New York Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. was excited to pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic that will start in a little less than a month.
He had been preparing for this moment, but bad luck just got in his way.
“Yankees LHP Nestor Cortes Jr. out of World Baseball Classic, sources tell @TheAthletic. Was set to pitch for Team USA, but recently tweaked hamstring. Leaves C Kyle Higashioka (USA), 2B Gleyber Torres (Venezuela) and RH Jonathan Loáisiga (Nicaragua) as only Yankees in tournament,” MLB insider Ken Rosenthal tweeted.
Yankees LHP Nestor Cortes Jr. out of World Baseball Classic, sources tell @TheAthletic. Was set to pitch for Team USA, but recently tweaked hamstring. Leaves C Kyle Higashioka (USA), 2B Gleyber Torres (Venezuela) and RH Jonathan Loáisiga (Nicaragua) as only Yankees in tournament.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 13, 2023
That’s a bummer, as all MLB fans were certainly looking forward to seeing the left-hander and his funky style dominate hitters at the international level.
The right hamstring strain, in addition, puts a question mark on his availability for the start of spring training games later this month.
These injuries are usually very tricky to deal with and often results in aggravations if not properly healed.
It is reportedly a low Grade 2 hamstring strain and it means Cortes won’t throw off a mound for at least a couple of weeks.
Nestor Cortes has a Grade 2 right hamstring strain that will keep him off the mound for two weeks. As such, he will not pitch in the World Baseball Classic. pic.twitter.com/VYDNCxBTRk
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) February 13, 2023
The southpaw is throwing from flat-ground and hasn’t been ruled out for Opening Day yet, but there is always the chance the Yankees play things cautiously and give him some time to rest.
He has been excellent for the Yankees in the last two seasons, with a brilliant 2.90 ERA in 2021 and an even better 2.44 mark in 2022.
He made his first All-Star Game last year.
The Yankees are already down Frankie Montas, and have Clarke Schmidt and Domingo German for depth.
It would make sense to bring in a veteran, cheap option to start via free agency.
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