Chris Cortez #71

Christopher Diaz Cortez...Participated in Angels Fall Instructional League following the 2024 season...Attended Texas A&M University from 2022-2024...Appeared in 69 games across three seasons with the Aggies, and went 19-7 with a 4.67 ERA (150.1 IP - 78 ER) with 173 strikeouts and averaged 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings...Majored in Sports Management...Attended Silverado HS (Las Vegas, Nev.)...Selected to the 2021 Nevada Preps All-Southern Nevada Team...Also selected All-Nevada Class 4A as both a pitcher and outfielder by the Las Vegas Review-Journal as a senior… Posted a 3-1 record with a 1.23 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 28.1 innings on the mound as a senior in 2021...Parents are Carlos and Tammy Cortez...Originally signed by Angels scout Kevin Ellis.

2024

Finished junior season with Texas A&M and went 10-3 with a 2.78 ERA (64.2 IP - 20 ER) with 102 strikeouts in 25 games (three starts)...Held opponents to a .187 average against (43/230)...Averaged 14.2 strikeouts per nine innings, ranking second in the SEC (min. 60 IP)...Posted a 2-0 record and 1.15 ERA in five relief outings during Texas A&M’s postseason run...Named a 2024 D1Baseball Third Team All-American...NCBWA Dick Howser National Pitcher of the Week (Apr. 16)...SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week (Apr. 15).