Estevez reveals his simple approach to dominating the ninth inning and securing saves.
Kansas City Royals closer Carlos Estevez does not try to overthink things on the mound.
The 33-year-old right-hander led all of Major League Baseball with 42 saves in 2025 and earned his second career All-Star selection, but he is not getting caught up in any of that as he prepares for the 2026 season.
During Spring Training in Surprise, Arizona, Estevez shared what goes through his mind every time he takes the ball in the ninth inning.
"Everyone knows what I throw. Keeping my composure, attacking the strike zone... it's a race to three strikes," Estevez said.
It is a fitting way to describe how Estevez goes about his business, and it speaks to the mentality the Royals are building heading into the new year.
He does not rely on deception or try to trick hitters with an unpredictable arsenal. Instead, he trusts what he has and focuses on getting ahead in the count and putting batters away.
What Estevez Did in 2025
That approach worked about as well as anyone could have hoped last season.
Estevez posted a 2.45 ERA with a 1.06 WHIP across 67 appearances and 66 innings, converting 42 of his 48 save chances.
He became just the second reliever in Royals history to lead the majors in saves, joining Dan Quisenberry, who did it back in 1983.
He also closed out the season on a strong note with 17 consecutive saves, which was the second-longest streak in baseball behind Atlanta's Raisel Iglesias.
The Royals signed Estevez to a two-year, $22 million deal before the 2025 season with a club option for 2027, and he gave them everything they were looking for and then some.
He brought stability to a bullpen that needed it and quickly became one of the most important pieces on the roster even though the team finished 82-80 and missed the postseason.
Why He Matters So Much in 2026
The Royals are currently 5-4-1 this spring and have their sights set on getting back to October after falling short last year.
Kansas City has spent the offseason adding arms like Matt Strahm and Alex Lange to strengthen the bullpen around Estevez and setup man Lucas Erceg, but the closer remains the anchor of the entire relief corps.
If the Royals want to compete in a tough AL Central that features the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers, they need Estevez locking down the ninth inning on a nightly basis.
There are some questions about whether Estevez can repeat what he did in 2025, especially with a declining strikeout rate that dropped to 20.1 percent last season.
His velocity was also down in his first Cactus League outing this spring, though he has dealt with similar early-camp dips in the past.
Despite those concerns, Estevez has shown that he finds ways to get the job done when it counts, and his composure in high-pressure situations is something that does not show up on a stat sheet.
For a team that believes it is close to contending again, having a closer with the mindset that every appearance is simply a race to three strikes is exactly the kind of steadiness Kansas City needs heading into the regular season.