Nestor Cortes believes he made baseball history on Sunday by inventing the pitcher’s pump pump.
But if he was the first to use this tactic, he would also be the last – or at least the last to get away with it.
Cortes was informed by MLB on Monday that his final trick — in which he simulated a pitch, waving his left arm toward Cleveland’s Andres Gimenez before raising his knee and then continuing with an actual pitch — is not allowed.
Home plate umpire Mark Carlson allowed the deception and Gimenez fouled the field. But Cortes was warned that this would be deemed illegal (and therefore a bullet would be added to the count) in the future.
Cortes, who will make his fifth start of the season Saturday against the Rays in the Bronx, is a master at disrupting rhythm, frequently interrupting his windup and using several knee lifts before throwing a pitch.
However, it will be necessary to eliminate counterfeit pumps from its arsenal.
“I’m the only one who’s done it and the only one who will ever do it,” Cortes said with a laugh. “I’m in the (record) book!”
New York Post
