Cortes presents Kaat with Yanks award after nickname controversy

Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes presented broadcaster and Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Kaat with the franchise’s Lifetime Achievement Award on Thursday night, about three weeks after Kaat used an offensive nickname when talking about New York’s breakout lefthander.

The 83-year-old Kaat called the pitcher“nestor the Molester” during a Minnesota Twins telecast this month, then reached out to Cortes to apologize. Cortes told The Associated Press later that night he hadn’t taken offense and later tweeted to say he’d readily accepted Kaat’s apology.

“Jim Kaat has spent an entire lifetime in this game we love,” Cortes wrote.“he reached out to me and apologized for his remark last night, but he didn’t need to. We all make mistakes and feel 100% there was no malice intended. I plan on lifting him up with this tweet and I hope others do too. No sweat here Jim!”

Cortes presented Kaat with a clear trophy near home plate prior to New York’s opener of a fourgame series against Houston. Kaat pitched for 25 seasons and was a longtime commentator who also worked for the Yankees.

Kaat broadcasted Thursday’s game with play-by-play man Bob Costas for MLB Network.

He also made an apology after an on-air remark last October. That came after he said teams should try to “get a 40-acre field full of ” players who look like White Sox infielder Yoán Moncada. That comment 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 Chicago.