For Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes, a ring in October can wait a little while longer. Following the All-Star Game, in which he made his first career appearance, the lefthander proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Alondra Esteras Russy, who said yes after a seven-year relationship. In an Instagram post, Cortes described becoming an All-Star and fiance as two dreams coming true at once.
“Through ups and downs we manage to keep each other happy,” Cortes said. “I thank you for being by my side for every struggle I’ve had but also all the success.”
Beyond an eventful All-Star break, Cortes has had a stellar season for the Yankees, who are currently dominating the AL East with a 64-28 record. Behind presumptive ace and fellow All-Star Gerrit Cole, he has taken on an extremely effective complementary role and excelled at times. In 17 starts, the fifth-year pitcher has compiled a 7-3 record with a 2.63 ERA and 99 strikeouts. A surefire All-Star, he threw one scoreless frame in the game while striking out two batters.
Though little is known about Cortes’ fiancee, who typically stays out of the spotlight, posts on social media indicate that the couple met in 2015. She has been with him for his entire career, from his humble beginnings as a 23-year-old reliever for the Baltimore Orioles to all three of his stints with the Yankees, as well as one in Seattle. She regularly posts photos from the stands on social media, and like Cortes, she also took to Instagram to announce the engagement.
With a postseason run coming for the Yankees and a wedding in the near future as well, Cortes’ good string of fortune seems likely to continue for some time. Once a struggling pitcher bouncing between teams in search of starting opportunities, he is now a key contributor to a World Series contender. Nothing is ever certain in baseball, but regardless of the result at the end of the season, there will be at least one fan of Cortes in the stands who will never waver.
