KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Carlos Estevez felt he was forced to be two pitchers during his six seasons with the Colorado Rockies.

There was the version on the road who could lean on a fastball/slider combination. Then there was the version at Coors Field who almost exclusively dealt fastballs and changeups because the slider wouldn’t work.

Transitioning between the two after long road trips or home stands would take a mental toll and add to the exhaustion that comes the long season.

“Sometimes I was like, ‘Man, I suck so bad,’” the reliever said. “What is going on?”

Free from altitude and now signed to a two-year, $22 million deal as the Kansas City Royals’ closer, Estevez can look back at his time with the Rockies and appreciate the lessons forged through those hardships.

“I will always be grateful for the opportunities I got out there and even for going through those adversities,” Estevez said prior to the start of a three-game series against the Rockies on Tuesday. “I also had some people on my side over there. Like were like, ‘Hey, don’t worry, this happens to everybody.’

“You go through that many seasons in Denver, you’re prepared for anything.”

In 321 appearances with the Rockies from 2016 through 2022, Esteves posted a 4.59 ERA.

Estevez remains close with many of his former Rockies teammates, as evidenced by the more than hour he spent just outside Colorado’s dugout during batting practice on Tuesday, greeting a parade of well-wishers

He hosted Antonio Senzatela at his Kansas City house on Monday, where the former teammates who each signed as amateur free agents in 2011 and climbed through the system together reminisced about their long, shared history.

“He’s such a good guy,” Senzatela said. “I’m super happy for him and the career he’s having right now. He deserves it. He’s a hard worker and he deserves everything he has.”

Estevez, 32, is 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA in 10 innings across nine appearances for the Royals. He has 10 strikeouts and five saves.

“Hey Carlito,” Rockies manager Bud Black yelled at Estevez from the visitor’s dugout before the game. “Go get ‘em on Friday.”

The Royals and Rockies, it should be noted, conclude their series Thursday.

“I watch all my guys from afar,” Black said. “All the guys when I first got here, that group of players from ’17 and ’18, they’re still dear to my heart. They’re the guys that sort of got me started in Denver.”

Estevez left the Rockies following the 2022 season, signing a two-year deal with the Angels. He wanted to be a closer, but the Rockies had Daniel Bard in that spot.

Estevez saved 31 games in 2023 with Los Angeles, then added 26 in 2024 as he pitched for the Angels and Phillies.

The numbers keep adding up now that Estevez doesn’t feel he needs to divide himself in two.

“It’s like, I’m the same,” the 6-foot-6, 277-pound right-hander said of his pitching style and arsenal these days. “I’m going to keep rolling with what I have and I don’t have to make any adjustments.”