New York Yankees star pitcher Nestor Cortes was so good this year that he was in manager Aaron Boone‘s consideration to start the first game of the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday.
The nod ended up going to Gerrit Cole, but Cortes went from being rejected by the Seattle Mariners in 2020 to almost getting the Game 1 start in a playoff game in a span of two years.
He has made huge strides in the last two seasons, changing his approach, revamping his stuff and improving his pitches to the point that he finished with a 2.44 ERA in 158.1 innings.
He became a master of the art of pitching: changing his speeds, fooling hitters and keeping them off-balance, tricking them with quick pitches and slow deliveries, and even gaining a tick or two of velocity.
He had an ERA below 2.50, he was a part of the American League’s All-Star roster, and earned the “Nasty Nestor” nickname around the league.
His Most Treasured Accomplishment
Which accomplishment is he the most proud of?
Making 28 starts.
“Nestor Cortes is most proud of making 28 starts this season: ‘I was able to keep that tunnel vision towards the end and finish strong,'” SNY tweeted, quoting the pitcher.
Nestor Cortes is most proud of making 28 starts this season:
"I was able to keep that tunnel vision towards the end and finish strong." pic.twitter.com/edGXWtQoFo
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) October 12, 2022
It would have been 30 starts had he not injured his groin late in the season.
Celebrating the fact he was ready to make 28 starts for his team is actually cool because people often don’t know the sacrifices it takes maintaining a spot on an MLB staff, let alone the Yankees’.
He has to train well and eat healthy to stay healthy, and he has to be good enough to prove that he is one of the best five starters on the team.
Cortes is actually top-two on the Yankees.
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