The New York Yankees traded pitcher Nestor Cortés Jr. to the Milwaukee Brewers in December, after Cortés spent four seasons in the Big Apple in his third stint with the club.
As luck would have it, Cortés was on the bump in Yankee Stadium to make his first start of 2025 with his new team.
His former club did not exactly roll out the welcome mat for him.
The Yankees went back-to-back-to-back in the top of the first inning, taking an early three-run lead over the visiting Brewers. Making matters worse for Cortés? Each batter went yard on the first pitch they saw. Three pitches, and three home runs to begin the season for the left-hander.
Leadoff hitter Paul Goldschmidt got it started in the bottom of the first, turning on a 90-mph fastball up in the zone for his first hit of the season, a solo shot to the bullpen in left-center field:
Cody Bellinger was next at the dish, and the Yankees outfielder pulled a 91-mph fastball up in the zone deep to right, for his first homer of the young campaign:
As the crown at Yankee Stadium was just settling back into their seats after cheering the back-to-back bombs, Aaron Judge left the yard. After seeing a pair of fastballs leave the yard Cortés turned to the cutter, but Judge got all of it:
Cortés settled in and recorded a pair of outs, but the bottom of the first inning was not over yet.
Because Cortés gave up his fourth home run of the first, this one to Austin Wells:
There is a long way to go in this game, but Cortés’ return to Yankee Stadium is likely one he would like to forget already.
