Yankees Notebook: Nestor Cortes pain free after live bullpen session

Nestor Cortes continues to make progress toward his return to the Yankees rotation.

The left-hander, who is dealing with rotator cuff inflammation, threw 20 pitches during a live bullpen session Sunday morning at Yankee Stadium and said he felt “totally pain free” afterward.

“Everything looked pretty crisp,” Cortes said. “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 multiple bullpen sessions since late June but was transferred Friday to the 60-day injured list. The 28-year-old believes he could be ready to return to the major league roster once he’s eligible Aug. 4.

“We’ve gone over scenarios for the next couple of weeks,” Cortes said. “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 saw Cortes pitch to outfielder Greg Allen. Manager Aaron Boone said Cortes looked “really sharp” and is scheduled to throw another live session Thursday in Tampa.

“We’ve got a ways to go, but I thought he looked like Nestor,” Boone said after Sunday’s session.

It has been a challenging season for Cortes, who also missed March’s World Baseball Classic with a right hamstring strain. He recovered in time to make the Opening Day roster but posted a 5.16 ERA over 59.1 innings in 11 starts before the shoulder ailment.

“Looking back at it, I think the hamstring might have caught up with my arm,” Cortes said 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 in the All-Star Game last year and finished the 2022 season with a 12-4 record and 2.44 ERA.

LOAISIGA TAKES NEXT STEP

More than two months after undergoing surgery to remove a bone spur in his elbow, Jonathan Loaisiga threw from a mound Sunday.

It marked another step for the right-handed reliever, who began a throwing program more than three weeks ago.

“Today [was] just a touch-and-feel,” Boone said. “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 only appeared in three games this season after emerging as a late-inning standout the previous two years. He is not expected to return before August.

BOONE ADMIRES YANKEES’ ‘GRIT’

Ahead of the Yankees’ final game of the first half, Boone acknowledged the 2023 season has been “a grind” for his team.

The Yankees have navigated prolonged absences by Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Harrison Bader and Carlos Rodon. Luis Severino and Josh Donaldson also missed significant time with injuries and have struggled with consistency since returning.

The Yankees entered Sunday’s game against the Chicago Cubs tied with the Toronto Blue Jays for fourth place in AL East and for the third and final AL Wild Card spot.

“I love the grit of this group, though,” Boone said. “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 expected to kick off the second half by starting Friday’s road game against the Colorado Rockies, Boone said Sunday.

He’ll likely be followed by Clarke Schmidt on Saturday and Gerrit Cole — the lone Yankees pitcher to make the 2023 All-Star Game — next Sunday.

Rodon, a two-time All-Star, signed a 6-year, $162 million contract with the Yankees in the offseason. He missed the first three months of the season with forearm and back issues, then allowed two runs in 5.1 innings against the Cubs Friday in his first outing with New York.

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from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/Qo5UrJX