Fireballer Chris Cortez selected in second round by the Los Angeles Angels

Triple digits with an unhittable slider?

That’ll play.

The Los Angeles Angels agreed, which is why the organization selected Texas A&M’s Chris Cortez with the 45th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.

This honor comes after a brilliant 2024 campaign that saw Cortez blossom into one of the nation’s best bullpen weapons as a middle-to-long reliever.

In 64.2 innings, Cortez combined his lethal 100 mph heater with a wipeout slider to punch out 102 batters while walking just 37. Opponents hit just .187 against him as he posted a 2.78 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP.

Cortez earned third-team All-American honors from D1Baseball and was shockingly omitted from any All-SEC teams at season’s end.

However, he was recognized as the SEC’s Pitcher of the Week on April 15 after striking out 15 across 8.1 scoreless innings in a pair of relief outings against UTSA and Vanderbilt. For those dominant performances, he was named the NCBWA’s Dick Howser National Pitcher of the Week.

A member of two Men’s College World Series clubs during his three seasons in Maroon & White, Cortez struck out 173 in 150.1 innings of work while posting a 19-7 record with a 4.67 career ERA.

With his thunderbolt of a right arm, Cortez could be impacting big-league games in short order.

Ryan Brauninger’s scout of Chris Cortez

“Power right-handed stuff that comes out of a minimal, simplistic presentation. Not a lot of moving parts in the delivery. Has seen steady upticks in command during his time in college and took a huge step in that department in 2024. Sturdy build with a short, explosive arm swing. Two-seam fastball/sinker has been up to 101 mph. Tunnels one of the best sliders in college baseball off of it. Made a big jump in efficiency as a full-time reliever but can still make advancements there. Has some starter profile tendencies.”