Early in the month of June, Major League Baseball’s ERA leader is none other than Nestor Cortes Jr.
The former 36th round pick, who was released by the Yankees after the 2019 season, is now New York’s best starting pitcher in a rotation that includes Gerrit Cole. Cortes averages a velocity in the low 90s, among the slowest in the league, per Statcast, yet is in the top 10 in the league in strikeouts per nine innings.
It has been a remarkable story that has thrust the crafty lefty into the Cy Young Award conversation, and while there is still a ways to go before that honor is handed out, Gio can’t help but imagine where that would rank among the most improbable career trajectories he has ever seen.
“Imagine if Nestor Cortes wins the Cy Young?” Gio said during Monday’s show. “That would be one of the most incredible stories ever. He came from absolutely nothing, not a dominating force, not throwing 100 mph, to a guy that has a sub-2.00 ERA, winning a Cy Young for the New York Yankees.”
It would certainly be one of the most memorable Cy Young winners, especially with Cortes’ style being so different from the new age, where other top arms in the league like Cole or Shane McClanahan thrive off velocity.
But not Cortes, and Gio loves the former afterthought being thrust into the big-league spotlight.
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