Scouting Report: Chase Estep

Summary

Carlos Estévez, Kansas City Royals closer, has suffered a nightmare 2026 season marked by multiple injuries. He was initially sidelined by a left foot contusion after being struck by a line drive from Michael Harris II on Opening Day. Upon beginning a rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha, he suffered a rotator cuff strain after just 14 pitches and two outs, reporting shoulder discomfort. 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. Velocity concerns persist, with his fastball sitting at 88-90 mph during rehab (down from typical levels), and he has not shown improvement since spring training when he averaged 89.4 mph on his four-seam fastball, nearly seven ticks below his 2025 level.