Yankees' Nestor Cortes Jr. trolls umpire after violating new pitch clock rule

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New York Yankees lefty starter Nestor Cortes Jr. has shown a knack for deception on the mound. But after an umpire called him out for making a wrong move Tuesday, he decided to troll him a bit with his next pitch. 

Cortes was starting for the Yankees against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park Tuesday as his final tuneup before the start of the regular season when he decided to try a quick pitch against Jeimer Candelario. 

But the new MLB pitch clock rules say a batter must be looking at the pitcher prior to a pitch being made. Candelario was still looking down at home plate as Cortes went through a quick motion. And, even though the hitter made contact, the umpire immediately ruled the play dead and called a ball. 

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Nestor Cortes of the New York Yankees pitches during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field Feb. 23, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (New York Yankees/Getty Images)

Cortes didn’t understand why that call was made, so he decided to mess with Candelario and the umpire.

With about six seconds left on the pitch clock, and Candelario looking his way this time, Cortes went into a windup routine Yankees fans saw all last year. He lifted his leg and went into a fully slow-motion delay, turning back toward second base, looking down at first base and eventually firing the ball in. 

MLB SAYS NO MAJOR CHANGES WILL BE MADE TO PITCH CLOCK RULES AHEAD OF OPENING DAY

Because Cortes committed to making a pitch within the pitch clock rules, he was allowed to make Candelario wait in the batter’s box for his delivery. However, there were a few times last season where umpires