Los Angeles Angels select right-handed pitcher Chris Cortez from Texas A&M in the 2024 MLB Draft

Texas A&M right-handed pitcher Chris Cortes was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft as number 45 in the draft.

He earned this selection after an outstanding junior season with the Aggies, who reached the College World Series championship series. Cortez was a key part of that run, delivering some excellent innings for Texas A&M in Omaha as they advanced through the bracket into the finals against Tennessee.

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As a junior, Cortez was able to significantly lower his ERA and became a staple in the Aggies’ rotation. He had a 2.78 ERA with a 10-3 record in 25 appearances. During his junior season, Cortez pitched 64.2 innings and recorded 102 strikeouts with 37 walks, allowing just 20 earned runs against him.

That was a marked improvement over his sophomore season, in which Cortez posted a 7.34 ERA and a 3-1 record in 19 appearances. As a sophomore, he had six saves and worked as a combined starter and reliever.

In three seasons at Texas A&M, Chris Cortez posted a 4.67 ERA in 150.1 innings pitched, had 173 strikeouts, and allowed 90 walks. However, his best performance came as a junior, which brought him more interest from MLB scouts.

What MLB Draft analysts say about Chris Cortez

With Chris Cortez, it’s all about consistency, because he was very good as a freshman but had a bit of a down season as a sophomore. Can he be the guy he was in his third year or will he go back to being a bit more average? The stuff is very good, though. Good enough to get him a good spot in the draft.

Here’s what MLB.com had to say about Cortez as a prospect, ranking him as the No. 85 overall prospect in the draft:

“With little effort, Cortez produces fastballs that bottom out at 96-98 mph and peak at 100 mph, with a power sink that makes them nearly impossible to lift. Hitters can’t try to sit on his heater, as he also has a power slider that ranges from 86-92 mph and offers plenty of horizontal and vertical movement. He doesn’t have much feel for an 80-plus mph changeup with modest fade, and rarely uses it.

“Cortez’s control fluctuated wildly in college, storming the strike zone as a freshman before walking nearly a batter per inning as a sophomore. He has thrown more strikes in 2024, though he’s done so by chasing pitches rather than consistently landing his throws in the zone. Some clubs might consider using him as a starter, but a more realistic max would be a high-leverage reliever.”