McAdam: Delayed by COVID, Cordero eager to make up for lost time

The first month or so as a member of the Red Sox hasn't worked out the way Franchy Cordero had hoped.

First, as he readied to leave his native Dominican Republic, Cordero learned that he had tested positive for COVID-19, sending him directly to the IL before he so much as set foot in Fort Myers.

Then, after Cordero was finally cleared to travel, he had another week-long delay, waiting for clearance from Major League Baseball.

During that time, Cordero was limited in what he could do physically and where he could go in the team's spring training complex. Finally, on Thursday, Cordero was finally given full clearance and took part in a simulated game, taking some swings.

Manager Alex Cora didn't seem bullish on Cordero's chances to be active when the Red Sox open their regular season in less than three weeks at Fenway, making note of the outfielder's injury history and the need to have him go through the necessary progressions slowly.

"There's always a chance (he'll be ready),'' said Cora. "But we've got to be very careful with how we push him because his health is more important than making the Opening Day roster.''

Not long after, however, Cordero sounded a note of optimism when quizzed about his timetable.

"I'm working hard on that,'' said Cordero in his first media availability since he was obtained in a three-team deal that saw Andrew Benintendi land with the Kansas City Royals. "Hopefully, I'm ready for (April 1).''

That the Red Sox are exercising caution with Cordero is understandable. Despite enormous raw power and talent, Cordero has been a chronic underachiever in parts of four big league seasons, split between the Royals and San Diego Padres. Cordero has yet to play in more than 40 games in any one year, too often victimized by an assortment of muscle pulls and various strains.

"I sat down with the trainers and we had a plan in place,'' said Cordero. "(I'm) just working on my mobility and keeping my muscles loose. That's something they feel as though will help me and not have all of those injuries I've had in the past.''

Now with his third organization, Cordero couldn't be happier than to be with the Sox, the team he followed most closely as a boy in the Dominican Republic. The Red Sox were a constant TV presence in the DR when he was growing up, and he found himself, not surprisingly, identifying with fellow countrymen like Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz.

Oh, and oddly, J.D. Drew.



"Those were guys I really liked watching as a kid,'' said Cordero. "It was always fun, too, to be able to see all the championships that were won during my youth. So that's what made me into a fan.''

The connection is especially strong with Ortiz, with whom he's since spoken with following the trade. Like Ortiz, Cordero is a hulking, powerful lefty hitter and like Ortiz, the Red Sox are his third organization at a relatively young age.

"We do have a relationship,'' said Cordero. "He's someone I modeled my game after because of all the success he had on the field. That's something I also want to have.''

If Cordero is going to even begin to approach Ortiz's accomplishments, it will require a more keen eye at the plate. Cordero has fanned in more than one-third of his major league at-bats, but he began to make more consistent contact last season and knows that remains an ongoing project.

"Just pitch recognition, trying to get deeper into counts and just trying to make the pitcher work as hard as possible to try to get me out,'' recounted Cordero of his more disciplined plate approach. "That's something I've made a point of emphasis, something I'm doing in camp as well because I understand it's what's going to help the team. Having more patience at the plate is something I really worked on in the past offseason.''

It's likely his Grapefruit League debut will come later next week. Though he was limited in his physical activity during the COVID recovery, during which he was asymptomatic, he's eager to get going.

"I thought he was going to be more behind,'' Cora said, "but that's not the case.''

Fully healthy and recovered, Cordero can then get to work on finally maximizing his considerable potential.

"God willing,'' he said, "people will be ready to see who the real Franchy Cordero is this year.''