Nestor Cortes probably would prefer to stick with “Nasty Nestor” as a nickname.
The New York Yankees pitcher, who is having a career season for the first-place Bronx Bombers, caught the attention of Minnesota Twins commentator Jim Kaat on a recent broadcast, and even received an impromptu nickname. Normally, that’s a good thing.
In this case, let’s hope Kaat’s nickname for Cortes doesn’t catch on.
“‘Nestor the Molestor,’ Nestor Cortes,” Kaat said, as captured in a video tweeted by @MLBErrors. “Man, he is fun to watch.”
Now, clearly, Kaat didn’t mean it like that. The Twins immediately met with Kaat, according to ESPN, and Cortes later told reporters he didn’t take offense to the remark.
“I’m sure, you know, he didn’t really mean it, and people make mistakes, but it didn’t offend me at all,” Cortes said, according to The Associated Press.
Cringeworthy monikers aside, it’s obvious why Cortes is drawing attention. The 27-year-old left-hander is 5-1 with a 1.50 ERA and 0.867 WHIP for a Yankees squad that continues to win despite its share of controversy.
