Just like the last offseason for the New York Yankees, this offseason was filled with excitement. The chase for 28 continues on and with a majority of the starting team on the injured list, it has been a struggle. However, the reserve players have played valiantly and carried the team to a 23-15 record.
The Yankees have adopted a “next man up” mentality moving forward. In the wake of James Paxton’s injury, who’s next?
Who’s up next for the New York Yankees?
Nestor Cortes Jr. was drafted by the Yankees in the 36th round of the 2013 draft. Cortes since then has made his way through the minors. Cortes has had a very good career in the minors playing both with the Orioles and Yankees organization. He has a career ERA of 2.64, and 477 strikeouts in 473 IP. He also has played in 114 games, 63 of which were starts. Another notable stat is that he has a 1.05 career WHIP.
Last season, however, was the first time Cortes saw a glimpse of the majors.
In his brief stint with the Orioles, Cortes pitched 4.2 innings in 4 games for a 7.71 ERA and 3Ks. With a relatively small sample size, Cortes went back to the minors to retool and find what works after getting a taste of the majors. Something that will stand out to you watching Cortes is that even with all the success, Cortes lacks high velocity. That is not necessarily a bad thing.
Cortes continues to adapt and has now found his way back to the Yankees, and now in the majors for the first time. He has risen through the minors impressively and could prove to be a true diamond in the rough given the opportunity. With a bulk of the roster facing injury concerns, now is the time for Nestor Cortes Jr to show what he can do at the highest stage.