Cordero coming around
First baseman controlling strike zone at a high level
When he was acquired in the Andrew Benintendi trade last year, the Red Sox lauded Franchy Cordero’s raw talent — a rare blend of power and speed — and what he could do when he put it all together.
There haven’t been many chances for Cordero to showcase that athleticism, but he’s shown glimpses of his potential in the two-plus weeks since being called up to the Sox.
Cordero exhibited it some on Monday, when he scored the Red Sox a run with his legs. In an impressive display of his skills, he crushed a Jake Odorizzi fastball high off the Monster — with an exit velocity of 104.3 mph that slammed off the wall, which would usually only be good for a wall-ball single — but he motored around first with a mission and slid into second with a double. He ultimately scored the go-ahead run.
Quality at-bats like that one were few and far between last season but are happening with more regularity since he was promoted in late April to replace Travis Shaw. Entering Tuesday, he had a .341 on-base percentage in 41 plate appearances since his promotion, a stretch that included six walks and just seven strikeouts. His strikeout rate has improved from 37.5% last season to just 17.1% to start this season, a credit to his vastly improved plate discipline and strike zone control.
“He’s been working hard,” Sox manager Alex Cora said. “He went to winter ball, did a good job down there, came to spring training with no expectations, just trying to get better. He did an amazing job this
spring … We’re going to keep getting him at bats. He keeps controlling the zone, getting on base and that’s something we need and he’s been doing that so far.”
Cordero is continuing to get starts — he made his sixth in the Red Sox’ last seven on Tuesday — as he keeps getting opportunities against right-handed pitching ahead of Bobby Dalbec, who has struggled to start the season. First base has mostly been a black hole in the Red Sox’ lineup but Cordero’s emergence is providing muchneeded production, and he’s gaining needed confidence.
“He won’t talk about it,” Cora said. “He’s a very humble kid, he just keeps his head down and keeps working but you can tell. Those atbats (Monday) were really good. … I know it’s been up and down and expectations. He’s not a prospect anymore, he’s 27, 28. It’s about contributing and doing your job and so
far he’s done that.”
Schreiber still impressing
John Schreiber has entered Cora’s circle of trust.
The right-handed reliever had seemed to be a temporary replacement, called up for the Toronto series as a fill-in when Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford couldn’t pitch and then when Rich Hill recently tested positive for COVID-19. But when Hill returned last weekend, the Red Sox chose to keep Schreiber around.
Schreiber had still yet to yield a run in seven appearances entering Tuesday night, which included his first career save last week in Atlanta, as he’s evolved into a secret weapon for Cora. In Monday’s win, he stranded two runners in the sixth with a big strikeout to end the inning. He was likely to be used again in the seventh before a lengthy rain delay.
“He’s a guy that we liked in spring training,” Cora said. “It’s one of those, rosters and all that stuff comes into consideration. I always said, the puzzle is not finalized the first day of opening day. The roster is finalized the last day in October, the last game in October.
“But we knew he was going to contribute. We knew he was going to be very important for us and he’s going to face lefties and righties and it’s a tough matchup so we like him. Where he was last year, compared to now, stuff-wise, it’s night and day. … The stuff that he took to get to this point is eye opening and we’re very proud of him.”
Cora was asked if there was a moment this season he realized a difference in Schreiber, and he pointed to what he’s heard from opposing teams and the improved quality of his sinker and four-seam fastball.
“If you don’t believe the stuff in the beginning but then you see Vladdy (Guerrero) with the swings and most of those guys, third basemen especially, they talk to Carlos (Febles) and they let you know how good or bad you are,” Cora said. “There’s been a lot of good feedback from the opposition and we love the stuff. When you throw strikes with that, you gain confidence and we trust those guys and so far he’s been amazing for us.”
Wacha set for return
It seems to be highly likely that Red Sox starter Michael Wacha will be ready to pitch in a game this weekend when he’s eligible to come off the injured list. Wacha pitched a two-inning, 35-pitch sim game on Monday and will throw another short bullpen session on Wednesday.
Wacha — who’s on the injured list with left intercostal irritation — is eligible to return Friday.
“It feels that way, yeah,” Cora said of Wacha returning this weekend. “I mean, I think yesterday was good. He came in today feeling good. Now one more step, it’s a short one, too, so then we’ll decide what we do.”