KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – After just one appearance for the Kansas City Royals this season, last year\u2019s MLB leader in saves is headed to the injured list.<\/p>\n
The Royals announced Wednesday that reliever Carlos Estevez has been placed on the 15-day injured list after taking a line drive off his left foot during the ninth inning of Saturday\u2019s 6-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves. The team is calling Estevez\u2019s injury a left foot contusion.<\/p>\n
The line drive off the bat of Michael Harris II could\u2019ve been a game-ending double play had it not struck Estevez\u2019s foot. Instead, it resulted in an RBI single that tied the game and set the stage for Dominic Smith\u2019s game-ending grand slam.<\/p>\n
In a corresponding move, relief pitcher Steven Cruz has been recalled from Triple-A Omaha, the Royals said Wednesday. Cruz had a 3-1 record and 3.74 ERA during 47 appearances for Kansas City last season.<\/p>\n
Estevez\u2019s foot wasn\u2019t the only concern for the Royals this weekend. An extended spring training trend of lower velocity for Estevez saw his fastball consistently in the range of 89 to 91 miles per hour, well below his usual 95-96 miles per hour range when he\u2019s in midseason form.<\/p>\n
The lower velocity was something manager Matt Quatraro and general manager J.J. Picollo mentioned as something Estevez typically deals with earlier in the year. <\/p>\n
His injured list status is retroactive to March 29, the day after his only appearance this season for the Royals.<\/p>\n
Estevez led MLB in saves with 42 of them last year, his first season with the Royals in which he was named an AL All-Star. Without him in the bullpen, Kansas City will lean on Lucas Erceg for more ninth inning work. Erceg and John Schreiber got saves for their work during Kansas City\u2019s wins on Sunday and Monday.<\/p>\n
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