For Franchy Cordero, his Red Sox tenure didn’t get off to an ideal start. In 48 games last year, Cordero posted a .189 batting average while striking out 51 times. The former top prospect saw his stock fall to an all-time low in the playoffs as he was designated for assignment one day before the Red Sox were eliminated in the ALCS. However, he has shown that the ending to his story is far from over.
At the end of April, Cordero returned to the majors and is making an impact. Through 74 at-bats, he has posted a .270 batting average with nine extra-base hits. He has also shown a flair for the dramatics with a walk-off grand slam on April 22. Cordero has been a bright spot as the Red Sox have started to bounce back from a tough start. He is not only making an impact at the plate but also in the field.
So far this season, Cordero has split time between the outfield and first base. While he has committed two errors, none of them have come in the outfield. The twenty-seven-year-old also has seven double plays and recorded 88 putouts. Regardless of where the Red Sox have placed Cordero in the field, he has been a sold addition and shown improvement.
Additionally, Cordero has surpassed his numbers from the 2021 campaign in runs batted in with 12 and total bases with 34. He also trails Andrew Benintendi, the player he was traded for, in extra-base hits by two. This season, the left-handed hitter has less than 100 plate appearances but has the longest hit by a Red Sox player in 2022. His play has been a welcomed development for the Red Sox after his struggles less than a year ago.
Franchy Cordero in the month of May:
10 Games – 32 PA
.280/.406/.360/.766
2 2B
5 RBI
15.6% K%
18.8% BB%
131 wRC+Totally different guy than what we saw in 2021.#RedSox | #DirtyWater| #MLBpic.twitter.com/S3xMNqoIqj
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) May 15, 2022
Expectations for the Rest of 2022
Although the season is far from over, Cordero has provided a spark to Boston’s offense. In his last seven games, the Dominican native is hitting over .300 and limiting strikeouts. He is also showing better plate discipline and drawing more walks. Cordero hasn’t relied on extra-base hits to make an impact and has five multi-hit efforts in May.
Since slotting back into the lineup, a month ago, Cordero has shown why he was once a highly regarded prospect. His strikeout rate is down by over ten percent, and he seems more relaxed at the plate. For a Red Sox team that has struggled with consistency, he has been a bright spot. If Cordero can continue his recent play, it will be hard to send him back to Worcester.
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Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images