Chiefs in the Show, Volume 1

The journey from the minors to the majors varies greatly from player-to-player. For blue chip up-and-comers like Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg, minor league advancement is often a swift process. But this obviously doesn’t hold true for every prospective major-leaguer. In this edition of Chiefs in the Show, we look at former Chief Marco Estrada, and his professional voyage.

From 2015 to 2016, Estrada has been a revelation in the starting rotation for the Blue Jays. This after playing a starter-reliever hybrid role, across the majority of his 11-year career. In 2016, Estrada sports a 5-3 record, while ranking fourth in the American League in ERA at 2.70.

Picked in the 6th round by the Nationals in 2005, Estrada was a standout at Sylmar High School in California, but was not a highly sought after prospect, resulting in pitching at Glendale Community College in California from 2002 to 2003. Following two years at Glendale, the right-hander transferred to Long Beach State in California, before being drafted in 2005. After college, it took Estrada three years to progress out of Single-A ball, eventually moving to Double-A Harrisburg in 2008. With the Chiefs in 2009, Estrada had his best season as a professional to that point. In 25 starts, he went 9-5 with an ERA of 3.63 over 136.1 innings. Following the season, he was claimed off waivers by Milwaukee.

With the Brewers, the Californian made 70 starts over five seasons, not once winning more than seven games, while shifting from a starter to reliever role on occasion. Estrada didn’t tally All-Star totals with Milwaukee, but his five years with the Brewers provided an opportunity to start at the big-league level. Estrada will long be appreciative, saying, “I’m thankful every day for the opportunities the Brewers have given me. Not only that they picked me up in the first place, but that they actually gave me a chance to pitch.”

The pitcher’s breakthrough has come in the last two years in Toronto, with Estrada playing a pivotal role in the Blue Jays’ 2015 playoff run. In the ALDS, down two-games-to-none to the high-powered Rangers, Estrada pitched a sparkler. He went six and one-third innings, allowing just one run, en route to a 5-1 Blue Jays game-three win. Estrada’s performance propelled Toronto to the first of three-consecutive wins, as they eventually won the series in five games.

Then, again facing elimination against the Royals in the ALCS, Estrada kept the Blue Jays alive with another dazzling performance. Trailing three-games-to-one, the former Chief went seven and two-thirds innings, once again allowing just one run, while surrendering only three hits. The Blue Jays later fell to the Royals in game six, but without the playoff poise provided by Estrada, Toronto’s first playoff berth since 1993 wouldn’t have been as memorable.

Over his 11-year career, Estrada has navigated the murky waters of minor-league baseball, faced early hardship at the big-league level, and emerged as one of the more effective and consistent starters in the major-leagues. The road to the bigs was no easy ride, with some bumps along the way, but over the last few years this former Chief has begun to make his mark in the show.