Dan Cortes

Dan Cortes
Cortes with the Seattle Mariners
Pitcher
Born: (1987-03-04) March 4, 1987Pomona, California, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 24, 2010, for the Seattle Mariners
Last MLB appearance
September 12, 2011, for the Seattle Mariners
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0–3
Earned run average5.06
Strikeouts9
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams

Daniel Adam Cortes (born March 4, 1987) is an American former professional baseballpitcher who played in 14 Major League Baseball (MLB) games with the Seattle Mariners from 2010 to 2011. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the seventh round of the 2005 MLB draft.[1] He played in several team's minor league organizations through 2013.

Professional career

Chicago White Sox

Cortes began his professional career in 2005 with the Rookie-Level Bristol White Sox of the Appalachian League. While playing under manager Jerry Hairston, Cortes went 1–4 with a 5.17 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 15 games, even started. Baseball America ranked Cortes as the 22nd best prospect in the White Sox organization.[2]

In 2006, Cortes began his season with the Class-A Kannapolis Intimidators of the South Atlantic League. He went 3–9 with a 4.01 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 20 games, 19 starts.[2][3]

Kansas City Royals

On July 24, 2006, the White Sox traded Cortes to the Kansas City Royals along with pitcher Tyler Lumsden for relief pitcher Mike MacDougal.[2][3] Cortes finished the 2006 season with the Class-A Burlington Bees of the Midwest League. He went 1–2 with a 6.69 ERA with 30 strikeouts in seven games, all starts.

In 2007 Cortes played for the Class-A Advanced Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Carolina League. He went 8–8 with a 3.07 ERA with 120 strikeouts in 23 games, all starts. He was named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for the week of August 20 to August 26.[4] Cortes was again awarded Pitcher of the Week for the week of August 27 to September 2.[5]

He played for the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Texas League in 2008. Cortes went 10–4 with a 3.78 ERA with 109 strikeouts in 23 games, all starts. Before the season he was ranked as the second best prospect in the Royals' organization by Baseball America.[6][7] He was also named to the Texas League All-Star team.[8] He did miss playing time while on the disabled list.[9] The Royals recognized Cortes as the top pitcher for the Double-A Naturals and he was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League at the end of the '08 season.[10][11]

In January 2009, Cortes received the "Paul Splittorff Pitcher of the Year Award" from the Royals.[12] He attended spring training with the Royals in as a non-roster invitee.[13][14] Cortes was named a "Player to Watch" by MLB.com before the season.[15] He went 6–6 with a 3.92 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 16 games, 15 starts with the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

Seattle Mariners

On July 10, 2009 Cortes was traded by the Royals with Derrick Saito to the Seattle Mariners for Yuniesky Betancourt.[16][17] Cortes was assigned to the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx. he went 1–5 with a 4.94 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 10 games, all starts. He was added to the Mariners 40-man roster on November 20.[18]

Cortes pitched in four major league games for the Mariners in 2010 and 10 games in 2011.[19]

On December 12, 2011, the Mariners announced that Cortes had been non-tendered along with catcher Chris Gimenez.[20]

Minor leagues

Cortes signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals on January 4, 2012. His contract was voided on February 29, after he failed his physical with the Nationals.[21]

Cortes signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 15, 2013. He was released on May 21. Four days later, he signed with the San Diego Padres. He elected free agency after the season. [19]

Personal life

After the 2005 season, Cortes went bowling with his co-workers from a sporting goods store. When he attempted to leave the bowling alley, he was stabbed after trying to break up a confrontation between a co-worker and the assailant. His co-worker died, and Cortes was hospitalized. He questioned if he would be able to pitch again since the injury was on his throwing arm, but he made a full recovery.[22][23]

I told the guys I was going to leave and they said OK, they'd come too and we started to walk out...There were three gangsters outside and they picked a fight with one of my co-workers. I tried to mellow everyone out, but I got caught up in it and two guys tried to fight me. I started fighting and I got stabbed eight times.

— Dan Cortes, MLB.com: November 7, 2008.[22]

On January 1, 2009, Cortes was arrested on charges of public intoxication and disorderly conduct in Fayetteville, Arkansas. According to police accounts, Cortes was arrested after he allegedly urinated on a fence outside Grub's Bar & Grille. After five hours in jail, Cortes was released when he posted a $655 bond.[24][25]

References

  1. ^Merkin, Scott (June 9, 2005). "White Sox lean toward pitching depth". Major League Baseball. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  2. ^ abcHeyman, Jon (July 24, 2006). "White Sox trade for MacDougal". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  3. ^ ab"ChiSox acquire MacDougal; Soriano far behind?". ESPN. July 25, 2006. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  4. ^"Cortes Claims Carolina League Pitching Award". OurSports Central. August 28, 2007. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  5. ^"Cortes Once Again Named League's Pitcher Of The Week". OurSports Central. September 4, 2007. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  6. ^Kaegel, Dick (January 23, 2008). "Notes: Aviles, Hardy win awards". Major League Baseball. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  7. ^Leventhal, Josh (January 23, 2008). "Kansas City Royals Top Ten Prospects". Baseball America. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  8. ^Kaegel, Dick (August 25, 2008). "Ka'aihue named Double-A's top player". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on June 17, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  9. ^"Cortes placed on DL, Hayes promoted from Wilmington". OurSports Central. April 23, 2008. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  10. ^Kaegel, Dick (August 29, 2008). "Royals recognize top Minor Leaguers". Major League Baseball. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  11. ^"Five Naturals Selected by Royals for Arizona Fall League". OurSports Central. oursportscentral.com. August 27, 2008. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  12. ^Kaegel, Dick (January 7, 2009). "Royals Awards winners announced". Major League Baseball. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  13. ^"Texas League: Several Naturals Join Royals In Major League Camp". Arkansas Business. February 13, 2009. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  14. ^Novak, Frank (February 13, 2009). "Several Naturals Report to Major League Spring Training". Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
  15. ^Mayo, Jonathan (March 22, 2009). "10 Royals prospects to watch". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on March 28, 2009. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  16. ^"Royals Acquire Shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt From Seattle". MLBlogs.com. November 7, 2016. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  17. ^"Naturals RHP Cortes dealt to Seattle Mariners". Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Minor League Baseball. July 10, 2009. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
  18. ^"Mariners add six to 40-man roster". rotoworld.com. NBC Sports. November 20, 2009. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  19. ^ ab"Dan Cortes Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  20. ^"Mariners non-tender right-hander Dan Cortes and catcher Chris Gimenez". Major League Baseball. December 13, 2011. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
  21. ^"Cortes fails physical with Nats". CBS Sports. February 29, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  22. ^ abCzerwinski, Kevin T. (November 7, 2009). "Cortes making most of second chance". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on March 7, 2009. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  23. ^Kaegel, Dick (March 4, 2009). "Cortes uses past as motivation in camp". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on March 8, 2009. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  24. ^Johns, Greg (July 10, 2009). "Newly-acquired Mariners' pitcher was recently arrested". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on February 7, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  25. ^"Naturals pitcher Dan Cortes arrested". KAIT 8. Associated Press. July 2, 2009. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
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