Royals’ Closer Carlos Estévez Lands on Injured List After Season Debut

The Kansas City Royals announced Wednesday that they have placed right-handed closer Carlos Estévez on the 15-day injured list with a left foot contusion sustained during his outing Saturday against the Atlanta Braves.

This move did not come as a surprise, as it was widely expected, especially after Estévez was seen in a walking boot following his first appearance of the season. Placing him on the injured list allows him to get healthy while also giving him additional time to regain his velocity and control before returning.

The real question now is how he will look when he returns.

Estévez struggled in his season debut

Jun 13, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Carlos Estévez (53) delivers a pitch against the Athletics in the ninth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Estévez did not have the outing many expected. The MLB saves leader last season entered the bottom of the ninth Saturday with a two-run lead. What appeared to be a routine save opportunity quickly turned into a nightmare inning to begin the year.

Estévez allowed six runs in the ninth, capped by a walk-off grand slam from Braves designated hitter Dominic Smith.

There were concerns surrounding Estévez prior to this outing, as his velocity was not where it needed to be at the end of spring training. Those concerns carried into Saturday’s game, as his fastball sat in the high 80s to low 90s.

He is no stranger to slow starts, as he dealt with similar issues last season when his velocity was below his usual standard entering the year.

Now he will have an opportunity to take extra time to heal from his injury while also getting his velocity and control back in line, as both appeared to be major issues to start the season.

Coming off a league-leading saves total and an All-Star appearance in 2025, Estévez enters the season with high expectations in Kansas City. He is viewed as a key piece of the bullpen, and his success could carry more weight for the Royals than many expect.

Along with placing Estévez on the injured list, the Royals recalled right-hander Steven Cruz from Triple-A. The 26-year-old is a hard-throwing righty with a three-pitch arsenal. In 2025, his fastball velocity sat around 98 mph.

In 45.2 innings last season, he posted a 3.74 ERA with 38 strikeouts. Kansas City’s bullpen will benefit from Cruz’s velocity from the right side.