Nestor Cortes continues to make progress towards his return to the Yankees rotation.
The left-hander, who’s coping with rotator cuff irritation, threw 20 pitches throughout a stay bullpen session Sunday morning at Yankee Stadium and stated he felt “totally pain free” afterward.
“Everything looked pretty crisp,” Cortes stated. “I threw it into areas that I wanted to, so I guess my command is there, and I was able to drop down for I think one or two pitches, so everything felt great.”
Cortes has been out since May 30. He’s thrown a number of bullpen periods since late June however was transferred Friday to the 60-day injured record. The 28-year-old believes he could possibly be able to return to the most important league roster as soon as he’s eligible Aug. 4.
“We’ve gone over scenarios for the next couple of weeks,” Cortes stated. “If nothing pops up, and I don’t get set back, it should be right after the 60 days. Whether it’s [Aug.] 7th or the 6th or the 5th or the 8th, we don’t know, but I’m on schedule for I guess those days.”
Sunday noticed Cortes pitch to outfielder Greg Allen. Manager Aaron Boone stated Cortes appeared “really sharp” and is scheduled to throw one other stay session Thursday in Tampa.
“We’ve got a ways to go, but I thought he looked like Nestor,” Boone stated after Sunday’s session.
It has been a difficult season for Cortes, who additionally missed March’s World Baseball Classic with a proper hamstring pressure. He recovered in time to make the Opening Day roster however posted a 5.16 ERA over 59.1 innings in 11 begins earlier than the shoulder ailment.
“Looking back at it, I think the hamstring might have caught up with my arm,” Cortes stated Sunday. “It wasn’t totally synced up getting out of spring training. I wanted to be here for Opening Day. … I think I was a little hurried on that end, but I’m just glad to feel better now.”
Cortes pitched within the All-Star Game final yr and completed the 2022 season with a 12-4 document and a couple of.44 ERA.
LOAISIGA TAKES NEXT STEP
More than two months after present process surgical procedure to take away a bone spur in his elbow, Jonathan Loaisiga threw from a mound Sunday.
It marked one other step for the right-handed reliever, who started a throwing program greater than three weeks in the past.
“Today [was] just a touch-and-feel,” Boone stated. “He had his throwing program and then he was getting on the mound just for 10 [pitches] or so. It’s the first time getting on the mound.”
The hard-throwing Loaisiga has solely appeared in three video games this season after rising as a late-inning standout the earlier two years. He is just not anticipated to return earlier than August.
BOONE ADMIRES YANKEES’ ‘GRIT’
Ahead of the Yankees’ closing sport of the primary half, Boone acknowledged the 2023 season has been “a grind” for his crew.
The Yankees have navigated extended absences by Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Harrison Bader and Carlos Rodon. Luis Severino and Josh Donaldson additionally missed vital time with accidents and have struggled with consistency since returning.
The Yankees entered Sunday’s sport towards the Chicago Cubs tied with the Toronto Blue Jays for fourth place in AL East and for the third and closing AL Wild Card spot.
“I love the grit of this group, though,” Boone stated. “As tough as it has been, and some of the adversity we’ve faced, the reality is we’re in position to achieve our goals headed into the second half. It’s all right there for us. It’s on us to get it done.”
SECOND HALF ROTATION
Fresh off his Yankees debut, Rodon is predicted to kick off the second half by beginning Friday’s highway sport towards the Colorado Rockies, Boone stated Sunday.
He’ll probably be adopted by Clarke Schmidt on Saturday and Gerrit Cole — the lone Yankees pitcher to make the 2023 All-Star Game — subsequent Sunday.
Rodon, a two-time All-Star, signed a 6-year, $162 million contract with the Yankees within the offseason. He missed the primary three months of the season with forearm and again points, then allowed two runs in 5.1 innings towards the Cubs Friday in his first outing with New York.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com