Overview
- Kolek felt tightness in his left side while warming up Wednesday in Surprise and was scratched from his scheduled Cactus League appearance.
- Follow-up imaging on Friday confirmed a Grade 1+ strain of his left oblique after an initial diagnosis a day earlier.
- Manager Matt Quatraro said Kolek will not throw for five to seven days before the team reassesses his recovery to set a timetable.
- With Opening Day on March 27, even a mild oblique strain could delay his readiness, so a clear return date remains uncertain.
- Kolek, 28, was vying for a rotation spot after a 1.91 ERA in five Royals starts last season, with Kansas City leaning on depth options such as Noah Cameron, Ryan Bergert and Bailey Falter.