Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. delivers some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby as the Yankees’ streak toward the postseason.
Q: What does your wife think of Bronxie the turtle?
A: She loves it. She likes to pet it. She’s always asking me about the turtle and wishing it good luck so it could give us some fuel, you know?
Q: Where does the turtle sleep?
A: The turtle has its tank, we did a nice tank for it, and we put in some pebbles and a little cascade for its well being. It’s living comfortably and hopefully it sticks with us.
Q: Did you like turtles as a kid?
A: I like animals a lot, and it’s something that I came up with just to get our minds distracted from what we were doing. We were having a bad stretch, and I felt like the guys had to keep their mind. It wasn’t my idea only, it was a couple of other guys that bought into it, too.
Q: From your social media: “I’ve been counted out so many times I couldn’t count it.”
A: (Laugh) There’s always odds stacked against you, I guess for every player, no matter if you’re a first-rounder or a top prospect. I feel like they’re always gonna have a knock on you and people are always gonna doubt your ability and your potential. People count you out, and it’s always fun to prove them wrong.
Q: Does that still motivate you, even now?
A: Yeah, I mean, the topic has always been that I’m too short, don’t throw too hard, or don’t have enough pitches to pitch, and I feel like I try my best every time make outs, and that’s what the game is all about.
Q: Was it your wife’s idea to grow the mustache or yours?
A: (Laugh) Initially it was my idea, and then I told her once I got called up to the big leagues, I will shave it off. But she said she didn’t want me to shave it off. So I’ve just embraced it and ran with it, and it’s been kind of a sensation now so people are on it, and I’m happy it’s working for me.
Q: Are you going to continue riding the subway from Yankee Stadium?
A: (Laugh) Yes, I have no plans on doing anything else, so I’m gonna keep riding it, yes.
Q: What’s that like for you?
A: I just throw my mask on every day and go about my business trying to get home safely, that’s all there is to it.
Q: You’re not recognized?
A: At times, yeah. At times when I’m drinking a coffee or something that I have to take off my mask and people see the mustache, but other than that, no.
Q: How would you characterize your pitching style?
A: A lot of people say that I’m crafty. The velo’s not gonna blow ’em by, anything like that, but I’m a command guy. I’m gonna go out there and throw a lot of strikes and try and get you to hit the ball, even though I’ve been striking out a couple of people this year. My game plan every time is to make as least pitches possible to get the most outs.
Q: Do you sometimes invent stuff while you’re on the mound?
A: Yeah, I mean it’s something I’ve played around with coming up through the minor leagues. It’s worked, and nobody’s ever been against it, so I picked it up and ran with it, honestly. I enjoy what I do, and it’s fun when you’re out there and you’re competing and you trust your stuff.
Q: Do hitters say things to you? Over the years, have they said what the hell’s going on with this guy?
A: Yeah, in the moment, sometimes they look at me weird, or they’re asking questions on like if that’s legal or not. It’s fun to see their reactions once I do it.
Q: So you’re good at getting in hitters’ heads with your deliveries?
A: Well … hitting is all about timing, and obviously as a pitcher, you’re trying to disrupt timing, and I feel like that’s been key for me, trying to disrupt timing throughout my outings, and that’s how I go about my business.
Q: Describe your mound mentality.
A: I would say I’m very competitive. I sometimes fly out there and always question the umpire and stuff like that, but that’s just out of competitiveness. I’m not trying to disrespect anybody or disrespect the game, but I like to compete, and I like to go out there and try and give it my best.
Q: You’d love to do this for 20 years.
A: It’s all I know, it’s all I’ve ever done, so it’s something I want to do for a long time.
Q: From your social media: “In life you lose more in fear than in trying.”
A: Yeah, I feel like if you never attempt it or you never go for it, you never know what may happen. So I feel like trying it out and exploring something new can always open a lot of doors for you and new opportunities.
Q: What is it like pitching in a pennant race for the New York Yankees?
A: It’s something a pitcher always dreams of, being in the hunt and trying to contend. And also being one of the starters here for the team is something special, and I take good pride in it.
Q: How do you deal with pressure? Do you like pressure?
A: I guess growing up I’ve always played for competitive teams and I’ve always had that competitive nature in me, and no matter what the situation or the circumstances are, be able to produce and play baseball, and I think here this level’s no different. It’s a kid’s game, and I feel like we’re blessed to play this game past our high school days.
Q: How much would you want the ball in October with a World Series on the line?
A: As long as I’m available, I’m ready to go. I feel like everybody on this team knows how I am and how I pitch and the want of everyday wanting the ball, so I’ll be ready to go once my name is called upon.
Q: And you won’t care whether it’s in the bullpen or as a starter.
A: No, no, never cared. As long as I can help my team.
Q: Whatever comes to mind: Giancarlo Stanton.
A: He’s an animal (laugh). He’s a beast. … Obviously pitchers are very careful trying to pitch to him. One swing of a bat he can change the whole game.
Q: Gerrit Cole.
A: I say he’s a guru. He studies the game of baseball every day. When he’s not pitching, we’re always in the dugout going back and forth with pitches that he would throw in certain counts or certain situations, so it’s fun to go back and forth with him and learn what he’s done over the years.
Q: Have you faced him?
A: I don’t think I’ve ever faced him.
Q: You’ve faced Aaron Judge in spring training — he hit a three-run homer off you.
A: Yeah I faced Judge. … I struck him out also, so don’t forget about that (laugh).
Q: If you could test your skills against any hitter in MLB history, who would it be?
A: Obviously, growing up watching him play, was Barry Bonds. Everybody feared him and everybody knew what was at stake every time he was on the plate, so I feel like I would like to measure my stuff against him, him being so good at what he did.
Q: If you could pick the brain of any pitcher in MLB history?
A: I would have to say maybe like Dontrelle Willis or Al Leiter.
Q: What would you ask Al Leiter?
A: Well, obviously his command and his pitch ability was off the charts, so I’d like to see what his point of view was and how he went about every day. He played the game for a long time, and it would be something I would try to model after.
Q: Describe the 2003 World Series champion Marlins.
A: They’re the reason I feel like I play baseball today. I was 9 years old, I can tell you that whole roster from front to back, side to side, I knew everybody on that team, I knew the lineup. Awkwardly, they beat the Yankees in the World Series, but that team was so good. Miguel Cabrera coming up and other young guys that were there, it was incredible what they did.
Q: Describe Orlando Hernandez, aka “El Duque.”
A: El Duque is one of the guys that believed in me since the beginning when I was with the Yankee organization back when I got drafted in 2013. He was like a special mentor for the organization and always spoke good about me when he had the chance to and always told me to never give up, because the game of baseball is about getting outs, and that’s something I did really good coming up through the system. He would motivate me to keep going.
Q: What does your childhood home of Hialeah, Fla., mean to you?
A: Hialeah’s a special place for me, it’s where I grew up. I went to Hialeah High School. Somebody that I feel like connected me to the city was Gio Gonzalez, he also went to Hialeah. Once he was with the Washington Nationals and he made his contract. He always gave back to the community and gave back to the baseball family down there in Hialeah, and it’s something that I want to reflect also of what he did.
Q: On your social media: “I have dreams money can’t buy.”
A: We all have certain type of dreams that money isn’t everything at times. Situations and circumstances that you live by and you go through that they don’t have a price on it. And that’s basically what I’m living right now. Obviously we get paid to play the sport, but it’s something that I’ve done since I was 4 years old, and it’s fun to be able to play this game and not worry about whether you’re gonna make money or not make money, but the fact that we’re here enjoying it, it’s the best.
Q: Would you like you if you met you?
A: I think so, yes. I’m very easygoing. I try and root for everybody as much as I can and I try and be a good teammate to everybody, so if I met myself, I think I would be a big fan. I’m in for everything, I like to help a lot of people, and I just like to talk and communicate and build good relationships.
Q: How do you want to be remembered?
A: Just a guy that gave it all every time he was out there, and never had if or buts. I feel like if you try and help people around you, that’s only gonna make you better and it’s gonna make the team better.
Q: What did Mikey Rodriguez mean to you?
A: Oh, man. He’s a childhood friend of mine. Passed away a few months ago. He holds a special place in my heart.
Q: Jose Fernandez, who was killed in a 2016 boating crash?
A: Wow. He would have been one of the greatest in the sport. The kid had so much talent and so much life ahead of him. He kind of had everybody on his back and brought so much energy to the ballpark every day. I had the opportunity to meet him once through Gio Gonzalez, and he was the nicest person to me, first time he’s ever met me. It was awesome to meet him and see his work in the game of baseball and how many people he impacted.
Q: Describe the influence of your father and mother.
A: I owe it all to them. My dad currently still wakes up at 5 a.m. to go to work every day Monday through Friday, and somehow he always managed to not be tired and take me to baseball practice or take me to baseball games. My mom being a housewife and taking care of me, taking me to school and making sure I was doing my homework and making grades and feeding me. We hang out and talk about the past a lot and remember those good old days when I was in travel ball. They’re enjoying all the sacrifice they did.
Q: Why is your wife the right girl for you?
A: She helps me be a better person, we’re five years-and-a-half in going into six in November. She’s honestly a lady that’s always been good to me since the beginning. I remember being in the minor leagues and her paying for some of my stuff, because in the minor leagues we didn’t make enough money, and she went through the struggle with me, and now that we’re here, she’s finally embraced it, and I just love her to be around every time.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter, LeBron James.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: The “Fast and Furious” movies.
Q: Favorite actor?
A: Denzel Washington.
Q: Favorite actress?
A: Megan Fox.
Q: Favorite singer/entertainer?
A: Bad Bunny.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Probably pizza.
Q: On your social media: “It’s something about being in pinstripes.”
A: Everybody would love to be a Yankee, and just the great history that surrounds the organization, and the game of baseball. I wear it very proudly and I’m blessed to be able to wear it also.