Nestor Cortes Jr., the left-handed pitcher for the New York Yankees, is approaching a pivotal moment in his recovery process on Sunday. This session will mark his first time throwing since being placed on the injured list on September 25 due to a left elbow flexor strain.
Cortes sees this upcoming throwing session as a key hurdle in his path to potentially rejoining the team for the playoffs, although he admits that a swift return remains unlikely. He highlighted the importance of this session, noting that it will likely dictate whether he continues his rehabilitation efforts.
“That’s basically the No. 1 hurdle right now,” the Yankees lefty told on Saturday. “I think that will tell (me) if I should keep going or not. We’ll see how I wake up the next day and how I’m feeling — if I even make it through (Sunday). We’ll see how (Sunday) goes.”
While Cortes has been working with plyo balls and reported some improvement, he remains unsure how his arm will react to throwing actual baseballs. He acknowledged the possibility that he might not complete the session successfully and stressed the need to assess how he felt the following day.
Cortes reported feeling better, noting that some symptoms he experienced in certain arm positions have diminished. However, he stressed that the true test will come when he throws a baseball, which he has not yet done.
“As of now, I’m feeling good,” Cortes explained. “Symptoms are getting better. There were some symptoms I was feeling in different positions that I’m not feeling. It’s getting better, but I’m not throwing a baseball, which is obviously the No. 1 goal. We’ll see how it goes.”
Cortes emphasized that Sunday’s throwing session is a critical point in his recovery process, as its outcome will significantly influence the pace of his rehabilitation. He is hopeful for a positive response from his body and arm, which could expedite his return to the field. Still, he maintained a cautious perspective, recognizing the importance of this step in his recovery journey.
“If my body responds and if my arm responds, we’ll try to be as quick as possible,” he told about his return to playoffs. “But like I said this week, that would be huge for me.”
Cortes eager to join Yankees playoff but with full recovery
Nestor Cortes Jr. is nearing the end of his contract with the New York Yankees, as free agency approaches following next season. His current salary, set through arbitration, is $3.9 million. After being placed on the injured list, Cortes faced over a week of inactivity and was expected to receive a platelet-rich plasma injection in his elbow.
As for the American League Championship Series, set to begin on October 14, Cortes hasn’t completely ruled himself out but recognizes that a quick comeback appears improbable.
Before his injury, the Yankees had been contemplating using Cortes as a relief pitcher in the playoffs. He finished the regular season with a 9-10 record and a 3.77 ERA in 31 appearances, with 30 of those being starts.
He expressed his eagerness to return to the field as soon as possible. However, he also stressed the importance of not jeopardizing his long-term health. Cortes mentioned ongoing conversations with the team’s medical and support staff regarding his treatment plan, weighing his immediate playoff availability against his future career prospects.
“The goal is to be back as soon as possible,” the pitcher said. “Obviously, not putting myself at risk, and I think we’ve talked about it with the trainers about how they want to take care of me. Obviously, the plans for me in the future and career-wise. So, like I said, I think tomorrow will be a really good day to know how far we want to push this and if we are.”
Cortes views Sunday’s session as a critical gauge of how aggressively they can approach his rehabilitation and whether a near-term return to action is realistic. This scenario underscores the delicate balance between a player’s ambition to contribute in crucial playoff moments and the necessity of carefully managing injuries to safeguard long-term career health.
With the Yankees’ current playoff roster featuring four starting pitchers—Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt, and Luis Gil—it seems unlikely that Cortes would return as a starter during the postseason. His previous experience includes 49 relief appearances, indicating he might be considered for a bullpen role if he returns.
This situation highlights the challenges teams face in managing player injuries during crucial playoff periods, balancing the urgency of quick returns with the necessity of thorough rehabilitation and long-term health considerations.
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