Joey Estes

Joey Estes's Biography

Joseph Lee Estes is a dynamic American professional baseball player known for his potent pitching skills. Born on October 8, 2001, Estes began a promising career in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Oakland Athletics in 2023. Achieving a level of professional play so early is a testament to his dedication, talent, and relentless pursuit of excellence in this beloved American sport.

Born and raised in Lancaster, California, Estes’ talent was quite evident in his high school years at Paraclete High School. In his freshman year, 2016, he stunned the sporting world by compiling an impressively low 1.05 ERA. This was only the beginning; as a sophomore, he managed a 9-1 victory and a 0.31 ERA over ninety innings. By the time he reached senior year in 2019, Estes had already developed into a rising star of the baseball field. He boasted an impressive 8-0 record with a 0.91 ERA and a remarkable tally of 124 strikeouts. His incredible performance and unwavering commitment were rewarded when the Atlanta Braves selected him in the 16th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft. Estes chose to sign and forego his commitment to play college baseball at Long Beach State University, reflecting the importance he placed on his professional baseball career right from the start.

His professional debut with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Braves was a challenging one, in which he gave up nine earned runs over ten innings. The hard times continued into 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic led to a cancellation of the minor league season, and he was unable to play a single game. Determined not to let this setback deter him, Estes came back stronger in 2021. He spent the season with the Augusta GreenJackets of the Low-A East, overcoming obstacles to start twenty games, leading them to a 3-6 record, and achieving a commendable 2.91 ERA. Over 99 innings, he made a whopping 127 strikeouts. His competition batting average of .181 ranked ninth in the minor leagues – an achievement that showcased his exceptional skill set. Recognizing his contributions to the game, he was named the league’s Pitcher of the Week twice during the season and was also awarded the league’s Pitcher of the Year at the season’s end.

Estes’s career took a significant turn on March 14, 2022, when the Atlanta Braves traded him, along with teammates Shea Langeliers, Ryan Cusick, and Cristian Pache, to the Oakland Athletics. His new team assigned him to the Lansing Lugnuts of the High-A Midwest League for the 2022 season. Despite making twenty starts, he maintained a 3-7 record, garnered a 4.55 ERA, and accumulated 92 strikeouts over 91 innings.

In 2023, his journey continued with the Midland RockHounds of the Double-A Texas League. Later that year, in early August, he was promoted to the Las Vegas Aviators of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. Throughout the season, Estes showcased his unique style and polished skills, producing a combined 9-6 record and 3.74 ERA, along with 131 strikeouts over 137 innings in 27 games (23 starts) between the two affiliates.

Against the odds, Estes realized his dream of making it to the major leagues level when he was selected to the 40-man roster of the Oakland Athletics on September 20, 2023. Over two starts, he yielded nine runs (eight earned), twelve hits, and seven strikeouts throughout ten innings. After being optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas to begin the following season, he made a memorable mark on July 3, 2024. On that day, Estes pitched a complete gamet, throwing a shutout against the Los Angeles Angels. With just one walk and four strikeouts, he secured a 5-0 victory proving his worth as a formidable force in baseball pitching. With a career just beginning, his passion, dedication, and exceptional talent promise a bright future ahead in the realm of professional baseball.