May 31, 2011: Estevez signed with the Rockies, out of the D.R., via Rolando Fernandez and Jhonathan Leyba.

Carlos is a big man with broad shoulders and a strong arm.

In 2015, the Baseball America Prospect Handbook rated Estevez as the 26th-best prospect in the Rockies organization. He moved up to #17 early in 2016.

At a young age, Carlos Estevez understood the baseball comedy behind his name. He had no idea that a more-famous name-fellow understood, also. It would lead to a special day earlier this season. Anyone who takes baseball with a laugh is familiar with the 1989 movie "Major League," and with one of the flick's scene-stealers—visually challenged and strike-zone challenged relief pitcher Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn, played by Charlie Sheen. And it takes little effort to learn that Sheen's birth name is … yes, Carlos Estevez.

While Estevez was working his way through the Minors, Sheen would peek at his Minor League stats. Estevez made his Major League debut April 23. It was only natural that he enter games to "Wild Thing," but he nearly blew the opportunity.

"When I got here, I forgot to give them my song to play," Estevez said. "Then the first time I came out, they were playing 'Wild Thing.' I'm coming out for my debut going, 'Oh, this is funny.' I was a little bit nervous, but I heard the song, started laughing, took a deep breath and said, 'Now, let's go.'

It all led to an eventful series at Dodger Stadium June 6-8. Estevez appeared twice. He took a loss, 4-3, on June 7, when Trayce Thompson homered with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. But the next night, he struck out three in the eighth inning of a 1-0 Rockies victory. Away from the park came another milestone activity.

Sheen, through then-Rockies first-base coach Eric Young, invited Estevez to his Malibu, Calif., home for lunch.

"It was really cool," Estevez said. "We just got to know each other. He asked me about my last name, where it was from. He told me where his last name was from, too. We got to talk about how weird it was that we had the same name, and how cool it was at the same time, because of the Major League movie."

It gave Sheen a chance to smile about his own playing days. He was a shortstop and pitcher at Santa Monica High School in California.

"I saw some videos of him hitting," Estevez said. "He's good. He showed them to me. I was like, 'For real? You can hit.' "Estevez left the visit with a smile—and the actor's blessing for the theme song.

"It's fun," Estevez said. "The fans, all of them, they know the song. They enjoy the song when I come out, so it's fine. And I've met Charlie Sheen, so I can stick to it." (Thomas Harding - MLB.com)

2020 season: Carlos Estévez: -0.7 rWAR

Carlos was a bright spot for the Rockies during an abysmal 2019 season. After spending all of 2018 in the minors, he ranked seventh in the 2019 Ranking the Rockies series and appeared to be on the same path in 2020. Unfortunately, he was hit by a comebacker on his pitching hand on August 16. The X-rays were negative, but Estévez was never the same afterwards.

Prior to the injury, Estévez was sporting a 3.38 ERA in 10 2⁄3 innings — fourth best in the Rockies bullpen. His HR/9 rate was 0.84 and his K/BB ratio was 2.67. He also was one of three relievers to allow a home run (alongside Yency Almonte and Phillip Diehl; Wade Davis allowed two).

After the injury, his ERA ballooned to 10.80 in 13 1⁄3 innings — 14th best in the Rockies bullpen. His HR/9 rate went up to 3.38, but his K/BB ratio also went up to 3.17. He allowed a team-worst five home runs.

Estévez’s 7.50 ERA and 2.25 HR/9 were both career worsts, but the 3.00 K/BB ratio was bested only by the 3.58 in 2019. Taking a deeper look into these stats, it’s obvious that he was getting hit harder. Fangraphs shows that his HardHit% was 46.8% in 2020 — up from 38.4% in 2019. Even worse, that’s nearly half the time! He also allowed 11.7% barrels, up from 7.9% in 2019. According to Statcast, it was his fastball that was giving Estévez the most trouble. 11 of the 16 extra base hits he yielded (including all six home runs) came off the fastball. The velocity on the four-seamer was also down to an average of 96.6 mph.  (It was 97+ in each of his other three major league seasons.)

Like Hoffman, Estévez is out of options in 2021. However, he has had plenty of success in the past so this year could be chalked up to the injury or just bad luck. Either way, 2020 was a down year for “The Wild Thing.” (Samantha Bradfield@SammieB_27 - Oct 3, 2020)

New reliever Estévez emerging as clubhouse leader  Estévez is often seen in the clubhouse giving advice to younger relievers such as Jose Marte, José Quijada and José Soriano, but he also likes to keep it loose and joke with his teammates. He said he learned to be a clubhouse leader over time during his six seasons with the Rockies and is happy to pass on any knowledge.

"Everyone is embracing me here despite being the new kid in school,” Estévez said with a smile. “But that’s how I was raised, to help others. I was a young guy once and didn’t know a lot, and I got taught. So it’s important to impart my knowledge and help these guys, and hopefully they do it with the next ones, too.” Estévez has already impressed manager Phil Nevin with the way he carries himself, and Nevin believes he’s a perfect fit for the clubhouse.  (Rhett Bollinger - Feb. 21, 2023)

July 2023: Estevez replaced Guardians right-hander Emmanuel Clase on the American League All-Star team.

July 3, 2024: Carlos Estévez was named AL Reliever of the Month for June. The hard-throwing Estévez was nearly unhittable in June, tossing 10 scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts to hold down the Angels’ closer role. Estévez recorded eight saves and one win in his 10 outings, and he allowed only two hits all month -- one each in his eighth and 10th appearances of June. The 2023 All-Star, who entered Wednesday tied for fourth in the AL with 16 saves, has been an excellent addition to the Angels’ bullpen since signing with the club in December 2022. (T DeRosa - MLB.com - July 3, 2024)

TRANSACTIONS

May 31, 2011: Estevez signed with the Rockies, out of the D.R., via Rolando Fernandez and Jhonathan Leyba.

Jan 10, 2020: Carlos and the Rockies avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal.

Jan 15, 2021: Carlos and the Rockies avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal for $1.45 million.

Nov 6, 2022: Carlos chose free agency.

Dec 5, 2022:  The Angels and Estévez reached a two-year, $13.5 million agreement.

Estevez has a 93-99 mph 4-seam FASTBALL that rates a double-plus 70 grade on the 20-80 scouting scale. He also has an 81-83 mph hard SLIDER that gets a 60 grade. His 86-88 mph CHANGEUP is effective because hitters think it's his heater, but it ain't. (Spring 2016)

2016 Season Pitch Usage: 4-seam Fastball: 70.9% of the time; Change 8.9% of the time; and Slider 20.2% of the time.

2017 Season Pitch Usage: 4-seam Fastball: 74.1% of the time; Change 7.2% of the time; Slider 18.6%; and Curve .2% of the time.

2019 Season Pitch Usage: 4-seam Fastball: 68.7% of the time; Sinker less than 1%; Change 3.8%; and Slider 27.2% of the time. Average velocity: 4-seam 97.9 mph, Sinker 95.5, Change 90.4, and Slider 87.7 mph.

2020 Season Pitch Usage: 4-seam Fastball: 61.2 of the time; Change 12.4%; and Slider 26.4% of the time. Average velocity: 4-seam 97.2 mph, Change 88.9, and Slider 87.1 mph.

Carlos needs to improve his command. Before the 2015 season, he tended to pitch up in the zone too often.

But in the spring of 2015, his delivery became more solid., more under control. Now, he's able to put the ball where he wants it. He's gotten comfortable with the balance in his delivery, which has enabled him to keep his large frame more consistently aligned. He generates excellent downhill plane.

"So, between a 98-99 mph fastball, putting it where he wants it and working inside with effect,” Rockies farm director Zach Wilson said, “and a slider that he’s also able to command that has tremendous tilt to it and late action—that is where he’s getting a lot of those punchouts from. “He doesn’t get into deep counts. He gets ahead early, and then he’s able to put guys away with two different pitches.”

Estevez also has a solid-average changeup that continues to improve.

Estevez has an easy arm action.

Carlos has the look of a high-leverage reliever, or even a closer.

“His demeanor and his mentality, that’s been a big factor,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said early in the 2016 season. “That’s why I moved him so quick in the high-leveraged situations, because he seems very poised and unflappable out there.”

THROWS 100 MPH

Carlos's best way to describe what it's like to throw 100 mph—something he has done 33 times in 2016— involves fully extending his right arm, with a wide grin and wide-open eyes looking at the tips of his long fingers.

"It's just when you see it, when you throw out in front and the ball takes off," Estevez said. "Sometimes you know when you throw it. But sometimes you don't even notice ... then you see the ball come out."  

Estevez said the first time he truly knew he could hit triple digits was on the last pitch of a game in 2015 for Double-A New Britain, at Bowie.  "The radar board was right in front of me, like on top of the plate," Estevez said. "Against a lefty, two-strike, no-ball pitch. He swung and broke his bat, fly ball to third."

On days he has confidence in his control, Estevez tries to reach triple digits, like on two pitches to Paul Goldschmidt (both swinging strikes at 100.1 mph and 100.7 mph). Estevez knows that when he can control his fastball, which will allow his slider and changeup to come into play, he borders on unhittable.

On the 33 100-mph-plus pitches, Estevez has accumulated eight outs, 12 foul balls, four swings-and-misses and eight balls. The only hit was a ground-ball single by the Dodgers' Trayce Thompson on June 8. Only once, that fateful game against the Rangers on Aug. 8, did Estevez hit 100 mph and blow a save.

"Every once in a while, we struggle, but after we get it back, it's done. Lights out," Estevez said. "Just go pound the zone with the fastball. They know it's a fastball coming, and they're still going to swing. But they're going to miss it or hit a popup or a ground ball. It's awesome."  (Harding - MLB.com - 8/18/16)

2020 Season: After starting the season strong, Estévez took a comebacker to the hand. He took a liner off the bat of the Rangers' Scott Heineman. It hit his throwing hand on Aug. 16.

Through Aug. 25, Estévez had a 2.25 ERA, struck out 13 against four walks and held opponents to a .419 slugging percentage. But from Aug. 29 to season’s end, opponents blitzed him for a .905 slugging percentage and slapped him with an 18.00 ERA. (Thomas Harding - Mar. 8, 2021)

Nov 22, 2021:  Carlos Estévez’s season embodied that of the Rockies’ bullpen in 2021—full of new and more intense assignments, which led to lumps but also brought progress.

Step back from the day-to-day of the season and it’s apparent it was a year for development with Estévez, as well as many of his less-experienced relief mates. But what does it all mean for 2022? For Estévez, who finished the year as the closer, and others for that matter, 2021 results are only part of the plan for next year. The rest is dependent on the front office, which is exploring an ambitious strategy of surprise postseason trips past, and signing a closer with experience.

Estévez, owner of a four-seam fastball that averaged a well-above-average 97.1 mph, sacrificed his Spring Training and the early part of the regular year to developing confidence in his changeup, which played off his heater and hard slider. In his last 17 outings, Estévez converted nine of his 11 save chances. But the year ended on a down note—a blown save on a homer yielded to the D-backs’ Josh VanMeter in the season finale.

It was Estévez’s second trial as closer. The first came when he was pressed into the ninth inning during his rookie year of 2016, when his strategy didn’t go much deeper than slinging his fastball.

“This year in 2021, I’ve been pitching more than any other year,” Estévez said in Phoenix the morning of the season finale. “Like, pitching backwards, knowing how to pitch when I fall behind in the count. I was put in different roles, where I couldn’t throw cookies down the middle. I had to pitch my way around the strike zone, then come back in — make the hitter make a mistake, instead of him hitting my mistake.” 

“This group is the fastest I’ve ever seen,” Estévez said. “And the good thing is they don’t shy away from pitching at Coors Field. They don’t shy away from pitching anywhere. They’ll say, ‘Give me the ball. I’ll pitch anywhere.’” 

Manager Bud Black saw some impressive Estévez performances, but also hiccups. Both occurred on Sept. 14 against the eventual World Series champion Braves in Atlanta. Estévez overcame a potentially damaging walk and a hit but ended a 5-4 victory by forcing a pop-up from eventual World Series MVP Jorge Soler. (T Harding - MLb.com - Nov 22, 2021)

2021 Season: Estévez, the owner of a four-seam fastball that averaged a well-above-average 97.1 mph, sacrificed his Spring Training and the early part of the regular year to developing confidence in his changeup, which played off his heater and hard slider. In his last 17 outings, Estévez converted nine of his 11 save chances.

2022 Season: Coming into the season, Carlos was the longest tenured pitcher on the Rockies. At the end of the season, Estévez became a free agent for the first time in his career. In the middle, he was once again a quality veteran workhorse out of the bullpen.

Carlos had a difficult start to the season after the lockout led to a shortened spring training. His velocity on his four-seam fastball was down, and he didn’t have the easy strikeout stuff Rockies fans are used to. Estévez did not tally single strikeout through his first nine appearances of the season. He was able to keep his ERA down, but an elevated FIP showed it was not sustainable. He gave up eight hits in 7 1⁄3 innings and issued four walks but managed to keep the ball in the park despite an elevated slugging percentage against him.

The toll came due starting in May, where an outing against the Diamondbacks on May 6 kicked off a difficult period of time for Estévez. During that outing, he lasted just 1⁄3 of an inning and gave up three earned runs off of two home runs. Until the All-Star Break, Estévez had an elevated ERA—though his FIP showed the ability to bounce back—and gave up four home runs. He also struggled more with walks but fully regained his ability to strike out batters.

After the All-Star break, Estévez clicked fully into quality form and had a quietly fantastic second half. Starting on July 22nd he rattled off four appearances without allowing a run. Then on August 1, he gave up one run only to ease into a streak of 13 more scoreless outings. He kept his walks down while still averaging at least one strikeout per inning pitched. On September 4 against the Reds, Estévez had the only game of his entire second half where he gave up multiple runs, allowing two earned runs due to a home run. Thankfully, he was able to bounce back immediately and went another six appearances without giving up a run. 

Estévez ended up being the Rockies’ busiest reliever in 2022, with 62 total appearances over Daniel Bard’s 57. His 3.47 ERA was the second-lowest of any Rockies pitcher. Unfortunately, his season was cut short. He was originally placed on the 10-day COVID IL on September 27 but was shifted to the 15-day to end his season with a non-COVID illness.

Carlos became a free agent for the first time in his career. While the Rockies will definitely look to keep his services within the organization, it’s possible he looks for a bigger payday elsewhere on a potentially contending team.

For now, at least, Carlos Estévez was once again a reliable veteran workhorse pitcher out of the bullpen. Estévez has now pitched at least 60 times in three of the last four seasons (due to the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign) and has had an ERA lower than 4.00 in two of those three seasons. Any team he pitches for will be lucky to have him.  (Evan Lang@evan_lang27 - Nov 23, 2022)

Dec 5, 2022: The 29-year-old Estevez has closing experience, as he has 25 career saves, including 11 as a rookie in '16 and 11 in '21. The Angels have been in the market for a closer after trading Raisel Iglesias to the Braves at the Trade Deadline and Estévez could help fill that role. Minasian said it’ll be up to manager Phil Nevin on how Estévez will be utilized but he said he believes Estévez has the stuff and experience to close, if needed. (R Bollinger - MLB.com - Dec 5, 2022)

2023 Season: The Angels signed Carlos Estevez to a two-year deal with the expectation that he'd be the team's closer. He, like the rest of the Angels, had some good times and some bad.

After a rough Spring Training, Estevez showed that games that don't count don't matter by flipping a switch and having one of the more dominant first halves an Angels reliever has ever had. He had a 1.80 ERA in 36 appearances, recording 21 saves without blowing one and adding on two holds. The Angels went 30-6 in those outings, showing just how valuable he was.

Unfortunately for Estevez, his second half took a complete turn for the worse. He had a 6.59 ERA in 27 appearances, and converted just 10 saves in 14 tries. He blew crucial saves against the Mariners and Giants in their seven-game losing streak in August. (Zachary Rotman | Oct 9, 2023)
Estevez saw an increase in velocity as the Angels' closer last season. His fastball averaged 97.1 mph. 

2024 Season: While Estévez finished the season with an impressive 2.45 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and even a 5.27 PLV, there are enough question marks under the hood to be skeptical about what’s in store for him next season. While Estévez was pretty consistent throughout, his 24.4% CSW, 23.6% strikeout rate, and 4.09 xFIP in the second half show a decline in bat-missing ability.

Estevez also allows a ton of hard contact (bottom 20 percentile in average exit velocity, hard-hit rate, and barrel rate), and with only 32.2% ground-ball and 24.4% chase rates, he’s leaving a lot up to chance. With a lack of bat-missing ability, and the propensity to allow loud contact, I’m fully out on Estévez for next season unless he somehow winds up closing out games for say, the Tigers or Royals. (Rick Graham - Oct. 22, 2024)

March 25-July 15, 2018: Estevez began the season on the DL with a left oblique strain.

Aug 16, 2020: Estévez was smoked on the back of his throwing hand/wrist by a comebacker which ended the 10-6 victory over the Rangers at Coors Field. But the righty appears to have avoided a prolonged absence.

“Looks like we dodged a bullet there,” Rockies manager Bud Black said after getting Estévez's X-ray results. “That's a situation that didn’t look good when we were on the field and when we retreated into the clubhouse. But the doctors checked him out. We saw the scan. The scan looks good.”

Estévez was able to make a fist and show grip strength. He will avoid the injured list.

April 30-May 21, 2021: Carlos was on the IL with right middle finger strain.