November 6, 2035
Gary "Coop" Estes announced his retirement from professional baseball today, ending the career of one of the game's All-Time best left-handed starters and certainly one of the Las Vegas Hustlers All-Time Greats.
For all intents and purposes, the meaningful portion of Estes' career came to an end in 2032 when he completed his last full season with Las Vegas. Over the past three seasons, Estes has been a bit of a vagabond; continuing to try to play the game he loves despite age getting the best of him. "It has been truly a labor of love," said Estes. "I wanted to end on a high note and by closing out my career with the Hustlers this year I was able to put the final chapter in the story book of my career."
Las Vegas made Estes the sixth overall pick of the 2014 draft, in a time when the Hustlers franchise was in a time of change. Estes moved quickly through the system despite being a high school pick. After a solid 2016 which was capped by winning the Outstanding Pitcher Award in the fall league (21-10 through three levels in total), Estes broke camp with the Hustlers in 2017 and would not see the minors again until 17 years later (more on that to come).
The Hustlers made the decision to break Estes in out of the bullpen to start his rookie season and he was phenomenal, ultimately joining the rotation in the second half. He wouldn't miss a start for the next 15 seasons. To follow up his outstanding rookie season, he went 20-4 in 2018 en route to making his first All-Star team and ultimately winning the FL Nebraska Award. In 2019 he had a rare feat, pitching two no-hitters (one of them a PERFECT GAME) in the same season, and making another All-Star team. He'd make the 2020 All-Star team as well, and threw his third no-hitter against Greenville that year. At the end of the 2021 season, having established himself as one of the true aces in The Brewster, the Hustlers signed him to a six year, $75,000,000 contract extension. He'd make another All-Star team in 2022.
2027 was another highlight of Estes' career- notching his 2000th career strikeout in June and then achieving the ultimate goal of winning the Landis Memorial Series with his teammates. He finished third in the Nebraska Award voting, and then declined a team option to explore the free agent market.
Only 21 days after he filed for free agency the Tucson Cactus shocked the world and Hustlers fans by signing the free agent lefty to a six year, $102,000,000 contract. He has a solid season for Tucson, going 14-12, but it didn't seem right.
Hustlers GM Matt Rectenwald righted this wrong in the offseason, getting Estes back in a trade with Tucson, giving up three prospects to bring him back in the fold. He had the worst ERA of any season as a starter at 4.28 but all of his other stats suggested that was a fluke and he was still the same Estes. He rewarded that confidence in 2020 by going 21-5, making the All-Star team, collecting his 2500th career strikeout, his 200th career victor on 6/7/30, and finishing 3rd in the Nebraska Award voting. He pitched two games for the United States in the first World Cup of Baseball, going 2-0 and only allowing 2 runs with two complete games and one shutout.
2031 would be another solid season for Estes, though he had a steep decline in his strikeout numbers at age 36 and the Hustlers were beginning to prepare themselves for the hard fact that his career was beginning to wind down. Though the Hustlers saw it, Estes refused to accept age as an excuse. He worked through a tough 2032 campaign that ended with him back in a place he hadn't been since his rookie season, the Hustlers bullpen. He therefore failed to meet the vesting criteria in his contract, and became a free agent. No team would bite on Estes as he would remain unsigned until late August, when a familiar team came calling.
The Hustlers signed Estes and brought him back as a reliever, but after a disastrous first three games they waived the veteran and Huntsville claimed him. He would only pitch in three games with the Phantoms, and then became a free agent for the third time in his career at the end of the season once again.
He would sign a one year, $2,000,000 deal with the California Crusaders in February, but didn't make the team and was granted his release in April. Finally in late July the Phoenix Talons signed him to a minor league deal, so here was one of the best pitchers of his generation working in the minors. After one start in rookie ball and one masterful five hit shutout at AAA, the Talons brought him up in an effort to give their new fans something to cheer about. He'd pitch in 11 games for the Talons (one start), with a 7.12 ERA. It looked like it might be the end, finally, for Estes.
However "Coop" just refused to retire. He signed a minor league deal with the Brooklyn Robins in January 2035, and after not appearing in a game at any level for Brooklyn, was finally granted his release on May 12th. The Hustlers signed him the very next week to a minor league deal, and assigned him to AA Reno for two games where he worked off some rust. He was then promoted to AAA Milwaukee and the unthinkable happened- he pitched well and ultimately became the Choppers' closer (22 G, 2 GS, 3-1, 13 SV, 3.34 ERA).
With the September roster expansion looming, Estes was thinking about the proper ending to his career. He called GM Rectenwald and informed him of his decision to retire at the end of the year, and asked if he could join the Hustlers as a coach down the stretch. Rectenwald had other ideas. "You need to go out on the mound, Coop," said Rectenwald.
And just like that, Estes was home again. At age 40, he pitched in three games for the Hustlers in 2035 as a LOOGY, getting two outs, allowing one hit and striking out one. HIs career had come to an end.
240-127, 559 G, 495 GS, 23 CG, 6 SH, 3436 IP, 3262 H, 682 BB, 2935 K, 4 SV, 3.58 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 70.6 WAR, 120 ERA+.
Off Topic
BBA All-Time Leaderboards:
Wins (12th), Games Started (25th), Innings Pitched (24th), Strikeouts (28th), WHIP (51st), WAR (49th)
Las Vegas All-Time Leaderboards:
Wins (2nd), Win Pct (8th), WAR (3rd), Games Started (1st), CG (8th), SHO (10th), IP (2nd), BB/9 (9th), K/BB (7th), WHIP (7th), rWAR (3rd)
Wins (12th), Games Started (25th), Innings Pitched (24th), Strikeouts (28th), WHIP (51st), WAR (49th)
Las Vegas All-Time Leaderboards:
Wins (2nd), Win Pct (8th), WAR (3rd), Games Started (1st), CG (8th), SHO (10th), IP (2nd), BB/9 (9th), K/BB (7th), WHIP (7th), rWAR (3rd)
PLAYER HISTORY
10/19/2011 Joined the Fish Hawk HS Shootout.
01/01/2012 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 2 (8); Movement: 4 (7); Control: 2 (8).
05/01/2012 Wins the IFA (HS) IFA2 Pitcher of the Month Award.
06/12/2012 Won the 2012 International Finishing Academy Round 3 with the Willis HS Shootout!
06/24/2012 Wins the 2012 IFA (HS) IFA2 Outstanding Pitcher Award.
01/01/2013 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 2 (8); Movement: 4 (7); Control: 2 (8).
01/01/2014 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 2 (8); Movement: 4 (7); Control: 2 (8).
05/10/2014 Released by the Willis HS Shootout.
05/10/2014 Drafted in the 2014 first-year player draft (Round 1, Pick 6, 6th overall pick) by the Las Vegas Hustlers.
05/20/2014 Signed a minor league contract with the Las Vegas Hustlers organization with a signing bonus of $1,500,000.
01/01/2015 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 4 (8); Movement: 5 (7); Control: 3 (8).
04/01/2015 Named the #18 prospect in the MBBA
10/27/2015 Named the #23 prospect in the MBBA
11/16/2015 Named the #21 prospect in the MBBA
12/31/2015 Named the #18 prospect in the MBBA
01/01/2016 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 6 (9); Movement: 7 (8); Control: 5 (8).
01/01/2016 Named the #18 prospect in the MBBA
02/01/2016 Named the #15 prospect in the MBBA
02/26/2016 Named the #16 prospect in the MBBA
03/12/2016 Named the #16 prospect in the MBBA
04/01/2016 Named the #18 prospect in the MBBA
01/01/2017 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 7 (9); Movement: 7 (8); Control: 6 (8).
01/01/2017 Wins the 2016 FALL SL1 Outstanding Pitcher Award.
04/01/2017 Named the #11 prospect in the MBBA
11/18/2017 Received a 1-year contract worth a total of $500,000 through automatic renewal.
01/01/2018 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 9 (9); Movement: 7 (7); Control: 8 (8).
07/01/2018 Was selected to the 2018 Montgomery Brewster Baseball Association All-Star Game.
08/01/2018 Wins the MBBA FL Pitcher of the Month Award.
10/28/2018 Wins the 2018 MBBA FL Steve Nebraska Golden Arm Award.
11/21/2018 Received a 1-year contract worth a total of $500,000 through automatic renewal.
01/01/2019 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 9 (9); Movement: 7 (8); Control: 8 (8).
04/07/2019 Pitches a PERFECT GAME against the Birmingham Bandits, striking out 12 hitters!
06/01/2019 Pitches a NO-HITTER against the Madison Wolves with 11 strikeouts and 1 BB allowed!
07/01/2019 Was selected to the 2019 Montgomery Brewster Baseball Association All-Star Game.
11/18/2019 Received a 1-year contract worth a total of $6,250,000 through arbitration.
01/01/2020 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 9 (9); Movement: 7 (7); Control: 8 (8).
07/01/2020 Was selected to the 2020 Montgomery Brewster Baseball Association All-Star Game.
08/06/2020 Pitches a NO-HITTER against the Greenville Moonshiners with 15 strikeouts and 1 BB allowed!
11/14/2020 Received a 1-year contract worth a total of $8,750,000 through arbitration.
01/01/2021 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 9 (9); Movement: 7 (7); Control: 8 (8).
05/21/2021 Pitches a 3-hit shutout against the Atlantic City Gamblers with 13 strikeouts and 3 BB allowed!
11/23/2021 Received a 1-year contract worth a total of $11,625,000 through arbitration.
11/30/2021 Signed a 6-year contract extension worth a total of $75,000,000 with the Las Vegas Hustlers organization.
01/01/2022 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 9 (9); Movement: 7 (8); Control: 8 (8).
07/01/2022 Wins the MBBA FL Pitcher of the Month Award.
07/01/2022 Was selected to the 2022 Monty Brewster Baseball Association All-Star Game.
01/01/2023 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 9 (9); Movement: 8 (8); Control: 8 (8).
01/01/2024 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 8 (9); Movement: 8 (8); Control: 9 (9).
01/01/2025 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 9 (9); Movement: 8 (8); Control: 8 (8).
09/23/2025 Pitches a 3-hit shutout against the Seattle Storm with 7 strikeouts and 1 BB allowed!
01/01/2026 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 9 (9); Movement: 8 (8); Control: 8 (8).
02/25/2026 Injured (sprained ankle), day-to-day for 3 days.
09/03/2026 Pitches a 1-hit shutout against the Tucson Cactus with 6 strikeouts and 2 BB allowed!
01/01/2027 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 8 (9); Movement: 8 (8); Control: 8 (8).
06/16/2027 Collects his 2000th career Monty Brewster Baseball Association strikeout!
11/06/2027 Wins the 2027 Landis Memorial Series with the Las Vegas Hustlers.
11/07/2027 Declined his contract option.
11/07/2027 Finished 3rd in 2027 MBBA FL Steve Nebraska Golden Arm Award voting.
11/18/2027 Became a free agent.
12/09/2027 Signed a 6-year contract worth a total of $102,000,000 with the Tucson Cactus organization.
01/01/2028 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 8 (9); Movement: 8 (8); Control: 8 (8).
01/01/2029 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 9 (9); Movement: 7 (8); Control: 8 (8).
01/01/2029 Was traded by the Long Beach Surfers to the Las Vegas Hustlers in exchange for SP Júlio Velasco, RP José Féliz, LF António Valentín.
01/01/2030 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 8 (9); Movement: 8 (8); Control: 8 (8).
04/30/2030 Collects his 2500th career Brewster Baseball Association strikeout!
06/07/2030 Earns his 200th career Brewster Baseball Association victory!
06/21/2030 Was selected to the 2030 Brewster Baseball Association All-Star Game.
08/01/2030 Wins the BBA JL Pitcher of the Month Award.
11/03/2030 Finished 3rd in 2030 BBA JL Steve Nebraska Golden Arm Award voting.
01/01/2031 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 8 (8); Movement: 8 (8); Control: 8 (8).
03/04/2031 Pitches a 2-hit shutout against the Canada with 9 strikeouts and 2 BB allowed!
03/19/2031 Finished 3rd in 2031 WCB WCB Pitcher of the Year Award voting.
06/30/2031 Was selected to the 2031 Brewster Baseball Association All-Star Game.
11/10/2031 Las Vegas Hustlers voided the team option year.
11/14/2031 Signed a 2-year contract extension worth a total of $28,300,000 with the Las Vegas Hustlers organization.
01/01/2032 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 6 (7); Movement: 8 (8); Control: 8 (8).
02/26/2032 Named to the 2032 World Cup of Baseball for The United States.
11/06/2032 Has failed to meet the vesting criteria in his contract.
11/28/2032 Became a free agent.
01/01/2033 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 5 (7); Movement: 7 (8); Control: 7 (8).
08/11/2033 Signed a 1-year contract worth a total of $2,190,000 with the Las Vegas Hustlers organization.
09/02/2033 Was claimed off waivers by Huntsville while with Las Vegas.
12/02/2033 Became a free agent.
01/01/2034 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 4 (7); Movement: 7 (8); Control: 6 (8).
02/04/2034 Signed a 1-year contract worth a total of $2,000,000 with the California Crusaders organization.
04/13/2034 Released by the California Crusaders.
07/23/2034 Signed a minor league contract with the Phoenix Talons organization.
08/01/2034 Pitches a 5-hit shutout against the Los Cabos Corsairs with 2 strikeouts and 0 BB allowed!
11/16/2034 Became a free agent.
01/01/2035 OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 5 (8); Movement: 6 (7); Control: 6 (8).
01/09/2035 Signed a minor league contract with the Brooklyn Robins organization.
05/12/2035 Released by the Brooklyn organization.
05/21/2035 Signed a minor league contract ($30,000 bonus) with the Las Vegas Hustlers organization.
10/18/2035 Released by the Las Vegas Hustlers.
11/06/2035 Retired from professional baseball.
LEADERBOARD APPEARANCES
Year G Rank
2032 4 5
Year GS Rank
2018 33 7
2020 33 5
2022 33 5
2023 33 8
2028 34 3
Year W Rank
2018 20 2
2020 18 5
2022 19 1
2026 15 6
2027 17 3
2030 21 2
2031 1 9
2031 16 3
Year Win. % Rank
2018 .833 1
2022 .792 3
2025 .652 7
2026 .652 7
2027 .810 2
2029 .682 8
2030 .808 3
2031 1.000 1
2031 .727 3
Year SV Rank
2032 1 7
Year IP Rank
2018 232.2 7
2019 233.0 5
2020 238.1 4
2028 221.1 9
2030 217.2 10
2031 214.1 8
Year BF Rank
2019 944 6
2020 963 5
2031 875 8
Year K Rank
2018 229 5
2019 212 7
2020 240 4
2021 200 10
2025 175 10
2030 200 10
Year WP Rank
2026 8 8
2027 8 8
2030 8 10
Year ERA Rank
2018 2.40 1
2026 3.21 9
2027 2.71 2
2030 3.02 6
2031 0.00 1
Year BABIP Rank
2018 .290 9
2026 .262 1
2027 .272 8
2030 .280 7
2031 .111 2
Year WHIP Rank
2018 0.98 1
2019 1.15 10
2022 1.04 3
2026 1.06 5
2027 1.03 3
2030 1.06 6
2031 0.44 3
2031 1.23 9
Year K/BB Rank
2018 8.48 2
2020 4.90 9
2022 6.48 2
2027 5.49 4
2029 5.08 7
2030 5.56 7
2031 4.50 10
Year RA/9 Rank
2018 8.86 1
2019 10.43 10
2022 9.69 4
2026 9.76 5
2027 9.46 3
2028 11.06 9
2029 10.66 9
2030 9.92 6
2031 4.00 2
2031 11.25 8
Year HR/9 Rank
2018 0.77 10
2031 0.00 1
Year H/9 Rank
2018 7.74 3
2022 8.09 9
2026 7.90 8
2027 7.84 10
2030 8.02 9
2031 2.00 1
Year BB/9 Rank
2018 1.04 3
2022 1.24 3
2026 1.61 9
2027 1.41 4
2029 1.67 10
2030 1.49 7
2031 2.02 8
Year K/9 Rank
2018 8.86 6
2019 8.19 10
2020 9.06 6
2021 8.50 10
Year RA Rank
2032 4 5
Year QS Rank
2018 27 1
2022 25 5
2027 26 1
2028 23 6
2030 26 2
Year QSP Rank
2018 .818 1
2022 .758 7
2027 .813 1
2028 .676 7
2030 .813 2
2031 1.000 1
Year CG Rank
2019 3 9
2030 3 8
2031 1 3
Year CGP Rank
2030 .094 10
2031 1.000 1
Year SHO Rank
2019 2 3
2020 1 7
2021 1 8
2025 1 6
2026 1 6
2031 1 2
Year GB% Rank
2028 0.58 4
2030 0.59 5
2031 0.69 7
Year WAR Rank
2018 8.7 2
2019 5.8 8
2020 6.7 6
2022 4.5 10
2027 5.3 3
2029 5.2 8
2030 5.4 7
