Nestor Cortes, once regarded as a nasty pitcher, lost his 2022 season All-Star charm in 2023. He battled multiple injury concerns throughout the year before getting shut down in late August. In 12 starts, he lodged a 4.97 ERA with 67 strikeouts across 63.1 innings pitched. Cortes was a major piece of the New York Yankees starting rotation and carried a lot of expectations on his shoulders.
However, just like the rest of the squad, Nestor Cortes also witnessed a grave slump. Having said that, the pitcher has made nothing but significant progress since landing on IL. He recently spoke to NJ Media and shared his take on the lost season and how the Yankees are preparing to come out of it. Cortes also offered a small update on his current injury status.
Nestor Cortes Blames Injuries For Yankees Lost Season! Confident Of Front Office Doing The Right Thing During Off-Season!
New York Yankees top starting pitcher Nestor Cortes was shut down mid-season due to rotator cuff strain. Interestingly, he sustained the injury in July and made a comeback in August after four-six weeks of rehab. However, in less than one week, Cortes was back on the injury list with the same injury. Needless to say, the pitcher seemed dejected when he saw his team getting kicked in the teeth from the sidelines. While reflecting on the season, Cortes said that while injuries played a huge role, a lot of experienced players, including himself, felt responsible for not living up to their potential.
During the off-season, the team did look like a force to be reckoned with, especially after the acquisition of Carlos Rodon and Aaron Judge. But it just wasn’t meant to be. Personally, the pitcher felt he could have contributed much more had it not been for the injuries. But at the end of the day, he feels happy with the way the team stood up during the final stretch. Having said that, Nestor Cortes is confident that the front office will do the right thing during off-season shopping. “We owe it to the fans, and I’m sure the front office is going to do its hardest to put the best product out there,” said Cortes. The pitcher will now take a short break to get hitched and will return to the grind sooner than later.
Nestor Cortes Expects To Be Ready By Next Year’s Spring Training!
Nestor Cortes is currently battling a rotator cuff strain. While speaking to NJ Media, he did share an update on his plan of action for the off-season. Cortes said that he hasn’t stopped throwing bullpens despite the injury. Moreover, the initial plan of action included him pitching for two weeks at his home in Miami once the season concludes.
After those two weeks, he plans on resting for four to six weeks to build up his strength. And subsequently, start the off-season program on time. While Nestor Cortes is unaware of the Yankees’ plans for him, he intends to pitch two or three innings during spring training. He does not want to build up slow and steady. Instead, the pitcher plans to commence spring as a full-time starter.