In a year that has seen so many New York Yankees underachieve, the story of Nestor Cortes Jr. reads like something out of a fairytale. A former relief pitcher who was discarded by the Yankees, Orioles, and Mariners in a three-year span, Cortes has not only worked his way onto the roster, but established himself as one of New York’s most effective pitchers.
Cortes came into his start against the Boston Red Sox with a 2.79 ERA in 20 games and 12 starts. In fact, the only qualified pitcher in the American League since May 30 with a lower ERA than Cortes is Blue Jays ace and Cy Young candidate Robbie Ray.