Kansas City Royals reliever Carlos Estévez is growing increasingly frustrated after suffering another setback in his recovery, with the team confirming he has a right rotator cuff strain that will sideline him for at least three weeks following shoulder discomfort during a rehab appearance.
Estévez, who led the majors with 42 saves last season and earned his second All-Star selection, acknowledged the emotional toll of a difficult start to the year, saying the injuries and setbacks have piled up quickly after a long stretch of staying healthy.
His struggles began early this season when his velocity dipped and he blew a ninth-inning lead in his only MLB appearance of the year against the Atlanta Braves on March 28, a game in which he also took a comebacker off his foot.
After landing on the injured list, Estévez began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha following encouraging bullpen sessions and live batting practice, where he felt strong and “more like himself.”
However, things took a turn during his outing in Indianapolis, where he immediately felt discomfort after just a few fastballs, ultimately cutting the appearance short after realizing something was wrong.
Now shut down again, the Royals will wait for their closer to heal and work back toward the form that made him one of baseball’s top bullpen arms, with Estévez targeting a return later in the season to help the team’s playoff push.
