Royals’ Stephen Kolek Sidelined with Oblique Strain

This article brings the latest on Kansas City Royals pitcher Stephen Kolek. He’s dealing with a left oblique strain and will miss several spring workouts.

It covers the expected recovery window, the chance that imaging could extend his absence, and what this means for Kansas City’s early-season rotation.

Update on Stephen Kolek’s injury

Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Kolek will be out for at least five to seven days because of the left oblique strain. The team plans another scan soon to see how serious it is, and they might change the timeline depending on what they find.

How fast his oblique responds to rest and treatment will shape the prognosis. Kolek noticed tightness in his left side while warming up for what should’ve been a two-inning spring game against Seattle.

This setback happened right before his second spring appearance. He’d just made his debut last week against Texas, showing some real promise.

Quatraro and the Royals want to get the details right. Even a short break in spring can scramble rotation plans as games pile up.

What happened in the latest spring outing

In his spring debut last Friday against Texas, Kolek pitched two innings and gave up one run on three hits. He struck out two, walked one, and threw 20 of 36 pitches for strikes.

His stuff looked sharp, but then the oblique tightness in his next warmup session threw everything into question.

• He was supposed to face Seattle for his second spring outing—a two-inning stint—but that plan got scrapped when his left side tightened up again.
• Spring stat line: 2 innings, 1 run, 3 hits, 2 strikeouts, 1 walk, 20 of 36 pitches for strikes in his first appearance.
• Kolek came over from San Diego in a trade last summer and was seen as a real contender for a Royals rotation spot going into 2025 spring training.

Kolek’s career context and trade history

The 28-year-old righty has carved out a reputation as a versatile arm with some upside. Kansas City’s hoping this oblique thing stays minor.

The Royals picked up Kolek from the Padres in a midseason deal that sent catcher Freddy Fermin to San Diego. That trade definitely changed KC’s pitching depth for the stretch run.

Past performance and trade history

• MLB debut in 2024 with the Padres: 3-0 record, 5.21 ERA in 42 relief appearances.
• With the Royals in 2025, Kolek went 1-2 with a 1.91 ERA in five starts, covering 33 innings.
• Earlier in 2025 with San Diego, he posted a 4-5 record and 4.18 ERA over 14 starts before the trade to Kansas City.
• The deal that brought Kolek to Kansas City gave the Royals a needed boost for their rotation as spring training rolled on.

What this means for the Royals

From a strategic standpoint, the Royals will keep a close eye on Kolek’s rotation stability. They’ll also track how his oblique injury responds through imaging and rehab milestones.

If the scans show just a mild strain, he might return within five to seven days. But if the results look shaky, KC could have to rely on other pitchers to fill a spot in spring or early-season rotations.

Right now, Kansas City plans to check Kolek’s progress daily. They’ll use the next few weeks to size up other rotation options, making sure the club keeps enough depth without pushing Kolek back too soon.

Honestly, nobody wants to risk his long-term health just to get him back for a spring start. For Royals fans, it’s a waiting game—maybe a little frustrating, but there’s still reason for cautious optimism as the team balances Kolek’s early promise with the reality of a minor spring training setback.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Royals rotation candidate Stephen Kolek out with oblique strain