Nestor Cortes threw 45 pitches in a live batting practice session on Friday in Tampa, and came out with no problems, only optimism that he will be able to come off the IL as soon as he’s eligible on Monday.
“My velo was up,” Cortes said, via Brendan Kuty of NJ.com. “That was the most important thing, I think. I got after a few pitches there and they were 92-94, so it’s kind of what I’ve been the last five or 10 starts. Pretty confident about it.”
Cortes was placed on the 15-day IL with a groin strain, retroactive to Aug. 22, sidelining the Yankees’ most consistent starter this season. But it appears the 2022 All-Star’s return is now imminent, and he told Kuty he believes he can go four or five innings in his first start back.
Clarke Schmidt, Saturday’s starter against the Rays, has been pitching in Cortes’ place.
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