New York Yankees The
New York Yankees selected Cortes in the 36th round of the
2013 MLB draft. He signed with the Yankees, receiving an $85,000
signing bonus, and made his professional debut that year with the
Gulf Coast League Yankees of the
Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, where he had a 0–1
win–loss record with a 4.42
earned run average (ERA) in
innings pitched. He returned there in 2014, going 1–2 with a 2.27 ERA in 11 games (two starts). Cortes spent 2015 with the
Pulaski Yankees of the Rookie-level
Appalachian League, where he compiled a 6–3 record with a 2.26 ERA in 12 games (ten starts). In 2016, he pitched for the
Charleston RiverDogs of the
Single-A South Atlantic League,
Tampa Yankees of the
High-A Florida State League,
Trenton Thunder of the
Double-A Eastern League, and the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the
Triple-A International League, pitching to a combined 11–4 record with a 1.53 ERA in 21 games (12 starts). Cortes played 2017 with Tampa, Trenton, and the RailRiders. He finished the season with a 2.06 ERA between the three levels.
Baltimore Orioles The
Baltimore Orioles selected Cortes from the Yankees organization in the 2017
Rule 5 draft. During spring training with the Orioles, Cortes competed for a spot on the Orioles'
Opening Day roster as either a
starting pitcher or
relief pitcher. Cortes made the Orioles' Opening Day roster in 2018 as a relief pitcher, and made his major league debut on March 31. He allowed a
grand slam to
Josh Reddick on April 3. On April 9, he
walked Curtis Granderson with the
bases loaded, then gave up a grand slam to
Josh Donaldson. The Orioles
designated Cortes for assignment the next day. He had allowed four runs on ten hits, including two grand slams, in four games pitched. He played in one game for Trenton before returning to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, combining for a 6–6 record and 3.68 ERA in 24 games. After the regular season, Cortes played for the
Estrellas Orientales of the
Dominican Professional Baseball League, where he learned how to throw a
cut fastball. The Yankees invited Cortes to
spring training as a non-roster player in 2019. He did not make the team and was assigned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The Yankees promoted him to the major leagues on May 9. On June 15, he earned his first major league win, striking out seven batters, and allowing two earned runs in five innings. The Yankees optioned him to Triple-A with
Aaron Judge coming off the injured list on June 21. He returned to the major league roster on June 23 when
Cameron Maybin went on the injured list. In 33 games, Cortes posted a 5–1 record and 5.67 ERA. He hurt his elbow in August 2020, sending him to injured list. Working at the Mariners' alternate training site, a coach helped him to change the grip of his
fastball, which helped him add
backspin to the pitch. On October 22, Cortes was outrighted off of the 40-man roster after he was activated from the 60-day injured list and elected free agency.
New York Yankees (third stint) On December 20, 2020, Cortes signed a minor league contract to return to the
New York Yankees organization. Cortes began the 2021 season with the Triple-A RailRiders, then was promoted to the majors on May 30. Over the course of the 2021 season, Cortes became a favorite of Yankees fans. His signature mustache, along with his unique style of pitching and many productive appearances, garnered him much praise, and brought the moniker "Nasty Nestor." He finished the year with 93 innings pitched over 22 appearances, 14 of them starts, and finished with a 2.90 ERA and 103 strikeouts. Cortes began the 2022 season in the Yankees' starting rotation. He threw an
immaculate inning against the Orioles on April 16. Against the
Texas Rangers on May 9, Cortes pitched innings before allowing his first hit. He was selected for the
All-Star Game, where he registered two strikeouts, a
hit by pitch, and a walk in 1 inning pitched. Working exclusively as a starter, he finished the regular season with a 12-4 record and a 2.44 ERA in innings pitched in 28 games. In November 2022, Cortes announced his intention to represent the
United States national team in the
2023 World Baseball Classic. However, in February 2023, he withdrew from the tournament due to a hamstring injury. Cortes began the 2023 season continuing as a member of the Yankees' rotation. He struggled, posting a 5.16 ERA across 11 starts, before being placed on the injured list with a left
rotator cuff strain on June 8. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on July 7. Cortes was activated on August 5. He made one start, then was returned to the injured list on August 11 due to the rotator cuff strain. He was transferred to the 60–day injured list on September 12, officially ending his season, as the Yankees missed the postseason for the first time since 2016. In 12 starts, he logged a 5–2 record and a 4.97 ERA with 67 strikeouts in innings pitched. With
Gerrit Cole beginning the 2024 season on the injured list, the Yankees chose Cortes as their
Opening Day starting pitcher. Cortes was 9–10 with a 3.77 ERA in 31 games (30 starts) over the course of the 2024 season, ranking second on the team in innings pitched () and third in strikeouts (162). Cortes was sidelined to begin the Yankees' postseason run due to a left elbow flexor strain suffered on September 18. He was re-added to the 26-man roster for the
World Series. In the bottom of the 10th inning of Game 1, Cortes retired the first batter he faced, then allowed a
walk-off grand slam to
Freddie Freeman.
Milwaukee Brewers On December 13, 2024, the Yankees traded Cortes and
Caleb Durbin to the
Milwaukee Brewers for reliever
Devin Williams. On March 29, Cortes got a good ovation from the Yankees fans when he made his return as a member of the Brewers. In his first start, he pitched two innings, allowed six hits and eight runs, walked five batters, and struck out two batters in his worst start to date as the Brewers were routed by the
New York Yankees in a 20–9 loss. Cortes got his first win of the season over the
Cincinnati Reds where he pitched six innings, allowed one hit, and walked two batters, while striking out six batters as the Brewers beat the Reds in a 1–0 win on April 3. That would be his final game with Milwaukee, as he went on the 15-day injured list with an elbow injury.
San Diego Padres On July 31, 2025, the Brewers traded Cortes, Jorge Quintana, and cash to the
San Diego Padres for
Brandon Lockridge. Cortes was activated off of the injured list on August 3. He made six starts for San Diego, posting a 1-3 record and 5.47 ERA with 21 strikeouts across innings pitched. On October 16, it was announced that Cortes would miss 9-to-10 months after undergoing surgery to repair a tendon tear in his throwing arm. ==Player profile==