Christopher Cortez earns honor of being SEC's Co-Pitcher of the Week

Last week was fun.

And on Monday, the fun continues in the form of weekly honors.

For the first time in his career, Christopher Cortez has been named the Southeastern Conference's Co-Pitcher of the Week following two brilliant relief appearances, earning a win in both.

Cortez shares those honors with Alabama’s Zane Adams.

On the week, the junior from Las Vegas hurled 8.1 scoreless innings.

He only allowed three total hits.

He only walked two.

He punched out 15.

He also hit triple digits on the radar gun.

"I know the best version of myself is having fun," Cortez said postgame on Sunday. "When I'm having fun, that's when I'm at my best."

In Tuesday night's midweek scare from UTSA, Cortez entered with the Aggies trailing 5-4.

The Roadrunners would not score again. In fact, only three more even reached base. Seven took the short walk back to the first-base dugout after striking out.

Cortez's first of two sterling outings set the stage for Jackson Appel's walk-off home run to seal a 6-5 win.

It also set the stage for what was to come on the weekend.

With A&M trailing 4-0 in Sunday's finale vs. Vanderbilt, Cortez again trotted in from the bullpen. This time, it was with two outs in the second inning.

What followed was yet another dominant performance in a series full of them from the Maroon & White.

In another comeback victory — this time a more comfortable 12-6 decision — Cortez and his thunderbolt of a right arm dominated the Commodores across 4.1 scoreless frames while punching out a career-high eight.

Cortez's most emphatic moment came in the top of the fourth against RJ Austin.

After getting the Vandy first baseman to strike out looking, the radar gun on the left field scoreboard displayed three digits: 1-0-0.

"It's alright. It's cool," Cortez said with a smile. "If it's a strike, it's sick. If it's a ball, whatever."

In 2024, Cortez is 5-1 with a 2.32 ERA in 31.0 innings. He has struck out 47 and walked just 14. Opponents are hitting just .221 against him, and his WHIP sits at 1.26.

He has become a vital weapon in the Aggie bullpen, and don't expect that to change.

"Chris is super comfortable at the moment where he is and his role in coming in and helping in the early to middle innings," A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle said. "I'm sure he could finish a game if we needed him. I don't think there are going to be any changes moving forward."

In a week where Ryan Prager and Tanner Jones were certainly worthy of the distinction, Cortez outshined them both and became the second Aggie to earn the title of SEC Pitcher of the Week this year after Justin Lamkin did so after his start vs. Mississippi State.