Oakland Athletics
On March 14,2022,the Braves traded Estes,Shea Langeliers,Ryan Cusick,and Cristian Pache to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Matt Olson. [9] [10] He was assigned to the Lansing Lugnuts of the High-A Midwest League for the 2022 season. [11] Over twenty starts,he went 3-7 with a 4.55 ERA and 92 strikeouts over 91 innings. [12] To open the 2023 season,he was assigned to the Midland RockHounds of the Double-A Texas League. [13] In early August,he was promoted to the Las Vegas Aviators of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. [14] In 27 games (23 starts) between the two affiliates,Estes posted a cumulative 9–6 record and 3.74 ERA with 131 strikeouts in 137 innings of work. [15]
On September 20,2023,Estes was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. [16] In two starts for Oakland,he surrendered nine runs (eight earned),12 hits with seven strikeouts over 10 innings pitched. Estes was optioned to Triple–A Las Vegas to begin the 2024 season. [17]
On July 3,2024,Estes threw a complete-game shutout against the Los Angeles Angels,striking out four batters and issuing one walk in the 5–0 victory. [18]
On August 17,2025,while playing for Triple-A Las Vegas,Estes threw a fastball at the shoulder of Victor Robles of the Tacoma Rainiers. Robles,on a rehab assignment,had been hit by four Aviators pitchers that week,including Estes on August 12. Estes also hit Robles while playing for Oakland on September 5,2024. Robles reacted to this repeated behavior by throwing his bat at Estes. [19] [20] At the time,he had hit a total of 28 batters in nearly 100 appearances in the minors. [21] Estes made three appearances (two starts) for the Athletics on the year,struggling to an 0-2 record and 9.82 ERA with six strikeouts over 11 innings of work. On September 18,Estes underwent surgery to address a herniated disc in his lower back,ending his season. [22]
