start of the season with a D+ grade. His 31.6% CSW dropped well below his season norm of 32.0% and his recent hot stretch (38.5% vs MIN, 38.2% vs CLE). The 4.2 IP with 7 hits represents a concerning step backward after his dominant April performances.

Velocity and Mechanical Concerns: His four-seamer sat at 95.1 mph, down from his season average of 95.5 mph and well below his recent 96.2-96.4 mph peak in mid-April. The cutter velocity drop is alarming - 88.7 mph versus 90.4 mph season norm, losing nearly 2 ticks. This suggests fatigue or mechanical inefficiency that needs immediate attention.

Pitch Mix Issues: He leaned too heavily on the fastball at 46.3% usage, abandoning what's been working. His changeup was electric (50.0% CSW, 35.7% SwStr%) but he threw only 14 of them. The sequencing was problematic - using the slider heavily against lefties (32.3%) while underutilizing his plus changeup (3.2% vs LHB). Against righties, he threw knuckle curves 23.4% of the time but they generated only 11.8% whiffs.

Stuff Quality: Despite velocity concerns, his changeup (134 Stuff+) and fastball (154 Stuff+) still grade as plus offerings. The cutter (75 Stuff+) was well below average and should be shelved until velocity returns.

Actionable Recommendations:

  • Increase changeup usage to 20%+ against both handedness - it's his best pitch today
  • Mechanical review focusing on extension and hip drive to restore fastball/cutter velocity
  • Flip the script vs LHB: more changeups, fewer sliders in favorable counts
  • Monitor workload - he still ranks #1 on the roster with 38.0% K-rate, but needs to maintain that edge

Player Summary

Hey Cole - tough outing today, but let's focus on the positives first. You still punched out 8 guys in less than 5 innings, and your changeup was absolutely filthy. That 35.7% whiff rate on the changeup shows you've got a weapon that can get anybody out when you trust it.

Your four-seamer still has great life with that 154 Stuff+ rating, so don't worry about the slight velocity dip - that happens over the course of a season. The bigger thing is you got away from what's been working for you. Remember those dominant starts against Minnesota and Cleveland where you mixed your pitches more aggressively?

Two things to focus on for next time: First, trust that changeup more, especially against lefties. You threw it only once to lefties today, but it's getting huge whiffs and keeping hitters off balance. Second, when your cutter isn't feeling right (like today), don't force it - lean into your slider and changeup combo instead.

You're still our strikeout king with a 38% K-rate that leads the entire staff by a mile. Boston has some tough hitters, and sometimes they get you. The stuff is still there - just need to sequence it better and trust your best pitches. You've shown you can dominate this season, and this is just one bump in the road.

Generated by Claude (Anthropic)  |  Grades based on KC roster percentiles through 2025-05-10
AGENTIC RAG · START RECAP
Weaknesses feeding this regimen:
Strike% 55% (target 62%+)

Focus Summary

Cole's 55% strike rate is significantly below the 62% starter threshold, directly impacting his walk rate and overall efficiency. This between-starts session targets command precision and first-pitch strike consistency through structured zone work and feedback-driven drills [strike_percentage_program].

Warm-up / Prep

  • 8-10 fastball warm-up throws at progressive intent (60% → 80%)
  • Long toss progression from 90ft to full distance, return to mound
  • 5 throws focusing on stride direction and front-side stability
  • Set up quadrant targets in strike zone for feedback tracking

Focus Block

  • Quadrant Target Work: 5 pitches per quadrant (20 total), track hits within 8" of center. Goal: 60%+ hit rate [target_command_drills]
  • Edge Work Drill: 10 pitches to outside-black, 10 to inside-black. Force glove-side repetitions to counter arm-side bias [target_command_drills]
  • First-Pitch Attack Simulation: 8 fastballs simulating 1-0 counts, target middle-third strikes
  • Command-Mix Integration: 6 throws alternating FB/off-speed to same spot, focus on repeating release point
  • High-Strike Work: 4 fastballs at top of zone to improve vertical command range

Integration & Cooldown

  • 2 full-mix throws simulating key game situations from upcoming start
  • Review hit rate data from quadrant work, note improvement areas
  • Light shoulder maintenance routine and recovery protocols

Sources

  • strike_percentage_program
  • target_command_drills
  • starter_bullpen_structure
  • bullpen_structure_by_weakness
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Scoped to Cole Ragans · 2025-05-10 vs BOS.