Shohei Ohtani and more: 3 takeaways from Los Angeles Angels spring training
By Kevin Henry
Angels spring training: Carlos Estevez settling in
After pitching the last six seasons for the Colorado Rockies, Estevez admits that his first few days with the Angels felt like “the first day of school.” However, the 30-year-old right-hander is now ready to fill in whatever role in the back end of the bullpen is needed for the Halos.
Estevez has 25 career saves, with 11 coming in his rookie year of 2016 and 11 more in 2021. He had just two last season as he worked primarily as a setup man for Daniel Bard in Denver.
“Experience is experience,” Estevez said. “It’s a great deal that I come from pitching in a tough place (Coors Field). Now, I feel really good to take on whatever role they want me to take on. I’m just ready to go.”
The Angels will be just the second team of his career, so parting ways with the Rockies was difficult for Estevez, but he has also chosen to look at this new chapter with a positive spin on the past as well.
“I’ve been in that organization since 2005, so I got a lot of texts and calls,” Estevez said. “Those guys are family. I’ve been with them my entire career. To me, it’s not like, ‘Oh I’m getting out of here.’ It was, ‘I’ll see you later.’ I’ll be around and we’re staying friends.”
Estevez will indeed see his former Rockies teammates again, including a pair of meetings in spring training and his return to Denver with the Angels during a three-game set at Coors Field from June 23-25.