BIOGRAPHY
Nestor Cortes Jr. was born December 10, 1994, in Surgidero de Batabanó, Cuba. He is a pitcher in the MLB.
The New York Yankees selected him in the 36th round of the 2013 MLB draft. He signed and made his professional debut that year with the Gulf Coast Yankees of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, where he had a 0–1 win–loss record with a 4.42 earned run average (ERA) in 18+1⁄3 innings pitched. He returned there in 2014, going 1–2 with a 2.27 ERA in 11 games (two starts). Cortés spent 2015 with the Pulaski Yankees of the Rookie-level Appalachian League, where he compiled a 6–3 record with a 2.26 ERA in 12 games (ten starts). In 2016, he pitched for the Charleston RiverDogs of the Class A South Atlantic League, Tampa Yankees of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League, Trenton Thunder of the Class AA Eastern League, and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the Class AAA International League, pitching to a combined 11–4 record with a 1.53 ERA in 21 games (12 starts). Cortés played 2017 with Tampa, Trenton, and the RailRiders. where he was 7–4 with a 2.06 ERA in 30 games (13 starts).
On December 20, 2020, Cortes signed a minor league contract to return to the New York Yankees organization. The Yankees promoted Cortes to the major leagues on May 30, 2021.
Throughout the 2021 season Cortes became a favorite of Yankees fans, as his signature mustache, along with his unique style of pitching and many productive appearances garnered him much praise, along with the moniker "Nasty Nestor." He finished the year with 93 innings pitched over 22 games (14 started) to go along with a 2.90 ERA and 103 strikeouts.
Cortes began the 2022 season in the Yankees starting rotation. Cortes threw an immaculate inning against the Orioles on April 16, 2022. Against the Texas Rangers on May 9, Cortes pitched 7+1⁄3 innings before allowing his first hit.
2022 saw the first All-Star Game appearance for Cortes, wherein the bottom of the sixth inning, he registered two strikeouts, a hit by pitch, and a walk-in an inning pitched.
Cortes began the 2023 season out of the Yankees' rotation, posting a 5.16 ERA across 11 starts. On June 8, 2023, he was placed on the injured list with a left rotator cuff strain. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on July 7. Cortes was activated on August 5. He made one start and returned to the injured list on August 11 due to the rotator cuff strain. He was transferred to the 60–day injured list on September 12, officially ending his season. In 12 starts, he logged a 5–2 record and 4.97 ERA with 67 strikeouts in 63+1⁄3 innings pitched.
Cortes signed a one-year deal with the Yankees for 2024.
