Manager Aaron Boone announced this Sunday within the framework of spring training that Néstor Cortés Jr. will be the fifth starter for the New York Yankees in 2023, ensuring that his leg injury improves with the passing of days.
Cortés Jr. suffered a Grade 2 right leg tear and the Yankees plan is for him to make a full recovery by Opening Day, by which time he should be fully recovered.
The starter will not go to the World Classic with the United States due to said injury, which will allow him to get in tune and be in the rotation of the Bronx Mules behind Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Luis Severino and Domingo Germán or Clarke Schmidt.
Boone said the order of the rotation to start the season likely will be Cole, Rodon, Severino, whoever wins the competition between German and Schmidt, and then Cortes. Because of Cortes’ hamstring injury, the club wants the little bit of extra time to build him up
— Eric Boland (@eboland11) March 5, 2023
Cortés Jr. could make his 2023 regular season debut on April 4 against the Philadelphia Phillies.
“I feel like in the bullpen you don’t use your legs as much as you do in live games,” Cortés told MLB.com after his first Spring Training session. “So I think that was the main hurdle I was able to overcome; go out and face hitters live on the mound. They’re going to swing at you, so you have to use your legs more.”
Cortés Jr. excelled last season with the Yankees, going 12-4 with a 2.44 ERA in 158.1 innings and being invited to his first All-Star Game.
