Carlos Estevez has been here before, but he’s better prepared this time around.
In 2016, in his rookie season, Estevez was the Rockies’ closer, basically out of necessity, if not desperation, for part of the season. He saved 11 games in 18 chances while posting a 5.24 ERA over 55 innings.
Five years later, at age 29, the right-hander is back in the ninth-inning role, at least for now. Estevez supplanted Daniel Bard, whose recent struggles prompted manager Bud Black to make the change on Friday.
Black believes that the pressure of the ninth inning makes the closer’s role a difficult one.