Scouting Report: Carlos Romero

Summary

Carlos Estévez, the Kansas City Royals' closer, has suffered a nightmare 2026 season marked by multiple injuries. He was hit by a comebacker off his left foot on Opening Day, resulting in a contusion that sidelined him for over a month. Upon attempting a rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha, he reported right shoulder discomfort after just two outs and 14 pitches, revealing a rotator cuff strain. He will be shut down from throwing for three weeks and reevaluated at the end of May, with a mid-to-late June return target at the earliest. Notably, his velocity has been significantly diminished throughout 2026, averaging 89.4 mph on his four-seam fastball in spring training—nearly seven ticks below his 2025 levels. Even when ostensibly healthy, his performance metrics have been concerning.