Broadcaster Kaat uses offensive nickname for Yankees’ Cortes

By: The Associated Press Posted: 8:05 PM CDT Thursday, Jun. 2, 2022 Last Modified: 10:10 PM CDT Thursday, Jun. 2, 2022

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DETROIT (AP) — Minnesota Twins broadcaster Jim Kaat referred to New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes as “Nestor the Molester” during a broadcast Thursday, the second offensive remark in the past year by the 83-year-old Hall of Fame pitcher while calling a game.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/06/2022 (1247 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As Minnesota’s Chris Archer struck out Detroit star Miguel Cabrera, Kaat began to explain that Cortes had become one of his favorite pitchers during a breakout season with New York.

“’Nestor the Molester,’ Nestor Cortes,” Kaat said. “Angles and different speeds. He’s a pitcher.”

New York Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes reacts during the fifth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, June 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Twins vice president of communications and content Dustin Morse spoke with Kaat after the broadcast about the comment.

“Obviously, we take these matters seriously and like in all cases will handle this internally and privately,” Morse said.

Kaat planned to contact Cortes directly and speak with the pitcher about the situation.

“Jim meant no ill will,” Morse said.

After the Yankees swept a day-night doubleheader from the Los Angeles Angels, Cortes said he had heard about Kaat’s comment.

“I’m sure, you know, he didn’t really mean it, and people make mistakes, but it didn’t offend me at all,” Cortes told The Associated Press.

“So, you know, I don’t really have anything more than just that, honestly,” he said.

Cortes has affectionately become known as “Nasty Nestor” by Yankees fans while going 5-1 with a 1.50 ERA to begin this season. He pitched seven scoreless innings to beat the Angels in the first game.

Former major league pitcher Jim Kaat poses with a photo of himself at age 19 before a spring training baseball game between the Houston Astros and the Florida Marlins in Jupiter, Fla., March 22, 2004. Minnesota Twins broadcaster Kaat referred to New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes by an offensive nickname during a broadcast Thursday, June 2, 2022, the second offensive remark in the past year by the 83-year-old Hall of Fame pitcher while calling a game. (AP Photo/James A. Finley, File)

Kaat, a longtime commentator who has also worked for the Yankees and MLB Network, apologized in October after saying teams should try to “get a 40-acre field full of” players who look like White Sox infielder Yoán Moncada.

His comment about Moncada reminded some viewers of the unfilled promise by the U.S. government that freed slaves would receive 40 acres and a mule following the Civil War. He apologized later in that game between the Astros and White Sox.

“Earlier in the game when Yoán Moncada was at the plate, in an attempt to compliment the great player that he is, I used a poor choice of words that resulted in an insensitive and hurtful remark,” he said. “And I’m sorry for that.”

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