Boston Red Sox: Breakout day for Franchy Cordero sparks promise
The Boston Red Sox may have a winning record and lead the American League East through the first month of the 2021 MLB season, but they are clearly losing the Andrew Benintendi trade made prior to the season, but that could be changing.
After slumping at the plate and looking lost in the field through much of his inaugural season with the Red Sox, left fielder Franchy Cordero had himself a day in sparking the team to an exciting 12-9 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon at Fenway Park.
Talk about having to work on your day off, Cordero was initially out of the lineup, but was forced back into the lineup after Kike Hernandez left the game in the first inning due to right hamstring tightness.
Boy, did he deliver.
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Breaking out of his 0-for-25 slump at the plate, Cordero triggered three hits, scored three runs and even showed off some flash in the outfield with a clutch shoestring catch in left field.
Boston Red Sox and Franchy Cordero all smiles
It was an all-around game on a Thursday afternoon in early May that not only has Red Sox fans smiling, but Cordero as well as finally he has found a way to contribute to the team.
"“Good to see him smile, contribute,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said after the game, via MLB.com. “He made a nice play in left field, too. It’s not easy. Hitting at this level is not easy. People think that he’s not putting [in the] work, but he’s been putting [in the] work and he was aggressive right away. I think that gave him confidence.”"
That confidence showed in a big way during a key moment in the game. Stepping up to the plate with the game tied in the eighth inning, Cordero avoided striking out at the plate by delivering a little roller down the third-base line that led to an error by Tigers infielder Jeimer Candelario producing the go-ahead run.
It wasn’t a loud hit, but given Cordero had 27 strikeouts in 64 at-bats leading up to that moment, making contract key for him in that spot and perhaps has now changed the game for a talented young player who is trying to find his niche on this Red Sox team.
In all, Cordero credits his teammates and a former Sox captain for keeping faith in him and helping him stay confident through the woes of struggle.
"“I was working hard with the coaches, spoke to a lot of guys,” Cordero said following the game. “A lot of my teammates came up to me and would try to give me some advice as well. Coaches such as [Jason] Varitek, he came up to me and spoke to me about hitting. Just everyone. It was a team effort in trying to get me right and I’m just happy that I was able to have a good game today.”"
It was just one game, but perhaps the start of Cordero putting up some competition in that Benintendi trade that is so far being won by the Kansas City Royals. Like the Mookie Betts deal landing Alex Verdugo and the team’s No. 2 prospect Jeter Downs, it may just take some time for things to pay off for the Boston Red Sox.
Next. 3 surprise breakout candidates in 2021 MLB season. dark
Let’s hope that is the case for Franchy Cordero. After the game he had in helping his team to a 12-9 comeback victory, the promise is alive…at least for now.