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

Texas A&M right-handed pitcher Chris Cortez has been selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft, taken with the No. 45 overall pick in the draft.

He earned that selection after a tremendous junior season with the Aggies, who reached the College World Series championship series. Cortez was a huge part of that run, offering some excellent innings for Texas A&M in Omaha as they cruised through the bracket into the final against Tennessee.

Try Fubo for FREE today and don’t miss any of the action!

As a junior, Cortez really cut down on his ERA and became a staple in the rotation for the Aggies. He featured 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 against 37 walks, allowing only 20 earned runs against him.

That was a significant improvement from a sophomore season in which Cortez logged a 7.34 ERA with a 3-1 record on 19 appearances. He did have six saves as a sophomore, working as a combination starter and reliever.

In three seasons at Texas A&M, Chris Cortez compiled a 4.67 ERA in 150.1 innings pitched. He had 173 strikeouts and allowed 90 walks. But, again, his best work came as a junior, which drew more interest from MLB scouts.

What MLB Draft analysts are saying about Chris Cortez

The concern with Chris Cortez is primarily consistency, as he was very good as a freshman but had a bit of a down sophomore season. Can he be the guy from his junior year or will he revert toward the mean a bit more? The stuff, though, is very good. Good enough to get him drafted in a good spot.

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 park at 96-98 mph and peak at 100 with power sink that makes them almost impossible to lift. Hitters can’t try to sit on his heater because he also has a power slider that ranges from 86-92 mph with plenty of horizontal and vertical action. He doesn’t have much feel for an upper-80s changeup with modest fade and rarely uses it.

“Cortez’s control has fluctuated wildly in college, as he pounded 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 doing it by getting chases rather than consistently landing his pitches in the zone. Some clubs may consider trying him as a starter but a more realistic ceiling would be as a high-leverage reliever.”