Franchy Cordero

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Franchy Cordero

| image = 2024年4月20日コルデロ選手.jpg

| caption = Cordero with the Saitama Seibu Lions in 2024

| team = Washington Nationals

| number =

| position = Outfielder / First baseman

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|9|2}}

| birth_place = Azua, Dominican Republic

| bats = Left

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = May 27

| debutyear = 2017

| debutteam = San Diego Padres

| debut2league = NPB

| debut2date = March 29

| debut2year = 2024

| debut2team = Saitama Seibu Lions

| statyear = 2023 season

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .217

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 27

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 87

| stat2year = 2024 season

| stat2league = NPB

| stat21label = Batting average

| stat21value = .129

| stat22label = Home runs

| stat22value = 1

| stat23label = Runs batted in

| stat23value = 4

| teams = * San Diego Padres ({{mlby|2017}}–{{mlby|2019}})

Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2020}})
Boston Red Sox ({{mlby|2021}}–{{mlby|2022}})
New York Yankees ({{mlby|2023}})
Saitama Seibu Lions ({{by|2024}})

}}

Franchy Cordero Vargas (born September 2, 1994) is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder and first baseman in the Washington Nationals organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Kansas City Royals, Boston Red Sox, and New York Yankees, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Saitama Seibu Lions.

Career

=San Diego Padres=

Cordero signed with the San Diego Padres as an international free agent in November 2011. He made his professional debut in 2012 with the Dominican Summer League Padres, batting .270 with one home run and 38 runs batted in (RBIs) in 61 games played. In 2013, he played for the Arizona League Padres where he slashed .333/.381/.511 with three home runs and 17 RBIs in 35 games. Cordero started 2014 with the Fort Wayne TinCaps and was demoted to the Eugene Emeralds during the season.{{cite web|url=http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140402/SPORTS/140409979|title=TinCaps SS Cordero still a teenager, but a talented one|access-date=November 19, 2014|archive-date=November 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102213032/http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140402/SPORTS/140409979|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |author=Conniff |first=John |date=September 2, 2014 |title=Franchy Cordero continues to impress on offense, despite defensive woes |url=http://www.foxsports.com/san-diego/story/franchy-cordero-continues-to-impress-on-offense-despite-defensive-woes-090214 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228133236/http://www.foxsports.com/san-diego/story/franchy-cordero-continues-to-impress-on-offense-despite-defensive-woes-090214 |archive-date=December 28, 2014 |access-date=November 19, 2014 |work=FOX Sports}} In 83 games between the two teams, he batted .255 with nine home runs and 44 RBIs.

File:Franchy Cordero with the San Diego Padres in 2017 (Cropped).jpg

Cordero returned to Fort Wayne in 2015, and he compiled a .243 batting average with five home runs and 34 RBIs in 126 games. Cordero opened the 2016 season with the Lake Elsinore Storm. In July, he was promoted to the San Antonio Missions. He also played four games for the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas at the end of the season. In 137 games between the three clubs, he batted .290/.344/.450 with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs. The Padres added him to their 40-man roster after the 2016 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/sd-sp-padres-set-40-man-roster-20161117-story.html|title=Youth served as Padres set 40-man roster|first=Jeff|last=Sanders|work=San Diego Union-Tribune|date=November 19, 2016 |access-date=November 19, 2016}}

Cordero began the 2017 season with El Paso. The Padres promoted Cordero to the Major Leagues on May 27, 2017, as regular center fielder Manuel Margot went to the disabled list with a strained calf.{{cite web |last1=Cassavell |first1=AJ |title=Padres call up Cordero for center field duty |url=https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/padres-franchy-cordero-called-up-to-majors/c-232762104 |work=MLB.com |access-date=February 10, 2019 |date=May 27, 2018}} Cordero made his major league debut that day, striking out against Stephen Strasburg as a pinch hitter.{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/sd-sp-padres-margot-dl-cordero-promoted-20170527-story.html|title=With Manuel Margot on DL, Franchy Cordero gets first call-up|first=Dennis|last=Lin|date=May 27, 2017 |access-date=November 16, 2018}} Cordero started hot, collecting 19 hits in his first 17 games, but then only had one hit in his final 10 games before he was sent back to El Paso upon Margot's return.{{cite web |last1=Cassavell |first1=AJ |title=Cordero eyes consistency in return to Padres |url=https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/padres-call-up-franchy-cordero-option-valdez/c-243129988 |work=MLB.com |access-date=February 10, 2019 |date=July 19, 2018}} Cordero returned to the Padres for 3 more games in July when Margot was on the paternity list but finished the season with El Paso. In 93 games for El Paso, Cordero slashed .326/.369/.603 with 17 home runs and 64 RBIs,{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=614173#/career/R/hitting/2018/ALL|title=Franchy Cordero Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=MiLB.com|access-date=May 11, 2018}} and in 30 games for the Padres he batted .228/.276/.424 with three home runs and nine RBIs, making 22 starts in center field and one in left field.

Cordero began 2018 on the disabled list with a groin injury{{cite web |last1=Cassavell |first1=AJ |title=Cordero to start season on DL |url=https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/padres-franchy-cordero-to-open-season-on-dl/c-269609632 |work=MLB.com |access-date=February 10, 2019 |date=March 24, 2018}} and joined the Padres after he was activated in early April. He was the Padres everyday starter in left field before he was sent to the disabled list on May 28 with forearm soreness.{{cite web |last1=Cassavell |first1=AJ |title=Cordero goes on DL with Renfroe returning |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/franchy-cordero-goes-on-dl-with-arm-injury/c-278621464 |work=MLB.com |access-date=February 10, 2019 |date=May 28, 2018}} Cordero began a rehab assignment in El Paso in June, but pain in his right elbow led to the diagnosis of a bone spur.{{cite web|last1=Varela |first1=Ashley |url=https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2018/06/30/report-franchy-cordero-likely-to-undergo-season-ending-surgery/|title=Report: Franchy Cordero likely to undergo season-ending surgery|date=June 30, 2018|publisher=NBCSports.com|access-date=November 16, 2018}} Surgery on the elbow ended Cordero's Padres season, but he played in the Dominican Winter League.{{cite web |last1=Center |first1=Bill |title=Cordero, Myers, Renfroe, Jankowski, Reyes, Pirela Prepared to Play Left in 2019 |url=https://padres.mlblogs.com/cordero-myers-renfroe-jankowski-reyes-pirela-prepared-to-play-left-in-2019-25ccf5ee46da |website=FriarWire |publisher=mlblogs.com |access-date=February 10, 2019 |date=December 10, 2018}} He finished the regular season hitting .237/.307/.439 with 9 home runs, making 22 starts in left field, 10 in center, and 4 in right. On April 20, he hit the second-longest home run in MLB in 2018, at {{convert|489|ft}}.{{Cite web |title=Statcast Leaderboard |url=https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/statcast?type=batter&year=2018&position=&team=&min=1&sort=distance_max&sortDir=desc |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=baseballsavant.com |language=en-US}}

=Kansas City Royals=

File:Franchy Cordero (48033031291) (cropped).jpg in 2019]]

On July 16, 2020, the Padres traded Cordero and Ronald Bolaños to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Tim Hill.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/royals-padres-trade-franchy-cordero-tim-hill |title=Royals land slugging OF Cordero from SD |work=Mlb.com |date= |access-date=2021-02-11}} On August 9, 2020, he was placed on the 10-day injured list, but was then transferred to the 45-day injured list on August 10, after suffering a wrist injury.{{cite web|author=RotoWire Staff |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/royals-franchy-cordero-transferred-to-45-day-injured-list/ |title=Royals' Franchy Cordero: Transferred to 60-day injured list |publisher=CBSSports.com |date= August 10, 2020|access-date=2021-02-11}} Overall with the 2020 Kansas City Royals, Cordero batted .211 with two home runs and seven RBIs in 16 games.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/franchy-cordero-614173?stats=career-r-hitting-mlb&year=2020 |title=Franchy Cordero Stats, Fantasy & News |work=MLB.com |date=2020-09-23 |access-date=2021-02-11}}

=Boston Red Sox=

On February 10, 2021, the Royals traded Cordero to the Boston Red Sox as part of a three-team trade in which the Royals acquired Andrew Benintendi and cash considerations. The Red Sox also acquired Josh Winckowski and three players to be named later, and the New York Mets acquired Khalil Lee.{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30876960/sources-boston-red-sox-sending-andrew-benintendi-kansas-city-royals-3-team-deal |title=Boston Red Sox send Andrew Benintendi to Kansas City Royals in 3-team deal |website=ESPN.com |date=February 10, 2021 |access-date=February 11, 2021}} During spring training, Cordero was on the COVID-19 related injured list from February 22 until March 30.{{cite news |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/02/red-sox-claim-joel-payamps-place-franchy-cordero-on-covid-injured-list.html |title=Red Sox Claim Joel Payamps, Place Franchy Cordero On COVID Injured List |first=Mark |last=Polishuk |website=mlbtraderumors.com |date=February 22, 2021 |access-date=February 22, 2021}}{{cite tweet |user=RedSox |number=1376902738991325192 |title=The #RedSox today announced the following roster moves |date=March 30, 2021 |accessdate=March 30, 2021}} After batting .179 in 34 games with Boston, Cordero was optioned to the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox on May 27.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/27/sports/red-sox-option-franchy-cordero-triple-worcester/ |title=Red Sox option struggling outfielder Franchy Cordero to Triple A Worcester |first=Julian |last=McWilliams |website=The Boston Globe |url-access=limited |date=May 27, 2021 |accessdate=May 28, 2021}} After hitting .329 in 44 games in Triple-A,{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/red-sox-recall-franchy-cordero-to-play-some-first-base-danny-santana-to-the-injured-list/ar-AAMrV1e |title=Red Sox recall Franchy Cordero to play some first base, Danny Santana to the injured list |first=Jason |last=Mastrodonato |newspaper=Boston Herald |via=MSN.com |date=July 22, 2021 |accessdate=July 22, 2021}} Cordero was recalled to Boston on July 22.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/redsox/roster/transactions/2021/07 |title=Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions |website=MLB.com |publisher=Boston Red Sox |date=July 2021 |accessdate=July 22, 2021}} He was optioned back to Worcester on August 16,{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/redsox/roster/transactions/2021/08 |title=Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions |website=MLB.com |publisher=Boston Red Sox |date=August 2021 |accessdate=August 16, 2021}} and recalled briefly in early September.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/redsox/roster/transactions/2021/09 |title=Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions |website=MLB.com |publisher=Boston Red Sox |date=September 2021 |accessdate=September 7, 2021}} Overall during the regular season, Cordero appeared in 48 games for Boston, batting .189,{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cordefr02.shtml |title=Franchy Cordero Stats |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=November 6, 2021}} and 78 games for Worcester, where he had a .300 average.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=corder003fra |title=Franchy Cordero Minor, Fall & Winter Leagues Statistics & History |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=November 6, 2021}} On October 21, Cordero was designated for assignment by the Red Sox;{{cite tweet |user=PeteAbe |number=1451251125752041475 |title=#RedSox reinstated RHP Phillips Valdez from the COVID-19 Related Injured List. OF Franchy Cordero was DFA'd. |date=October 21, 2021 |accessdate=October 21, 2021}} he cleared waivers and was assigned outright to Triple-A four days later.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/redsox/roster/transactions/2021/10 |title=Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions |website=MLB.com |publisher=Boston Red Sox |date=October 2021 |accessdate=October 27, 2021}}

In spring training in 2022, Cordero competed with Travis Shaw, Rob Refsnyder, Christin Stewart, Jonathan Araúz, and Yolmer Sánchez for one of two available spots on Boston's Opening Day roster.{{cite web|url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2022/03/boston-red-sox-bench-battle-travis-shaw-0-for-17-rob-refsnyder-franchy-cordero-yolmer-sanchez-among-guys-vying-for-2-bench-spots-on-opening-day-roster.html |title=Boston Red Sox bench battle: Travis Shaw (0-for-17), Rob Refsnyder, Franchy Cordero, Yolmer Sánchez among guys vying for 2 bench spots on Opening Day roster |publisher=masslive.com |date=March 31, 2022 |accessdate=2022-04-03}} He began the season with Worcester, then was added to Boston's active roster on April 29.{{cite news |url=https://www.overthemonster.com/2022/4/29/23048566/boston-red-sox-roster-news-travis-shaw-designated-for-assignment-waivers-franchy-cordero |title=Red Sox designate Travis Shaw for assignment |first=Matt |last=Collins |website=overthemonster.com |date=April 29, 2022 |accessdate=April 29, 2022}} Cordero was optioned back to Triple-A on August 2, when the team made several trade deadline moves.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/redsox/roster/transactions/2022/08 |title=Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions |publisher=Boston Red Sox |website=MLB.com |date=August 2022 |accessdate=August 4, 2022}} Cordero was activated for Boston's neutral-site game of August 21, the MLB Little League Classic,{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/franchy-cordero-to-join-boston-red-sox-as-27th-man-in-williamsport-for-mlb-little-league-classic/ar-AA10TdzD |title=Franchy Cordero to join Boston Red Sox as 27th man in Williamsport for MLB Little League Classic |first=Christopher |last=Smith |website=masslive.com |date=August 20, 2022 |accessdate=August 21, 2022 |via=MSN.com}} then remained with the team, as Eric Hosmer was placed on the injured list prior to Boston's next game.{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/boston-red-sox-place-nate-eovaldi-eric-hosmer-on-injured-list-franchy-cordero-not-triston-casas-called-up/ar-AA110ilr |title=Boston Red Sox place Nate Eovaldi, Eric Hosmer on injured list; Franchy Cordero (not Triston Casas) called up |first=Chris |last=Cotillo |website=masslive.com |via=MSN.com |date=August 23, 2022 |accessdate=August 23, 2022}} Cordero was placed on the 60-day injured list on September 7, ending his season, due to a right ankle sprain sustained in a game two days prior.{{cite press release |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-red-sox-place-franchy-cordero-on-60-day-injured-list |title=Red Sox place first baseman/outfielder Franchy Cordero on 60-day injured list |website=MLB.com |publisher=Boston Red Sox |date=September 7, 2022 |accessdate=September 7, 2022}} For the season, he appeared in 84 games for Boston and batted .219 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs while playing defensively at first base and in all three outfield positions. He was non-tendered and became a free agent on November 18, 2022.{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/red-sox-non-tender-franchy-cordero-yu-chang-both-are-free-agents/ar-AA14hCA1 |title=Red Sox non-tender Franchy Cordero, Yu Chang; both are free agents |first=Chris |last=Cotillo |website=masslive.com |via=MSN.com |date=November 18, 2022 |accessdate=November 18, 2022}}

=Baltimore Orioles=

On December 2, 2022, Cordero signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles organization.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/orioles/roster/transactions | title=Transactions | website=MLB.com }} Cordero hit .413 with two home runs in 46 spring training at-bats for Baltimore, but was released by the team on March 27, 2023.{{Cite web|title=Franchy Cordero: Cut loose by Orioles|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/franchy-cordero-cut-loose-by-orioles/|access-date=2023-03-27|website=cbssports.com|date=March 27, 2023 |language=en}}

=New York Yankees=

On March 30, 2023, Cordero signed a split contract with the New York Yankees that would pay him $1 million in the major leagues and $180,000 in the minor leagues.{{cite news |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/franchy-cordero-yankees-agree-to-deal |title=Yankees improve depth with Cordero deal |first=Henry |last=Palattella |website=MLB.com |date=March 30, 2023 |accessdate=April 15, 2023}} On April 7, he hit a three-run homer at Camden Yards as his first home run for the Yankees.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-1kVw_JrAE |title=Franchy Cordero hits a three run home run !! First Yankees home run!! |publisher=Grunt Baseball |via=YouTube |date=April 7, 2023 |accessdate=April 15, 2023}} He went on to become the first player in Yankees history to record four or more homers and 11 or more RBIs in his first seven games with the team.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/04/14/sports/this-is-best-time-boston-sports-year-other-thoughts/ |title=This is the best time of the Boston sports year, and other thoughts |first=Dan |last=Shaughnessy |website=The Boston Globe |url-access=limited |date=April 14, 2023 |accessdate=April 15, 2023}} In 24 games for the Yankees, he hit .188/.211/.478 with 6 home runs and 13 RBI. Following the season on November 2, Cordero was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.{{Cite web|title=Yankees' Franchy Cordero: Outrighted to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/yankees-franchy-cordero-outrighted-to-triple-a/amp/|access-date=November 7, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} He elected free agency on November 6.{{Cite web|title=Franchy Cordero: Becomes free agent|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/franchy-cordero-becomes-free-agent/|access-date=November 7, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=November 6, 2023 |language=en}}

=Saitama Seibu Lions=

On December 6, 2023, Cordero signed with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball.{{Cite news |title=西武、191センチ外野手のフランチー・コルデロと契約締結渡辺久信GM「クリーンナップを打ってもらうことを期待」（ベースボールキング） - Yahoo!ニュース |trans-title=Seibu signs 191cm outfielder Francy Cordero GM Hisanobu Watanabe: "I expect him to hit cleanup" |url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/84e320bc1f224e9b81fc732e335dcdc7ce02e24e?source=sns&dv=pc&mid=other&date=20231207&ctg=spo&bt=tw_up |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208010148/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/84e320bc1f224e9b81fc732e335dcdc7ce02e24e?source=sns&dv=pc&mid=other&date=20231207&ctg=spo&bt=tw_up |archive-date=December 8, 2023 |access-date=2025-02-13 |work=News.Yahoo.co.jp |language=ja-JP |url-status=live }} In 23 games for the Lions in 2024, he slashed .129/.151/.200 with one home run and four RBI. On October 14, 2024, the Lions announced they would not be renewing Cordero's contract for the 2025 season, thus making him a free agent.https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/73b9d0f252087d5ac593f335cbb8a4a25e2da9bd?source=sns&dv=pc&mid=other&date=20241014&ctg=spo&bt=tw_up

= Washington Nationals =

On January 15, 2025, the Washington Nationals signed Cordero to a minor league deal.{{Cite web |last=Polishuk |first=Mark |date=2025-01-15 |title=Nationals Sign Franchy Cordero To Minor League Contract |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/nationals-sign-franchy-cordero-to-minor-league-contract.html |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}

Scouting report

Cordero was once considered to have elite speed, leading all the minor leagues in triples in 2016 and 2017, and ranking in the top 3 percent of qualified major league players in sprint speed in 2017.{{cite web |last1=Petriello |first1=Mike |title=The most interesting rookie you need to know more about |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/franchy-cordero-shows-elite-speed-and-power/c-273468122 |work=MLB.com |access-date=February 10, 2019 |date=April 22, 2018}} However, his sprint speed in his most recent MLB season (2023) was only in the 53rd percentile.{{Cite web |title=Franchy Cordero Stats: Statcast, Visuals & Advanced Metrics |url=https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/franchy-cordero-614173?stats=statcast-r-hitting-mlb |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=baseballsavant.com |language=en-US}} He has also shown elite power, ranking 35th in average batted ball exit velocity in 2017, and 20 percent of his batted balls exiting at or above {{convert|105|mph|kph|abbr=on}}.{{cite web |last1=Sullivan |first1=Jeff |title=The Most Exciting Player on the Padres |url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-most-exciting-player-on-the-padres/ |publisher=FanGraphs.com |access-date=February 10, 2019 |date=January 31, 2018}}

Personal life

Cordero is a second cousin to Socrates Brito, who has played in MLB and the KBO League.{{Cite web |last=Cassavell |first=AJ |date=March 29, 2019 |title=Franchy Cordero, Socrates Brito are 2nd cousins |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/franchy-cordero-socrates-brito-are-2nd-cousins |access-date=September 1, 2020 |website=MLB.com}}