Nestor Cortes' Nasty Changeup Keeps Miami Gagged In 8
Nestor Cortes' Nasty Changeup Keeps Miami Gagged In 8
Nestor Cortes, the Unlikely Ace
Nestor Cortes Jr., the unassuming submarine pitcher who has become a fan favorite in the Bronx, delivered another masterful performance on Monday night, baffling the Miami Marlins with his deceptive changeup and leading the New York Yankees to an 8-0 victory.
Cortes, who has emerged as one of the most effective pitchers in the American League this season, allowed just four singles over eight shutout innings, striking out eight batters while walking none. His changeup, a devastating weapon that drops out of the zone like a disappearing act, was particularly effective, generating eight whiffs and a groundball out.
"His changeup is probably the best in the league right now," said Marlins manager Don Mattingly. "It's so hard to hit because it comes out of nowhere and it's down in the dirt before you know it."
Anatomy of Cortes' Changeup
Cortes' changeup is a masterpiece of deception. He throws it with the same arm speed and release point as his fastball, but it travels about 10 miles per hour slower and drops sharply down and away from right-handed batters. The pitch's effectiveness lies in its late movement and ability to mimic the trajectory of his fastball.
"I try to throw it as hard as I can," Cortes said of his changeup. "I want to make it look like my fastball as much as possible, so I grip it the same way and release it the same. But I try to snap my wrist and throw it with a little more side spin, so it drops down more."
Statistical Dominance
Cortes' changeup is not just a weapon against right-handed batters. Left-handed hitters are equally baffled by it, as evidenced by his 20.7% whiff rate and .136 batting average against on the pitch this season.
According to Baseball Savant, Cortes' changeup has an average spin rate of 2,050 revolutions per minute, which is significantly higher than the average changeup. This high spin rate creates the illusion of a fastball and makes it harder for batters to pick up the pitch's true trajectory.
Evolution of a Pitcher
Cortes' rise to the top of the Yankees' rotation has been a remarkable story. Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 14th round of the 2013 MLB Draft, Cortes struggled in his first few years in the minors, posting a 5.58 ERA in 137 innings.
However, after being traded to the Yankees in 2017, Cortes began to develop his changeup under the guidance of pitching coach Matt Blake. In 2019, he transitioned to a full-time starting role and has since become one of the most effective pitchers in baseball.
Broader Implications
Cortes' success with his changeup is a reminder that in the realm of pitching, creativity and deception can often trump raw velocity. His ability to dominate with a relatively slow pitch is a testament to his skill and the importance of pitching with finesse.
Furthermore, Cortes' ascent to stardom is a positive sign for the Yankees, who have struggled to develop homegrown pitching talent in recent years. His emergence as a legitimate ace gives the team a solid foundation to build upon and could help them contend for a World Series title in the near future.