Red Sox Spring Training News: Watch out, Franchy Cordero is ready
The Boston Red Sox will have a very interesting outfield ready to go come Opening Day.
Acquired in a deal for Andrew Benintendi, the very intriguing young outfielder Franchy Cordero raised some eyebrows Sunday afternoon when he powered a homer over the right-center field wall in the first inning of an 8-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins at JetBlue Park at Fenway South.
What’s the big deal?
After questions on whether the left-handed talent would be ready for Opening Day after he tested positive for COVID-19 at the beginning of spring, Cordero has shown the past week that he indeed will be ready and appears to be at full strength is that solo blast is any sign.
More from Chowder and Champions
- 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
- 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
- MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
- 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season
- Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win
With how he is moving in the outfield and what he has shown with his bat, Red Sox manager Alex Cora believes Cordero is a good bet to be ready to go when the team opens the 2021 campaign against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park.
"“He feels great,” Cora said, via MLB.com. “There’s a good chance he’ll be with us Opening Day. Let’s see how he reacts out of this one, but everybody is very positive with the way he’s been able to bounce back. The game in Tampa [on Friday], he hit a triple. He’s moving around in the outfield. He’s in a good position.”"
Franchy Cordero and the Red Sox outfield could shine
The projected outfield of Franchy Cordero, Alex Verdugo and Hunter Renfroe is no Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Andrew Benintendi defensively, but the trio is very capable of delivering with the bat.
In fact, if Cordero and Verdugo reach their ceiling talent wise, they could be major upgrades over Bradley Jr. and Benintendi at the plate. The Boston Red Sox will take that as long as the defense doesn’t take a dip too much.
Verdugo has shown a glimpse of what he can do in the outfield, but Franchy Cordero is both the enigma and X-factor in 2021 when it comes to the outfield.
With a nice combination of power and speed, he has the capability to make Red Sox fans forgive the loss of Bradley Jr and Benintendi unless he starts off the season by making mistakes or even struggling at the plate.
Next. Boston Red Sox: 3 surprise breakout candidates in 2021 MLB season. dark
While Cordero has looked good in Spring Training in limited action, the real test will be how he reacts and respond to the tough Boston media if he does not come out of the gate fast.
Although expectations are not high on the Boston Red Sox as a team, it is still a pretty tough market especially when a player is replacing a popular player.