Nestor Cortes Jr. was hoping his recent elbow pain was just the usual wear and tear of a long season. But unfortunately, it looks like that hope might be dashed as he finds himself on the 15-day injured list. An MRI revealed a left elbow flexor strain, which is definitely not what any pitcher wants to hear. Now, Cortes will be sidelined for at least a week, maybe a little longer, while he gears up for a PRP injection to help with recovery. Hopefully, this is just a minor setback and not the end of his season – it’s tough to see a player like Nestor Cortes go through this, especially knowing how much they want to be out there on the mound.  

Cortes Jr. isn’t giving up just yet—he’s still holding out hope and so are we. He hopes for a return in October if the Yankees can pull off a deep playoff run. Manager Aaron Boone echoed that sentiment, saying they’re not ready to rule anything out just yet. The good news is that Cortes’s UCL is in good shape. The team is sending his imaging to renowned surgeons for some extra insights on that flexor muscle. Time is definitely not on Cortes’s side, and the Yankees can’t rely on him being an option for the crucial stretch ahead.

That’s a big blow, given how valuable he’s been to the team. Cortes addressed this issue on Wednesday afternoon to the NY Post, after he was scratched from his start against the Orioles. “It sucks that I’m in this position right now to where I can’t help the team,” Cortes noted. He had been on a roll lately, giving up just one run over his last 15 ¹/₃ innings and posting an impressive 1.58 ERA in his last seven outings. Marcus Stroman stepped in, but unfortunately, the Yankees lost 9-7 at the Stadium.  

The Yankees were still figuring out how to utilize him in the postseason, likely as a key multi-inning weapon out of the bullpen. But then, things took a turn – it all started before his Sept. 7 relief appearance against the Cub, when he began to feel some ‘tenderness’ in his elbow. At first, he thought it was something he could push through, and he performed well despite the discomfort. However, it all came crashing down when he struggled during a bullpen session on Sunday in Oakland. It’s a tough break for both Cortes and the Yankees, especially with October on the horizon.  

What next for Nestor Cortes Jr.?

After Monday’s off day, Cortes gave it another shot on Tuesday. Unfortunately, things didn’t improve. Realizing he might not be able to deliver, Cortes made the tough decision to speak up. He didn’t want to put the Yankees in a tough spot by starting if he wasn’t fully ready to go. And rightly so. Hopefully, this decision helps the 29 year old focus on recovery so he can return stronger when the time is right. “Obviously 30 starts into the season, you’re not going to feel great,” Cortes said, continuing, “I thought it was one of those instances where I might get through it.”

‘The Hialeah Kid’ is confident that switching to the bullpen for just one turn through the rotation wasn’t the cause of his elbow issues; he was already feeling something off before that. Manager Aaron Boone mentioned he wasn’t aware of the elbow problem when he made the move, which adds a bit of complexity to the situation. As for surgery, Cortes isn’t jumping to conclusions just yet. He doesn’t have enough information at this stage and will first focus on rest and rehab. Unfortunately, it looks like he’s likely out for the ALDS since he wouldn’t be eligible to come off the IL until Game 2.  

Even then, he could only be added to the playoff roster if he’s replacing an injured player. If Cortes takes the full 10-day shutdown, the earliest he could start throwing again would be October 5, which just happens to be Game 1 of the ALDS. That’s a tough spot to be in, with the clock going tick tick tick and the postseason right around the corner. It’s definitely a waiting game now, but let’s hope he can make a quick recovery.

Do you think ‘Nasty Nestor’ would make it to the postseason? Share in the comments.