| W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | SO | WHIP |
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| G | W-L | ERA | IP | SO | WHIP |
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Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45
Scouts flocked to Silverado HS (Las Vegas) in 2021 to see Tanner McDougal, who signed with the White Sox as a fifth-rounder, and Cortez, who had a better senior season and opted to attend Texas A&M. He has served in a variety of roles for the Aggies, opening this year as a starter before finding more success as a multi-inning reliever and dominating in the NCAA Tournament (1.18 ERA, 29 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings) as A&M finished second at the College World Series.
With little effort, Cortez produces fastballs that park at 96-98 mph and peak at 100 with power sink that makes them almost impossible to lift. Hitters can't try to sit on his heater because he also has a power slider that ranges from 86-92 mph with plenty of horizontal and vertical action. He doesn't have much feel for an upper-80s changeup with modest fade and rarely uses it.
Cortez's control has fluctuated wildly in college, as he pounded the strike zone as a freshman before walking nearly a batter per inning as a sophomore. He has thrown more strikes in 2024, though he's doing it by getting chases rather than consistently landing his pitches in the zone. Some clubs may consider trying him as a starter but a more realistic ceiling would be as a high-leverage reliever.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45
Scouts flocked to Silverado HS (Las Vegas) in 2021 to see Tanner McDougal, who signed with the White Sox as a fifth-rounder, and Cortez, who had a better senior season and opted to attend Texas A&M. He has served in a variety of roles for the Aggies, opening this year as a starter before finding more success as a multi-inning reliever and dominating in the NCAA Tournament (1.18 ERA, 29 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings) as A&M finished second in the Men's College World Series. The Angels saw an arm that could potential get to the big leagues quickly and took him in the second round of this year’s Draft, signing him for a below-slot $1.6 million.
With little effort, Cortez produces fastballs that park at 96-98 mph and peak at 100 with power sink that makes them almost impossible to lift. Hitters can't try to sit on his heater because he also has a power slider that ranges from 86-92 mph with plenty of horizontal and vertical action. He doesn't have much feel for an upper-80s changeup with modest fade and rarely uses it.
Cortez's control has fluctuated wildly in college as he pounded the strike zone as a freshman before walking nearly a batter per inning as a sophomore. He has thrown more strikes in 2024, though he's doing it by getting chases rather than consistently landing his pitches in the zone. The Angels could consider trying him as a starter but a more realistic ceiling would be as a high-leverage reliever.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40
Silverado High School in Las Vegas has had a dozen players drafted, but none since 2012, with Drew Robinson the only product to make it to the big leagues. This spring, scouts headed to Vegas to see a pair of arms at that high school, Tanner McDougal and Cortez, both of whom have arm strength to spare.
While McDougal is bigger and throws hard, it was Cortez who had his name rising up Draft boards during the relatively short Las Vegas high school season. At 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, he’s a strong and athletic right-hander with the chance to have three legitimate offerings. He’ll throw his fastball in the 90-96 mph range and he goes right after hitters with the pitch. Everything else plays off his heater, with a hard breaking ball and a solid changeup that both should be at least Major League average pitches in the future.
Cortez’s athleticism should help him repeat his delivery and throw strikes as he progresses, with the chance to perhaps have better than average command in the future. That gives the Arizona recruit the chance to become the first Silverado product to go in the top 10 rounds since Robinson was a fourth-rounder in 2010.
| Team | Date | Transaction |
|---|---|---|
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08/05/2024 | RHP Chris Cortez assigned to ACL Angels. |
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07/16/2024 | Los Angeles Angels signed RHP Chris Cortez. |
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06/16/2024 | College Workout activated RHP Chris Cortez. |
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02/20/2024 | RHP Chris Cortez assigned to Texas A&M Aggies. |
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02/24/2023 | RHP Chris Cortez assigned to Texas A&M Aggies. |
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07/05/2021 | RHP Chris Cortez and assigned to College Workout. |
