Junior RHP Chris Cortez was selected by the Los Angeles Angels with the 45th pick in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft on Sunday, continuing Texas A&M baseball’s nation-leading streak of having at least two players selected in each year’s draft.
Joining junior OF Braden Montgomery, who was taken by the Boston Red Sox with the 12th pick of the draft, Cortez added another year to a streak dating back to 1984.
Across three seasons in College Station, Cortez tallied 69 appearances with a 19-7 record and a 4.67 ERA. He was used primarily out of the bullpen in middle relief but dabbled with 10 starts, six of which came in 2023.
The Las Vegas product put together the best season of his collegiate career in 2024, amassing a 10-3 record and a 2.78 ERA over 25 games. With a fastball reaching upwards of 100 miles per hour, Cortez struck out 102 batters in 64 ⅔ innings while allowing a season-low 43 hits. Opponents were held to a .187 batting average.
In postseason play, Cortez went 2-0 with a 1.15 ERA over five outings. He struck out 29 in 15 ⅔ frames as he showed significant development under pitching coach Max Weiner. Cortez was named a third team All-American by D1Baseball for his efforts.
Cortez went 6-3 with a 4.91 ERA over 25 appearances in his 2022 freshman campaign. He struck out 32 batters with 47 hits in 44 innings as opponents batted .266 against him. In 2023, the flamethrower posted a 3-1 mark and a 7.34 ERA in 19 games with 39 punchouts and 46 hits in 41 ⅔ innings. He gave up hits at a .274 clip.
