Douglas High graduate Shawn Estes' career as a starting pitcher appears to be over, but MLB.com is reporting that he will report to the Los Angeles Dodgers' minor league camp this week in hopes of becoming a left-handed relief specialist.
Estes was cut on Sunday from the Dodgers after posting an 8.44 ERA and a .380 opponents' batting average in 10 2/3 innings during spring training. He had been competing for the Dodgers' No. 5 starting pitcher slot.
He'll be trying to make it back to the majors as a second left-handed reliever on the Dodgers' roster behind Hong-Chih Kuo.
"I'm going over there to pitch out of the bullpen," Estes told MLB.com. "I'll pitch [on Tuesday], probably pitch on back-to-back days, then come back to the Major League club for the last week. I kind of like it; I'm kind of excited. It could be a new phase of my career."
Estes has made two previous relief appearances in the Major Leagues, one last season with San Diego and one in 2003 with the Chicago Cubs.
