Santander happy for former teammate Cortes' climb to All-Star status

Anthony Santander could see the potential in his new teammate. The rough edges would get the Rule 5 selection cut from the roster. However, Santander knew that the kid would be fine, however long it took for him to make it.

Nestor Cortes was a popular pick within the Orioles organization in the 2017 Rule 5, until he wasn’t. Some people who backed and praised it openly became more critical later.

Cortes wasn’t ready.

Need proof? There were four appearances between March 31-April 9 that produced a 7.71 ERA in 4 2/3 innings.

The final straw was the grand slam surrendered to Toronto’s Josh Donaldson after replacing Mychal Givens with two outs in the ninth inning of a 7-1 loss at Camden Yards.

A bases-loaded walk to Curtis Granderson was followed by Donaldson’s slam to center field. Justin Smoak singled and Orioles tormentor Randal Grichuk doubled before Cortes recorded the final out.

The loss dropped the Orioles to 4-7. They were hoping to contend again after staying in the 2017 race until September’s free fall, but the window slammed shut on their fingers, a 115-loss season causing ownership to begin the teardown and to clean house.

The Orioles tried to carry two Rule 5 relievers, including Pedro Araújo, who had a 7.71 ERA in 20 games, was returned to the Cubs and later reacquired in a trade.

Araújo made one appearance in 2019 and never got back to the majors. Cortes returned to the Yankees, was traded to the Mariners in 2019, returned to New York as a free agent in 2021 and earned a selection to the All-Star team last summer.

Cortes finished eighth in Cy Young voting in the American League after posting a 2.44 ERA and 0.922 WHIP in 28 starts, including a shutout.

He was ready.

“He figured it out,” Santander said yesterday. “He worked hard to get his velo up to 93-94. Of course, that makes a lot of difference. When he was here, he was throwing like 88-89. He can command, he’s got a really good off-speed, but it’s way different when you’re throwing 92-94. That’s why he’s got a lot of success.

“Glad for him and happy for him. He’s one of the best in the game right now. And especially in this division with the Yankees, that’s awesome. When he was here, I knew what type of pitcher he was like. When a pitcher commands all the pitches, in the corners, up and away, down and in, as a hitter it’s tough. I knew when he was going to get his velo up, he was going to be great because he’s got really, really good command. That’s why he’s one of the best.”

Cortes held the Phillies to one run in five innings, though he allowed seven hits, in his first start this season. He’s facing the Orioles this afternoon for the eighth time, making six starts, after going 3-0 with a 1.06 ERA and 0.853 WHIP in 34 innings.

The dominance is startling to anyone who watched him with the Orioles.

Cortes has allowed only four runs and registered 51 strikeouts against his former team. He pitched at Camden Yards last April and tossed five scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts, then returned in July and shut out the Orioles for six innings with seven strikeouts.

The Orioles saw him again Oct. 1 at Yankee Stadium and were shut out over 7 1/3 innings with one hit and 12 strikeouts.

Austin Hays has a home run off Cortes but is 3-for-15. Ryan Mountcastle is 1-for-12 with seven strikeouts, and Cedric Mullins is 1-for-12 with six strikeouts. Jorge Mateo, with three hits in seven at-bats, is the closest that the Orioles have statistically to a threat.

Santander is 1-for-9 with five strikeouts. He knows what it’s like to be a Rule 5 selection trying to stay in the majors, making the jump from A ball in 2017 after undergoing shoulder surgery.

He had sympathy pains for Cortes.

“As a team, we feel bad when we see that kind of stuff happen,” Santander said. “I got an opportunity to share most of the time when he was here. As Latinos you roll with him together and we talked a lot. When it happened, you feel bad, but you give him a pat on his butt and say, ‘Let’s go, keep your head up and just continue working hard.’ And that’s what he did.

“Maybe that was his process, you know? That’s part of it. You have to fall and get up. I’m so happy for him right now.”