TAMPA — The days after Nestor Cortes’ outings this spring are always going to be the most important days.
So it will bear watching how the Yankees left-hander is feeling Tuesday and the ensuing days as he begins to prepare for his next turn through the rotation.
But on Monday, in his Grapefruit League debut, Cortes was feeling good as he continued his comeback from a pair of rotator cuff strains last season.
“Everything positive,” Cortes said after throwing 48 pitches across 2 ²/₃ innings in a 9-2 win over the Twins at Steinbrenner Field. “Pitches were really crisp. Threw it to the locations I wanted to throw. Most important, I got out of there healthy. Big step forward.”
Last season, Cortes had difficulty recovering between outings, which played a part in his 4.97 ERA and led to his two stints on the injured list for the shoulder issue.
Immediately after games he pitched in, he would be sore and the morning after he “couldn’t barely even move” until he got soft-tissue treatment.
But after shifting his offseason workouts to the Yankees’ complex in Tampa in December in order to get the best treatment and strengthening of his shoulder, Cortes has been encouraged by how he is bouncing back from his outings so far this spring.
“I’m pretty confident it’s behind me,” he said. “I already passed that phase where maybe November-December, I did wake up feeling a little achy or worried about where I was at. But with the work we’ve been putting in, me coming in early and getting help from the training staff has really put that a step forward. It’s been a non-issue for a good month now, so I feel great where I’m at.”
On Monday, Cortes flashed good life to his fastball, which accounted for three of his four strikeouts. He ended up allowing seven hits (at least one of which could have been ruled an error) and two runs, but came out of it feeling strong.
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“He’s been building so much good momentum here the last six to eight weeks,” manager Aaron Boone said. “His progression’s gone really well. Hopefully it continues that way.”
The Yankees received slight scares during Monday’s game on a pair of balls hit to Juan Soto and DJ LeMahieu, though both avoided injuries.
Soto tried to make a diving catch on a shallow fly ball to right field, but in the process nearly rolled over his right wrist with his outstretched glove.
He popped up right away, giving Boone some relief, and only looked to be annoyed at himself for not making the catch.
“I saw him flip over his glove a little bit, so that can be a little scary for outfielders,” Boone said.
Two innings later, LeMahieu tried to field a chopper to third base, but a tough bounce hit him in the face — catching his sunglasses between his eyes.
He was tended to by a trainer and Boone but remained in the game with just a few scratches to show for it.
Jasson Dominguez began his hitting progression Monday in his return from Tommy John surgery, taking 20 right-handed swings off a tee.
