Nestor Cortes regularly impressed in his second New York Yankees stint, quickly evolving from spot starter to All-Star arm across four years.

However, fans will forever remember Cortes’ Yankees tenure for one costly pitch.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone controversially used Cortes, a full-time starter since late 2021, as a reliever in the World Series. Cortes faced Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman with the Yankees leading 3-2 with two outs in Game 1.

I hate how it happened,” said Cortes, who joined the Milwaukee Brewers this offseason.

“Trust me, I (wasn’t) able to sleep after that, just because I replayed it in my head every single time,” Cortes told The Athletic. “I guess he was on the right side of the baseball where he hit the home run.”

told The Athletic. “I guess he was on the right side of the baseball where he hit the home run.”

The Dodgers rode their Game 1 momentum to a five-game victory over the Yankees. Seemingly, no one noticed that Cortes threw 1.2 scoreless innings in a Game 3 loss.

It’s also easy to forget Cortes induced NL MVP Shohei Ohtani to pop out earlier in the inning.

The Yankees traded Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin to the Brewers for All-Star closer Devin Williams in December.

A veteran lefty who started 30 games last season, the 30-year-old Cortes is the Brewers’ oldest and most experienced starting pitcher. Cortes will likely follow Freddy Peralta in Milwaukee’s rotation until two-time All-Star Brandon Woodruff returns from right shoulder surgery.

Will Cortes find redemption and lead the Brewers to their first World Series title in over 40 years? At least we know he won’t face Freeman in the Fall Classic.