Kansas City Royals
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Major League Baseball announced Friday that Royals right-handed pitcher Carlos Estévez has been added to the American League All-Star team. He will join Bobby Witt Jr. and Kris Bubic as Kansas City’s representatives at the All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Ga.
This marks Estévez’s second All-Star selection, following 2023 with the Angels.
Estévez, 32, has recorded 25 saves and a 2.03 ERA (9 ER in 40.0 IP) in 39 appearances with the Royals this season, after signing with Kansas City as a free agent on Jan. 31. His 25 saves are tied with Josh Hader for the American League lead and are just 2 behind Robert Suarez (27) for the Major League lead.
Estévez’s 25 saves are already tied for the most by a Royal before the All-Star break, with Jeff Montgomery (1993), Joakim Soria (2008, 2010) and Greg Holland (2014).
Estévez is 25 for 28 in save opportunities (89.3%) this season, and 2 of his 3 blown saves were in extra innings, when the Automatic Runner scored an unearned run. The other blown save was on April 22 vs. Colorado, a game the Royals won in 11 innings. The Royals are 41-0 this season when leading after the 8th inning and are one of only four teams without a loss when leading after the 8th.
Earlier this season, Estévez recorded his 100th career save, and he now has 107 saves, which are tied for the 11th most among active pitchers.
Estévez is the first Royals relief pitcher selected to the All-Star Game since 2016, when Wade Davis and Kelvin Herrera represented Kansas City in San Diego.