Royals closer Carlos Estévez ties club mark with key save against Detroit Tigers
Kansas City Royals closer Carlos Estévez tied a franchise mark with his 16th save of the season.
Estévez worked a scoreless ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers on Saturday at Kauffman Stadium. He navigated the top of the Tigers lineup in securing a 1-0 victory.
In the process, he joined Royals Hall of Famer Jeff Montgomery with the most saves in franchise history through May.
Estévez sits alongside Montgomery on the list. The remainder of the list includes Wade Davis and Greg Holland, who both recorded 15 saves in 2016 and 2014 respectively.
“He’s closing games for a reason in the big leagues,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “You know, he has a full arsenal of pitches to get people out. He stays calm in the moment and he executes his pitches. He knows what he is out there for. I don’t think he worries too much about who the hitter is. It’s more about if he executes what he is doing.”
The Royals signed Estévez this offseason. He has posted a 1.78 ERA in 24 appearances and converted 16 of 18 save opportunities.
Estévez is also a veteran presence in a young bullpen. The Royals are dealing with injuries to top relievers Sam Long, Hunter Harvey and Lucas Erceg.
Estévez finished May with a 0.87 ERA in 10 and 1/3 innings.
This story was originally published May 31, 2025 at 7:24 PM with the headline "Royals closer Carlos Estévez ties club mark with key save against Detroit Tigers."
