Carlos Estevez's tenure with Royals might've officially ended after surgery news

2026 has not been a kind year for a large portion of the Kansas City Royals’ roster. A rash of injuries derailed what could have been a very promising campaign for a team that was very recently on the cusp of contending.

But perhaps no player was affected more by the injury bug than relief pitcher Carlos Estévez. After appearing in just one disastrous game to start the season, the Royals’ closer will now miss the remainder of the year (and likely some of 2027).

According to Anne Rogers of MLB.com, the hard-throwing righty will soon undergo surgery on his troubled right shoulder. Not only will this close the book on Estévez’s 2026 season (which wasn't exactly a surprise because he still wasn't close to returning), but it will likely be the end of his tenure with the Royals. With Estévez’s hefty $13 million club option for the 2027 season looming in the distance, GM J.J. Picollo and the Royals’ front office will likely part ways with the reliever since he's going to miss a portion of next year.

In his lone appearance for the Royals in 2026, Estévez surrendered six earned runs in a third of an inning against the Atlanta Braves. This includes a dramatic walk-off grand slam to Dominic Smith. Estévez was eventually diagnosed with a left foot contusion in March and shelved for more than a month on the IL. 

Things eventually went from bad to worse after Estévez suffered a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder while rehabbing his original injury, making his stay on the IL a permanent one. It is certainly possible that the 33-year-old pitcher hurt his shoulder after altering his throwing mechanics to compensate for his injured foot. However, Estévez never really looked like himself in 2026, especially during his time with the Dominican Republic national team in the World Baseball Classic. 

Regardless of how or when the injury first happened, it’s an unfortunate situation for someone who had finally put everything together as a borderline elite pitcher.   

Carlos Estevez had been the difference maker for the Royals in 2025

After paying his dues with the Colorado Rockies in a hitter-friendly ballpark to start his career, Estévez really made a name for himself with the Los Angeles Angels in 2023. Not only was he named to his first All-Star game, but he quickly cemented himself as one of the game’s most effective closers.   

He soon became a top free agent target for the Royals following their surprising 2024 postseason appearance. While the team’s starting rotation was a strong point, its bullpen became one of most glaring weaknesses. With a two-year, $22.2 million contract in hand, Estévez proved to be more than capable of taking over the closer role for the Royals. 

In 67 appearances for the Royals in 2025, Estévez led all of baseball with 42 saves. He also boasted a strong 2.45 ERA and 1.061 WHIP to go alongside those saves. Although he averaged just 7.4 strikeouts per nine, he instantly became the Royals most valuable reliever, posting a 1.1 fWAR season. 

Estévez’s absence in the Royals’ bullpen this season has cost them dearly. Both Lucas Erceg and Alex Lange struggled mightily to produce results even close to Estévez’s 2025 season. As of Sept. 1, the club currently has blown 23 games, good for the ninth most in the league. With a record of 62-77, the Royals could potentially be sitting in a Wild Card position with a healthy Estévez and a handful of different results.

Despite their horrid start to the year, abysmal bullpen, and terrible luck with injuries, the Royals have played much better baseball since June. Unfortunately, they most likely dug too big of a hole for themselves to climb out of in order to make the postseason. But it's even more upsetting that the bad fortune is already affecting 2027.    

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