The Yankees might be getting a key piece of their pitching staff back just in time for the World Series. Manager Aaron Boone hinted during a virtual press conference on Monday that left-hander Nestor Cortes could make his return to the roster for the Fall Classic.
Cortes, sidelined with a flexor strain since last month, has been ramping up his recovery and recently threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session before Game 4 of the AL Championship Series. “I thought I threw good,” Cortes told NJ Advance Media. “I was 88 to 91 (mph). I punched out two guys.”
Boone, optimistic about Cortes’ progress, confirmed that if his next live BP session on Tuesday goes well, fans might just see him back on the mound. “If everything goes well there, I would say there’s a decent chance that he could be on the roster,” Boone stated.
Cortes, who went 9-10 with a 3.77 ERA in 174 1/3 innings during the regular season, is no stranger to the postseason, having made three starts during the Yankees’ 2022 playoff run. Now, with the stakes even higher, the possibility of Cortes’ return offers a glimmer of hope for Yankees fans eager to see their team take home the championship.
As Cortes said himself, “It’s not every year that you have a chance to pitch in the World Series. If I have the opportunity, I want to do it.”
With a potential Cortes comeback on the horizon, the Yankees’ pitching arsenal could be getting a much-needed boost just when it matters most!
