Cortes hit .265 with 15 home runs and 44 RBIs his sophomore season in 2018 for the Gamecocks, and was ranked the 177th best prospect by Baseball America in the upcoming. He was selected by the Mets in the third round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, and signed with them for a reported $1 million signing bonus on June 25, 2018.[3][4]
Professional career
New York Mets
Cortes made his professional debut for the Brooklyn Cyclones, hitting .264/.338/.382 with four home runs and 24 RBIs.[5] He spent the 2019 season with the St. Lucie Mets.[6] Over 127 games, he slashed .255/.336/.397 with 11 home runs, 68 RBIs, and 26 doubles. He did not play a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season.[7] Instead, he played in the Australian Baseball League for the Sydney Blue Sox that winter.[8]
Cortes spent the 2021 season with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies where he batted .257 with 14 home runs and 57 RBIs over 79 games.[9]