Nestor Cortes Jr. Bio
Nestor Cortes Jr. is a Cuban-American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. Nicknamed “Nasty Nestor,” he has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, and San Diego Padres. He earned All-Star honors in 2022 and is recognized for his deceptive pitching style and unique windup that has made him a fan favorite throughout his career.
Early Life and Background
Nestor Cortes Jr. was born on December 10, 1994, in Surgidero de Batabanó, Cuba. When he was just seven months old, his father, Nestor Cortes Sr., won the visa lottery, and the family relocated to Hialeah, Florida. His father had previously been sentenced to one year in prison following a failed attempt to defect from Cuba in 1992. Nestor Sr. later met and married Yuslaidy, who worked as a manicurist while her husband drove a forklift to support their family.
Cortes began playing baseball at the age of four. His father took him to watch the Florida Marlins play at Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, sparking his passion for the sport. He attended Hialeah High School in Hialeah, Florida, where he continued to develop his skills on the diamond. After graduating, he committed to play college baseball at Florida International University.
Path to Professional Baseball
While at Florida International University, Cortes caught the attention of MLB scouts. The New York Yankees selected him in the 36th round of the 2013 MLB draft. He signed with the Yankees shortly after being drafted, receiving an $85,000 signing bonus, and made his professional debut that same year with the Gulf Coast League Yankees of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. This marked the beginning of his journey through the minor leagues.
Over the next several years, Cortes climbed the minor league ladder, pitching for various affiliates within the Yankees organization. He played for teams at every level from Rookie ball through Triple-A, including stops with Pulaski, Charleston, Tampa, Trenton, and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. His 2016 season stood out particularly, as he combined to post an impressive 11-4 record with a 1.53 earned run average across four different levels, demonstrating his adaptability and potential as a future big league contributor.
Nestor Cortes Jr. Career
Baltimore Orioles (2018)
After being selected by the Yankees in 2013, Cortes spent five seasons in their minor league system before being chosen by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2017 Rule 5 draft. This selection meant he would need to remain on the Orioles’ major league roster or injured list for the entire season. He competed for a spot on the Orioles’ Opening Day roster during spring training, competing for either a starting or relief role.
Cortes made the Orioles’ Opening Day roster in 2018 as a relief pitcher and made his major league debut on March 31. His time with Baltimore was tumultuous, as he allowed two grand slams in his first several appearances, including one to Josh Reddick on April 3 and another to Josh Donaldson on April 9. The Orioles designated Cortes for assignment on April 10, and after brief stints, he was returned to the Yankees organization on April 13.
New York Yankees First Stint (2019)
The Yankees invited Cortes to spring training as a non-roster player in 2019. After not making the team initially, he was assigned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before receiving a promotion to the majors on May 9. He earned his first major league win on June 15, striking out seven batters while allowing two earned runs over five innings pitched. The Yankees optioned him back to Triple-A later that month when Aaron Judge returned from the injured list, but he was recalled on June 23. In 33 games that season, Cortes posted a 5-1 record with a 5.67 earned run average.
Seattle Mariners (2020)
On November 25, 2019, the Yankees traded Cortes to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for international bonus pool money. The 2020 season proved challenging for Cortes, as he suffered an elbow injury in August that landed him on the injured list. Working at the Mariners’ alternate training site, a coach helped him modify his fastball grip, adding backspin to the pitch. Despite the adjustment, Cortes struggled during his time on the mound, allowing 13 runs over just 7 2/3 innings with a 15.26 earned run average. After being outrighted off the 40-man roster following the season, he elected free agency.
New York Yankees Second Stint (2021–2024)
Cortes signed a minor league contract to return to the Yankees organization on December 20, 2020. He began the 2021 season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before being promoted to the majors on May 30. Over the course of that season, Cortes became a favorite of Yankees fans. His signature mustache, combined with his unique style of pitching and many productive appearances, earned him the moniker “Nasty Nestor.” He finished the year with 93 innings pitched across 22 appearances, 14 starts, a 2.90 earned run average, and 103 strikeouts.
During the 2022 season, Cortes secured a spot in the Yankees’ starting rotation from Opening Day. He delivered several standout performances, including an immaculate inning against the Orioles on April 16 and an impressive start against the Texas Rangers on May 9 where he pitched 7 1/3 innings before allowing his first hit. Cortes was selected to the All-Star Game, where he recorded two strikeouts, a hit by pitch, and a walk in one inning of work. Working exclusively as a starter that year, he finished the regular season with a 12-4 record and a 2.44 earned run average in 158 1/3 innings pitched across 28 games.
The 2023 season brought challenges for Cortes, as he struggled with a left rotator cuff strain that landed him on the injured list in June. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list in July and activated briefly in August before returning to the injured list. His season officially ended when he was transferred to the 60-day injured list in September, as the Yankees missed the postseason for the first time since 2016. In 12 starts, he logged a 5-2 record with a 4.97 earned run average and 67 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings pitched.
With Gerrit Cole beginning the 2024 season on the injured list, the Yankees selected Cortes as their Opening Day starting pitcher. He posted a 9-10 record with a 3.77 earned run average in 31 games (30 starts), ranking second on the team in innings pitched (174 1/3) and third in strikeouts (162). Though sidelined during the early portion of the Yankees’ postseason run due to a left elbow flexor strain suffered in September, he was re-added to the roster for the World Series. In Game 1, after retiring his first batter, he allowed a walk-off grand slam to Freddie Freeman in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Milwaukee Brewers (2025)
On December 13, 2024, the Yankees traded Cortes and Caleb Durbin to the Milwaukee Brewers for relief pitcher Devin Williams. He made his return to Yankee Stadium as a member of the Brewers on March 29, receiving a standing ovation from the fans. His first start was rough, as he allowed six hits, eight runs, and five walks while striking out two batters in just two innings during an 20-9 loss. He earned his first win of the season on April 3 against the Cincinnati Reds, pitching six innings while allowing one hit and striking out six in a 1-0 victory. However, that would prove to be his final appearance with Milwaukee, as he went on the injured list with an elbow injury.
San Diego Padres (2025)
On July 31, 2025, the Brewers traded Cortes to the San Diego Padres along with Jorge Quintana and cash in exchange for Brandon Lockridge. He was activated off the injured list on August 3 and made six starts for the Padres, posting a 1-3 record with a 5.47 earned run average and 21 strikeouts across 26 1/3 innings pitched. On October 16, 2025, it was announced that Cortes would miss 9-to-10 months after undergoing surgery to repair a tendon tear in his throwing arm, marking a significant setback in his career.
Pitching Style and Strengths
Cortes throws a four-seam fastball that averages approximately 91 miles per hour, along with a cutter, slider, changeup, and curveball. His curveball has been registered as slow as 47 miles per hour, giving hitters widely varying speeds to track. He is known for his deceptive windup, varying his step timing and occasionally pausing mid-motion to rock back and forth, which helps disrupt hitters’ timing. His shorter stature is offset by his ability to hide the ball well in his windup, and when throwing offspeed pitches, his arm angle differs slightly from his fastball delivery, adding another layer of complexity for opposing batters.
Nestor Cortes Jr. Career Statistics
Throughout his MLB career spanning from 2018 through 2025, Cortes has established himself as a versatile pitcher capable of working in relief and starting roles. His career highlights include an All-Star selection, multiple seasons with winning records, and memorable performances in big moments.
MLB Highlights
Through the 2025 season, Cortes has compiled a career win-loss record of 35-25 with a 3.94 earned run average and 604 strikeouts across his time with the Orioles, Yankees, Mariners, Brewers, and Padres. His most successful season came in 2022 when he earned All-Star honors and posted a 12-4 record with a 2.44 earned run average. The 2024 season saw him serve as the Yankees’ Opening Day starter and contribute significantly to their World Series run, despite the difficult ending in Game 1.
Minor League Development
Before reaching the majors, Cortes developed through the Yankees’ minor league system from 2013 to 2017. His 2016 campaign was particularly noteworthy, as he combined to go 11-4 with a 1.53 earned run average across four levels while appearing in 21 games with 12 starts. He also played winter ball in the Dominican Professional Baseball League following the 2018 season, where he learned to throw a cut fastball that became part of his arsenal.
| Level | Record | ERA | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| MLB Career | 35-25 | 3.94 | 158 |
| 2016 Minor Leagues | 11-4 | 1.53 | 21 |
Nestor Cortes Jr. Family
Family Background and Heritage
Cortes was born in Cuba to Nestor Cortes Sr. and Yuslaidy. His family’s journey to the United States began when his father won the visa lottery, allowing them to leave Cuba when Nestor Jr. was only seven months old. Before winning the lottery, his father had served time in prison after a failed defection attempt in 1992. This background shaped the family’s appreciation for their opportunities in America, and both parents worked hard to provide for their son in Hialeah, Florida.
Personal Life
Cortes married Alondra Esteras Russy in November 2023. The couple became engaged after the 2022 All-Star Game, which coincided with one of the best seasons of his career. Their first son was born in 2025. Outside of baseball, Cortes is a fan of horse racing and attended races at Hialeah Park Race Track during his youth. In 2023, he partnered with a Yankees equipment manager to purchase a harness racing horse, demonstrating his continued interest in the sport.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season proved to be one of the most challenging of Cortes’ career. After being traded from the Yankees to the Brewers in December 2024, he struggled with consistency during his time in Milwaukee. His Opening Day start against his former team resulted in eight runs allowed over just two innings. While he managed to pick up a victory against the Cincinnati Reds in early April, elbow troubles ended his tenure with the Brewers and led to a mid-season trade to the San Diego Padres in late July.
With the Padres, Cortes showed flashes of his abilities but was clearly affected by the injury that had plagued him since April. He made six starts and showed some promise in between the difficulties, but the season ended with news that he would require surgery to repair a tendon tear in his throwing arm. The procedure, announced in October 2025, would sideline him for most of the 2026 season as he works toward a return to the mound.