After being selected by the New York Yankees in the 36th round of the amateur draft that year, pitcher Nestor Cortes debuted in the major leagues that year.
In his debut year, he had a 2.27 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings, and in 2014, he had a 2.26 ERA with over a strikeout per inning once again.
In 106 innings pitched across four levels in 2016, he was 11-4 with 115 strikeouts and a 1.53 ERA while allowing just 61 hits and 24 walks.
2016 was his breakout year (0.802 WHIP). He made his debut appearance in the Triple A level (winning his only start) and participated in the Arizona Fall League that year. He was a Mid-Season All-Star in 2016 and a Mid-Season All-Star in 2015.
To his credit, on March 31, 2018, he pitched two scoreless innings of relief against the Minnesota Twins for Baltimore in his major league debut after being selected by the Orioles via the Rule V Draft.
When Cortes was returned to the Yankees, he would spend the rest of this season in a minor league system.
In 33 games (including a start), he was 5-1, 5.67 with 69 strikeouts in 66 2/3 innings for the Yankees in 2019. Seattle Mariners traded him after the season, and he played an abbreviated 2020 season there with a record of 0-1, 15.26 in five appearances.
Is Nestor Cortes Mexican?
Nestor Cortes is not Mexican. He is a Cuban-American.