The World Baseball Classic is making its return after a hiatus in 2021 thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Next spring, the Classic will be back.
Team USA won the title back in 2017, when the Classic was last held, and today, they gained another valuable asset.
New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes has announced that he will be participating in the Classic and will be representing Team USA, joining stars such as Tim Anderson, Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Pete Alonso, Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Cedric Mullins, and Trey Mancini.
MLB announced the news on Twitter, with a cool graphic featuring Team USA’s slogan, “All In.”
Nestor Cortes is #ALLIN for Team USA! pic.twitter.com/kza38b6bKM
— MLB (@MLB) November 29, 2022
Cortes “All In” For WBC
Cortes is a huge addition to an already stacked Team USA roster.
Managed by former MLB star Mark DeRosa, Team USA will have a chance to defend its WBC title.
The 27-year-old ace started 28 games for the Yankees in 2022, posting a 12-4 record and a 2.44 ERA.
Cortes started and won Game 5 of the ALDS against the Cleveland Guardians this past October.
The left-hander emerged as an ace with the Yankees late in the 2021 season, posting a 2.90 ERA in 14 starts.
Cortes also had the lowest ERA of any Yankees starter during the 2022 regular season.
He is now the latest addition to an already loaded roster for Team USA in next year’s World Baseball Classic.
Cortes joins David Bednar, Dillon Tate, Devin Williams, and Merrill Kelly as the fifth pitcher on the Team USA squad.
Cortes and Kelly are thus far the only starting pitchers who have announced that they will participate in the Classic.
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