There’s an old sports adage that says if you get knocked down five times, you get up six. In 2017, Colorado Rockies reliever Carlos Estevez has been optioned down to Triple-A on five separate occasions and on five separate occasions, he has been called back to MLB. He’s back up for his sixth stint now. Now, a young reliever who spent time in his rookie season as closer-by-necessity has turned 10 tumultuous trips back and forth into a season where he is being handed the ball against some of the game’s best hitter’s in some of the most important moments in some of the biggest games for the Colorado Rockies in eight years.
He’s gone from someone who couldn’t stay on the roster to a guy you give the rock with the bases loaded and the best power-hitter in decades at the plate. And Giancarlo Stanton was just the latest in a string of All-Star players that Estevez has been asked to retire, one at a time, in crunch time. Hunter Pence, Hunter Renfroe, and the incredibly hot-hitting Christian Villanueva all fell victim to Estevez’ new confidence… and his old delivery.
“He sorta went back to a delivery he was comfortable with,” says manager Bud Black. “We all talked about ‘maybe let’s turn the clock back a little bit on some of his previous mechanics.’ We tried to do some things in spring training to help him control the running game, but we’ve done some subtle things with him that I think have put him in a good spot both physically and mentally.”
The progress hasn’t been linear but the results have proven remarkably valuable. Over his last 17 innings pitched (18 games), he has posted a 3.71 ERA and is striking out 18.7 percent of the hitters he has faced, walking 9.3 percent. He has stranded 87.2 percent of the runners he has either inherited or allowed. He has not allowed a run over his last six appearances, mostly against dudes named Hunter.
This run started September 14 when he got JD Martinez, Brandon Drury, and A.J. Pollock all to pop out on the infield a day after surrendering a three-run homer to Pollock.
“He’s pitching very well,” said Black. “When you pitch well, it breeds confidence and I think he’s coming into games with a great deal of confidence. He’s coming into games physically in a really good spot because his velocity is up. And I think last year’s experience of getting saves and having heat on him in the ninth inning has been good for him. Experience is a great teacher. We have a lot of guys experiencing things for the first time and they’ll be better in the long term for it.”
That confidence was on full display on Tuesday night when his manager called his number and the Slayer of Baseballs himself stood in the batter’s box. Stanton wasn’t pulling any punches either, practically coming out of his shoes on a high-and-tight 98 mph first pitch that ran just above the strike zone; a perfect location. The second pitch wasn’t quite as well located, but Estevez — with all the potential doubt of someone who has been optioned five times — had already gained the mental advantage with the first pitch and had the slugger on his heels.
“Carlos against Stanton,” said Black after the game. “What a great match-up. Power against power. Swung at the high fastball first pitch, and then the comebacker, Carlos made a nice play.”
Nothing has come easy for Carlos Estevez in 2017. But the work is paying off and with every successful appearance so is the faith that his manager has found in him. A month ago, Estevez was likely on the outside looking in for a postseason roster spot, and in the interim, he has made himself an indispensable member of any such roster. A simplified mechanic and swelling confidence had fans once gritting their teeth upon his arrival, jumping to their feet and shouting “Give him the heater, Ricky!!!” whenever Wild Thing hits the speaker system.
