Carlos Estévez is having a tough season. The Royals’ closer has been sidelined with a rotator cuff strain, as reported by Anne Rogers from MLB.com. He will pause all throwing for three weeks and will be reevaluated at the end of May.
Estévez hasn’t taken the mound since Opening Day. In his very first game, he was hit by a comebacker from Michael Harris II, injuring his left foot. This setback kept him out for over a month. Recently, he was sent to Triple-A Omaha to start a minor league rehab assignment. However, after throwing just 14 pitches and getting two outs, he felt shoulder discomfort.
Now, he has to begin his recovery again. Even if he gets the green light to throw in three weeks, he’ll have to go through bullpen sessions and live batting practice before starting a new rehab assignment. Mid to late June might be the earliest we see him back. The Royals could place him on the 60-day injured list if they need to clear roster space, especially with Jonathan India also headed for surgery.
This season has been challenging for Estévez. Even during Spring Training and the World Baseball Classic, his velocity was noticeably down. He averaged just 89.4 mph on his four-seam fastball, significantly lower than his usual speed. In comparison, he was around 91 mph in his season debut before the foot injury.
The Royals had high hopes for their bullpen this spring, especially with Estévez coming off a stellar season where he led the Majors with 42 saves and maintained a 2.45 earned run average (ERA). Despite some red flags in his strikeout rate last year, he was set to be the team’s closer.
With Estévez out, Lucas Erceg has stepped into the ninth-inning role. While he’s secured 10 saves in 12 opportunities, he’s struggled with control, walking 17.7% of batters. His current performance is shaky as he’s finding it hard to miss bats and frequently falls behind in counts.
Overall, the Royals’ bullpen has a 4.80 ERA, ranking 24th in Major League Baseball. They are also among the worst in walk rates and strikeouts. Although they’ve shown some improvement recently, only Daniel Lynch IV and Matt Strahm possess solid statistics.
Financially, Estévez is the Royals’ highest-paid reliever, earning $10 million in the second year of a $22 million deal. With a $13 million option for next season that includes a $2 million buyout, it seems doubtful the Royals will pick it up. This indicates that he might head back into free agency at the end of the year.
This season is not just about injury; it’s also a testament to how unpredictable sports can be. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as Estévez tries to make his comeback and as the Royals navigate through these challenges.
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