Adding to the Mix for 2026

It’s time we fully turn our attention to 2026.

The Royals are all but dusted in the playoff race, trailing for the third and final AL Wild Card seat by five games with 15 to play. A four-game set in Cleveland did not go KC’s way with the Guardians snatching up three games by way of multiple heartbreaks.

That final gut-wrencher came Thursday night as the home side tallied two in the bottom of the eighth inning, swiping a split from the hands of the Royals. Kansas City’s star, in what would devolve into a dramatic loss, was right-handed starter Stephen Kolek, who worked 6.2 innings with four strikeouts while allowing a run, three hits and a walk.

Since coming to KC by way of the Freddy Fermin trade to San Diego alongside fellow righty Ryan Bergert, Kolek’s been the quieter of the pair. Upon arrival, the organization optioned Kolek to Triple-A Omaha where, in five starts, the 28-year-old worked 19 innings with a 6.63 ERA, 20.8% strikeout rate and 10.4% walk rate.

His minor league numbers aren’t sparkling. Consider the run environment of the International League, though, and he deserves a bit of leniency — although the control was not what you want to see from a pitcher who doesn’t earn many whiffs or possess ace-level stuff.

His recall to the Big Leagues came with some hesitancy (at least for me) paired with the excitement of finding out what he might look like in Royal Blue.

He’s pitched like a new man on a Major League mound.

In three starts with the big club, Kolek has matched his Omaha innings with 19.2 frames, a 1.83 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 12.2% K-BB fueled almost entirely by a puny 2.7% walk rate.

As we swivel our eyes away from a fruitless playoff chase and toward the fresh beginnings of a new season, what do the Royals have in Kolek?