Cortes forgives Jim Kaat for questionable nickname
To Nestor Cortes Jr., the nickname Jim Kaat gave him is water under the bridge.
"Jim Kaat has spent an entire lifetime in this game we love," the New York Yankees pitcher said Friday on Twitter. "He reached out to me and apologized for his remark last night, but he didn't need to. We all make mistakes, and (I) feel 100% there was no malice intended. ... No sweat here, Jim!"
During the Minnesota Twins' broadcast Thursday against the Detroit Tigers, Kaat referred to the Yankees left-hander as "Nestor the Molester." Kaat apologized later in the broadcast.
Jim Kaat's nickname for Nestor Cortes is "Nestor the Molestor" 😬 pic.twitter.com/ezLhcPBXSB
— MLB Errors (@mlberrors) June 2, 2022
Affectionately referred to as "Nasty Nestor" by Yankees fans, Cortes has blossomed into an ace since being selected in the 36th round of the 2013 MLB Draft and bouncing between multiple organizations. This season, the 27-year-old is authoring an impressive 1.50 ERA with a 2.49 FIP over 60 innings, boasting a 5-1 record in 10 starts.