Major League Baseball has ruled that Nestor Cortés’ unique pump fake move is illegal, and he will not be allowed to use it in future games. This includes Saturday’s start against the Tampa Bay Rays. Cortés, who is known for his unconventional tactics to disrupt hitters’ timing, attempted the pump fake while facing Andrés Giménez of the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday. However, Giménez was not fooled and fouled off the pitch.
Despite not being reprimanded by the umpires during the game, Cortés was informed by Major League Baseball that any future attempts at the pump fake would result in the pitch being ruled a ball. The ruling serves as a reminder that there are boundaries within the game that players must adhere to, even if they are trying to innovate and disrupt the status quo.
Cortés himself acknowledged that he was the only player to have attempted this move and was proud to be included in the record books for it. Yankees manager Aaron Boone was not surprised by the ruling and had a feeling that the pump fake would not be a long-lasting tactic for Cortés.
In an interview with the New York Post, Cortés expressed his uniqueness as a pitcher and seemed unfazed by the backlash from Major League Baseball. While some may have found it entertaining, it ultimately did not have the desired effect for Cortés against Giménez. The ruling serves as a reminder that innovation must always be balanced with respect for established rules within baseball.
In conclusion, Nestor Cortés’ unique pump fake move was deemed illegal by Major League Baseball, and he will not be allowed to use it in future games. Despite this setback, Cortez remains proud of his unique approach to pitching and continues to push boundaries within baseball while respecting established rules.
