New reliever Estévez emerging as clubhouse leader
TEMPE, Ariz. — Despite being new to the Angels after signing a two-year, $13.5 million deal in early December, veteran reliever Carlos Estévez has already established himself as a pacesetter and a mentor to the membership’s youthful pitchers.
Estévez is usually seen within the clubhouse giving recommendation to youthful relievers equivalent to Jose Marte, José Quijada and José Soriano, however he additionally likes to maintain it unfastened and joke together with his teammates. He stated he discovered to be a clubhouse chief over time throughout his six seasons with the Rockies and is pleased to cross on any information.
“Everyone is embracing me here despite being the new kid in school,” Estévez stated with a smile. “But that’s how I was raised, to help others. I was a young guy once and didn’t know a lot, and I got taught. So it’s important to impart my knowledge and help these guys, and hopefully they do it with the next ones, too.”
Estévez has already impressed supervisor Phil Nevin with the way in which he carries himself, and Nevin believes he’s an ideal match for the clubhouse. Estévez headlines an underrated bullpen for the Angels that’s anticipated to characteristic new addition Matt Moore, Jimmy Herget, Ryan Tepera, Aaron Loup and Quijada.
“Estévez has been such a leader for those bullpen guys already,” Nevin stated. “It’s been amazing to watch. He’s just a tremendous guy. He’s tough. He wants to win. And he came here for that purpose. You see the conversations he has after he gets off the mound. Marte, it stands out. His eyes light up when he talks to him and he’s really improved. He just makes the people around him better.”
Estévez has a 4.59 ERA in six seasons with the Rockies, together with a 3.47 ERA with 54 strikeouts and 23 walks in 57 innings final 12 months. But Estévez and the Angels consider his stuff will play up this season, as he’ll not need to cope with pitching within the excessive altitude in Coors Field.
“It was always tough to come back to Denver after being on the road,” Estévez stated. “My stuff wouldn’t be moving as much again. It feels good to not have worry about it. Now I can focus on more things because when I work on my stuff, it’s always going to be in the same environment.”
With 25 profession saves beneath his belt, together with 11 in 2021, Estévez is the front-runner to be the nearer. But Nevin stated Estévez must earn that position, and he’s positive mixing and matching at nearer like he did final season after shedding Raisel Iglesias to the Braves on the Trade Deadline.
“If you have somebody emerge as a ninth-inning lockdown guy, which I certainly think Carlos has that in him, then sure, it’s a nice luxury to have,” Nevin stated. “But you saw how I worked the ‘pen last year. Kind of mixed and matched. So it’s a thought. He’s capable of it. He hasn’t done it over a long-term consistent basis, but we’re going to take the best, and if the best is Carlos in that role, then that’s what we’ll go with.”
• Former Angels slugger Albert Pujols arrived at camp on Tuesday to be a visitor teacher this week. Pujols, who retired on the finish of final season after turning into the fourth participant to achieve 700 profession homers, is beginning his new position with the Angels, fulfilling his 10-year private providers contract he signed as a part of his earlier cope with the membership. Pujols is anticipated to deal with the media Wednesday.
• The Angels had a light-weight exercise day on Tuesday, as morning rain compelled them to push again their dwell bullpen classes. Two-way star Shohei Ohtani was scheduled to pitch after hitting on Monday, however he’ll now face hitters on Wednesday. He stays on observe to start out on March 1 earlier than departing for Tokyo to affix Team Japan for the World Baseball Classic.
• Lefty Tucker Davidson is scheduled to start out the Cactus League opener on Saturday in opposition to the Mariners in Peoria. He’s scheduled to throw two innings, Nevin stated.
