David Cortes

David Cardenas Cortes...resides with wife Carmen and 2 daughters, Anaisa and Breana, in El Centro, Calif....graduated from Central Union (Calif.) High School in 1992...attended Imperial Valley College in California, earning all-league honors.

2005

After beginning the year with Triple-A Colorado Springs, David was first purchased on May 9 and, after that, spent all but 9 days in early July in the Rockies' bullpen...established career highs in every category...was one of the final cuts at the end of spring training, as he was not assigned to minor league camp until March 31...went 2-0, 4.10 (52.2 ip, 24 er) in 50 relief appearances for the Rockies...ranked 2nd on staff in appearances, relief ERA and games finished...opposing batters hit .251 in relief, 2nd-lowest among Rox relievers...had 36 strikeouts, 4th among relievers...posted best strikeout/walk ratio (3.60 Ks per walk) in team's bullpen and allowed just 10.42 baserunners per 9 innings, lowest among Rox relievers...allowed 6 of 18 inherited runners to score...retired 36 of 50 (72.0%) first batters faced as those batters had a .239 average (11-for-46)...held right-handers to a .229 average (25-for-109)...posted a 3.34 ERA (32.1 ip, 12 er) in 29 games after the All-Star break...opponents hit .220 (11-for-50) with RISP, including .160 (4-for-25) with RISP and 2 outs...began the year by making 11 relief appearances for Colorado Springs, going 1-0, 4.30 (14.2 ip, 7 er) with one save and 13 K's against just 6 walks...also made one Triple-A appearance for Sky Sox on July 9...made Rockies debut on May 10 vs. Atlanta, tossing 2.0 shutout innings in his first major league outing since Aug. 19, 2003...allowed runs in just 2 of 16 appearances from May 21-June 30, posting a 1.26 ERA (14.1 ip, 2 er) in that span...tossed 8.0 scoreless innings in 8 outings from May 28-June 16...had an 0.84 ERA (10.2 ip, 1 er) over 12 outings in June...recorded first major league win on June 28 vs. Houston, tossing scoreless 8th inning...first win came in his 24th appearance and almost 6 years after his ML debut on Aug. 30, 1999...was optioned to Colorado Springs on July 7...was outrighted off the 40-man roster on July 11...contract was purchased and rejoined Rockies on July 15...over first 21 outings after his return, posted a 1.61 ERA (22.1 ip, 4 er) while holding opponents to a .173 (14-for-81) average...issued just 2 walks with 16 K's in that span...posted both saves during that run, only saves of his career, on July 22 at Pittsburgh and Aug. 27 at San Diego...one of runs allowed in that stretch came on Sept. 4 vs. Los Angeles, a game-tying 7th inning grand slam by Jeff Kent...suffered only blown save of the year that day in a contest that Rox eventually won in 10 innings...went 1-0, 1.89 (19.0 ip, 4 er) in 18 relief outings for Mexicali in Mexican Winter League...recorded 10 saves, T3rd-most in league, issuing just 3 walks against 24 strikeouts.

2004

Went to spring training as a non-roster invitee with the Tigers and began the year at Toledo (AAA) of the International League...after 14 appearances with the Mud Hens, David was loaned to Tijuana of the Mexican League on May 22...he was released of his minor league contract with Detroit on June 15 but remained with Tijuana where he finished off the year...David went 1-0 with a 3.95 ERA and no saves for Toledo...held opponents to a .240 average against, including a .174 mark by lefties (3-for-21)...did not allow a home run in 13.2 innings...in the Mexican League, Cortes was 0-1 with a 5.17 ERA and 3 saves in 14 relief outings...recorded 18 K's with only 6 walks in 15.2 innings...pitched for his hometown Mexicali in the Mexican Pacific League during winter ball...went 4-1 with a 3.06 ERA and 15 saves in 28 appearances...ranked 2nd in the league with 15 saves...had 50 strikeouts against just 8 walks in 32.1 innings.

2003

Was released by Arizona on March 29, signed with Dos Laredos of the Mexican League and then signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians on July 31...was assigned to Buffalo (AAA) where he made 2 appearances before having his contract purchased by Cleveland on Aug. 10...took the mound Aug. 14 at Minnesota for his first ML outing since Sept. 29, 1999...tagged for 5 runs (4 earned) in 2 outings with the Indians before being designated for assignment on Aug. 27...returned to Buffalo after having his contract outrighted on Aug. 29...surrendered just one run over his final 21 outings for Dos Laredos, June 11-July 26, posting an 0.40 ERA in 22.1 innings...pitched for Hermosillo in the Mexican Winter League following the season, going 3-2 with a 2.29 ERA and 9 saves.

2002

Signed with Dos Laredos after being released by the Braves on March 28...spent almost the entire year at Dos Laredos where he ranked 5th among Mexican League relievers with 9.51 strikeouts per 9 innings...signed a minor league contract with the Diamondbacks Aug. 24 and was assigned to Triple-A Tucson...appeared in 3 games with Tucson, tossing 4.0 scoreless innings of relief.

2001

Opened the 2001 season on the disabled list while recovering from right elbow ligament replacement surgery...saw action with Macon (A), Myrtle Beach (A) and Greenville (AA) throughout the season, combining for a 1-5 record and a 7.24 ERA in 33 appearances.

2000

Missed the entire 2000 season on Atlanta's disabled list with a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in his right elbow.

1999

Joined Atlanta after having his contract purchased from Triple-A Richmond on Aug. 24...made his major league debut on Aug. 30 at Cincinnati, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 3 hits in 2.0 innings...appeared in three games during September, blanking the opposition in each outing...David ranked 3rd in the International League with 42 games finished and 5th with 22 saves and 64 relief points for Richmond...selected to the International League's mid-season all-star team...his 22 saves led all Braves minor leaguers...opened the season on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis (April 8-15)...earned International League Pitcher of the Week honors for May 10-16.

1998

Ranked 5th among International League relievers with 10.28 strikeouts per 9 innings for Richmond...was on the disabled list from June 4-July 6 with right shoulder tendinitis...was acquired by the Rockies in a 3-player deal on July 30 and assigned to Triple-A Colorado Springs...pitched in 6 games for the Sky Sox before being traded back to the Braves for a player to be named on Aug. 19...missed the remainder of the season with right shoulder tendinitis.

1997

Combined to save Braves organizational high 23 games between Macon (A), Durham (A) and Greenville (AA)...topped all South Atlantic League relievers in batting average against (.152) and baserunners per 9 innings (6.32) while finishing 3rd in walks per 9 innings (1.14) at Macon...appeared in 5 games during the Southern League playoffs for Greenville, going 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA (6.0 ip, 3 er).

1996

Signed by the Braves as a non-drafted free agent on July 13, 1996...made his professional debut with Single-A Eugene, finishing 2nd among Northwest League relievers in baserunners per nine innings (6.93) and 3rd in batting average against (.148)...earned NWL Pitcher of the Week, Aug. 5-11.