Chris Cortez

Christopher Diaz Cortez (born October 6, 2002) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Los Angeles Angels organization. He played college baseball for the Texas A&M Aggies. The Angels drafted Cortez in the second round of the 2024 MLB draft.

Early life Christopher Diaz Cortez was born on October 6, 2002, in Las Vegas, Nevada, to parents Carlos and Tammy Cortez.

Cortez attended Silverado High School in Las Vegas, where he played four years of varsity baseball. In his 2017–18 freshman season, he posted a .300 batting average and a 1.89 earned run average (ERA). In the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened 2019–20 season, Cortez posted a 1.36 ERA. In 2020–21, his senior year, Cortez batted .491 with 21 RBIs and went 3–1 on the mound with a 1.23 ERA and 50 strikeouts in innings. Cortez started a game against the Texas Longhorns on March 5, pitching three innings with one run allowed and receiving a no decision. On May 5, he threw of scoreless relief with six strikeouts to earn a win against the LSU Tigers.

During a 2024 NCAA Division I baseball tournament game against the Oregon Ducks on June 8, Cortez pitched innings of scoreless relief and struck out a career-high 10 batters, earning the win. During a June 15 game against the Florida Gators in the first round of the College World Series, Cortez threw three innings and struck out six to earn the win. On June 23, his final game as an Aggie, Cortez threw of scoreless relief, walking five batters with seven strikeouts in a loss to the Tennessee Volunteers in game two of the College World Series final. He finished the season at 10–3 with a 2.78 ERA and 102 strikeouts in innings.

Professional career The Los Angeles Angels drafted Cortez in the second round of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft, the 45th overall pick. He signed with the organization on July 18 for a $1,597,500 bonus, below the league-recommended $2,072,800 slot value.

Cortez made his professional debut 2025 with High-A Tri-City Dust Devils, and spent his first professional season there. He posted a 4.28 ERA with 114 strikeouts and 84 walks in innings, converting to a starting pitcher although he mainly pitched as a relief pitcher in college. He returned to Tri-City to open the 2026 season and was promoted to the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas in May. Following his promotion to Rocket City, Cortez began pitching out of the bullpen.