Yankees’ Cortes out of WBC with hamstring injury

New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes suffered a hamstring injury, which will keep him out of the World Baseball Classic.

Nestor Cortes Jr. is no longer pitching for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, per @MLBNetwork pic.twitter.com/gX6h1MOuiD

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) February 13, 2023

He suffered a “low grade two” hamstring strain in his right leg last week while running sprints, which will cost him “a couple weeks,” though he still believes he can be ready for the start of the regular season.

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“I think the ultimate goal here is to get ready for No. 28,” Cortes said Monday at the Yankees’ player development complex.

“I think it’s kind of a letdown for the country, but I think the biggest goal right here is to get healthy and be ready for the start of the season.”

Cortes said he didn’t think much of the injury when it first happened last Monday, believing he just had a cramp.

But later that night, he “felt a little pull” while putting on a shoe and by the time he arrived at the Yankees’ complex on Wednesday, told the staff he was “a little banged up.”

He underwent testing on Friday that revealed the strain.