Carlos Cortes

For other uses, see Carlos Cortes (disambiguation).

Carlos Cortes
Cortes in 2017 with South Carolina
Athletics – No. 26
Outfielder
Born: (1997-06-30) June 30, 1997
Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Switch
MLB debut
July 23, 2025, for the Athletics
MLB statistics
(through June 19, 2026)
Batting average.288
Home runs10
Runs batted in36
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams

Carlos Andres Cortes (born June 30, 1997) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2025.

Cortes is one of the few switch throwers in MLB history.[1]

Amateur career

Cortes attended Lake Howell High School.[2] He was drafted by the New York Mets in the 20th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft but did not sign. He attended the University of South Carolina for two seasons (2017 and 2018) and played college baseball for the Gamecocks. In 2017, he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox.[3]

Cortes hit .265 with 15 home runs and 44 RBI his sophomore season in 2018 for the Gamecocks, and was ranked the 177th best prospect by Baseball America in the upcoming draft.

Professional career

New York Mets

The New York Mets selected Cortes in the third round, with the 83rd overall selection, of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft; he signed with them for a reported $1 million signing bonus on June 25.[4][5]

Cortes made his professional debut for the Low-A Brooklyn Cyclones, hitting to a .264/.338/.382 slash line with four home runs and 24 RBI.[6] He spent the 2019 season with the High-A St. Lucie Mets.[7] Over 127 appearances for St. Lucie, Cortes slashed .255/.336/.397 with 11 home runs, 68 RBI, and 26 doubles. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] He later played in the Australian Baseball League for the Sydney Blue Sox that winter.[9]

Cortes spent the 2021 season with the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies, batting .257/.332/.487 with 14 home runs and 57 RBI over 79 games.[10] He split the 2022 season between Binghamton and the Triple-A Syracuse Mets. In 123 appearances split between the two affiliates, Cortes slashed .223/.295/.369 with 12 home runs and 55 RBI.[11]

Cortes made 118 appearances for Triple-A Syracuse during the 2023 season, batting .241/.355/.428 with 15 home runs and 54 RBI.[12] He returned to Syracuse in 2024, playing in 83 games and hitting .246/.330/.456 with 16 home runs, 52 RBI, and three stolen bases. Cortes elected free agency following the season on November 4.[13]

Athletics

On November 18, 2024, Cortes signed a minor league contract with the Athletics.[14] On July 15, 2025, the Athletics added Cortes to their 40-man roster and immediately optioned him back to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators.[15] He made his MLB debut on July 23. The following day, in a game against the Houston Astros, in his second career at-bat, Cortes got his first MLB RBI on a sacrifice fly. In the bottom of the third, he threw out a runner at second from far right field, then in top of the fourth, he singled for his first MLB hit.[16] On September 6, Cortes hit his first career home run off of Scott Kingery of the Los Angeles Angels.[17]

Cortes was named the American League Player of the Week on April 27, 2026 after batting .542 with six extra base hits in six games.[18]

International career

Cortes played for the Puerto Rico national team in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He batted .278 with one RBI in five games.[19]

References

  1. ^ Kepner, Tyler (August 29, 2025). "Bats left, throws both? An A's rookie can do it all". The Athletic. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  2. ^ Connolly, Matt (February 9, 2017). "The next USC baseball star you've never heard of". The State. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  3. ^ "Carlos Cortes - Profile". Pointstreak. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  4. ^ Sypa, Steve (June 5, 2018). "2018 Mets Draft profile: Carlos Cortes". Amazing Avenue. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  5. ^ Bezjak, Lou. "Carlos Cortes turning pro, gets big signing bonus with New York Mets". The State. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  6. ^ Singelais, Mark (July 19, 2018). "Mets got their man in Carlos Cortes". Times Union. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  7. ^ Mike Phillips (June 24, 2019). "Minor League Mondays: Carlos Cortes is an under the radar prospect at St. Lucie". thesportsdaily.com. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  8. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com.
  9. ^ "Cortes lighting it up in Australian Baseball League". 247Sports.
  10. ^ "Meet the Mets' 2021 Organization All-Stars". milb.com.
  11. ^ "Carlos Cortes - Stats - Batting". FanGraphs. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  12. ^ "Carlos Cortes Stats & Scouting Report". Baseball America. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  13. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 6, 2024). "Minor League Free Agents 2024". Baseball America. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  14. ^ "Transactions". MiLB.com. November 18, 2024. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  15. ^ Adams, Steve (July 16, 2025). "A's Select Carlos Cortes, Move Grant Holman To 60-Day IL". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  16. ^ "A's vs. Astros Game Highlights (7/24/25) | MLB Highlights". YouTube. July 24, 2025.
  17. ^ "Athletics 17-4 Angels (Sep 6, 2025) Final Score". espn.com. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  18. ^ "Unsung hitters share spotlight with Player of the Week honors". MLB.com. April 27, 2026. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  19. ^ "Carlos Cortes Amateur, College, Minor, Winter, Fall & WBC Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
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