Colorado Rockies: 3 players who will improve dramatically in 2018

Carlos Estevez

Relief pitcher

Last season: 5-0, 5.57 ERA, 1.64 WHIP

Career stats: 8-7, 5.36 ERA, 1.50 WHIP

If you were looking for wins in your fantasy baseball league last year, you were pretty happy with Carlos Estevez early in the season as he picked up three wins in April alone. If you were looking for help with your ERA, Estevez was not your guy as he posted an 8.71 in April as well.

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The 24-year-old right-hander was in the right spot at the right time early in the season for the Rockies but still struggled. That is one of the reasons why he spent so much of last season bouncing between Denver and Triple-A Albuquerque.

Outside of a spotless August where he pitched four scoreless innings, the best statistical month for Estevez was September when he posted a 4.22 ERA in 10.2 innings pitched.

OK, those are the numbers. While Estevez may not have passed the statistical test last season, there is no question that the appropriately nicknamed Wild Thing is a big part of Colorado’s plans for 2018. Manager Bud Black is high on what he could bring to the table if he irons out his mechanics. With another year under his belt, we believe he will do just that.

Estevez held down the closer job for past of the 2016 season. If Greg Holland does not re-sign with the Rockies, don’t be surprised if Estevez is right in the mix to be Colorado’s ninth-inning guy.