Scouting Report: Carlos Jimenez

Summary

Carlos Estévez, Kansas City Royals closer, has suffered a nightmare 2026 season marked by multiple injuries. After a left foot contusion from a comebacker on Opening Day sidelined him for over a month, he was sent on a rehab assignment to Triple-A Omaha. However, he exited his first rehab outing after just two outs due to shoulder discomfort, revealing a rotator cuff strain. He will be shut down from throwing for three weeks and reevaluated at the end of May. His velocity has been significantly diminished throughout spring training and into the season, averaging 89.4 mph compared to 95.9 mph in 2025. Even during his rehab outing, his fastball sat at 88-90 mph. The earliest realistic return date is mid-to-late June at best. This represents a dramatic decline from his 2025 All-Star season when he led MLB in saves.