Franchy Cordero Vargas (born September 2, 1994) is a Dominican professional
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...
outfielder
An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball or softball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder. As an outfielder, their duty is to catch ...
and
first baseman
A first baseman, abbreviated 1B, is the player on a baseball or softball team who fields the area nearest first base, the first of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. The first baseman is responsible for the majori ...
for the
Toros de Tijuana
The Toros de Tijuana (English: Tijuana Bulls) are a Mexican baseball team based in Tijuana, Mexico, that competes in the Mexican Baseball League. The team plays its home games at Estadio Chevron.
Team history
Original Attempt
The franchise w ...
of the
Mexican League
The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports league in the country.
The league has 20 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games ...
. He has previously played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...
(MLB) for the
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...
,
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...
,
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
, and
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
, and in
Nippon Professional Baseball
is a professional baseball league and the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning simply ''Professional Baseball''; outside of Japan, NPB is often referred to as "Japanese baseball".
The roots of the league ...
(NPB) for the
Saitama Seibu Lions
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based north of Tokyo in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture. Before 1979, they were based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, in Kyushu. The team is owned by a subsidiary of Seibu Railway ...
.
Career
San Diego Padres
Cordero signed with the
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...
as an international free agent in November 2011. He made his professional debut in 2012 with the
Dominican Summer League Padres
The Dominican Summer League Padres or DSL Padres are a Minor League Baseball team based in the Dominican Republic. The Padres compete in the Dominican Summer League as a rookie-level affiliate of the San Diego Padres. As an independent affiliate, ...
,
batting .270 with one
home run
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the Baseball (ball), ball is hit in such a way that the batting (baseball), batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safe (baseball), safely in one play without any error ( ...
and 38
runs batted in
A run batted in or runs batted in (RBI) is a statistic in baseball and softball that credits a batter for making a play that allows a run to be scored (except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play). For example, if th ...
(RBIs) in 61 games played. In 2013, he played for the
Arizona League Padres
The Arizona Complex League Padres or ACL Padres are a Minor League Baseball team based in Peoria, Arizona. The Padres compete in the Arizona Complex League as a rookie-level affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The team plays its home games at Peor ...
where he
slashed
Ash are a Northern Irish rock band formed in Downpatrick, County Down in 1992 by vocalist and guitarist Tim Wheeler, bassist Mark Hamilton and drummer Rick McMurray. As a three-piece, they released mini-album '' Trailer'' in 1994 and full-lengt ...
.333/.381/.511 with three home runs and 17 RBIs in 35 games. Cordero started 2014 with the
Fort Wayne TinCaps
The Fort Wayne TinCaps are a Minor League Baseball team based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The TinCaps compete in the Midwest League as the High-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The team plays its home games at Parkview Field. The TinCaps won the ...
and was demoted to the
Eugene Emeralds
The Eugene Emeralds (nicknamed the Ems) are a Minor League Baseball team in the northwest United States, based in Eugene, Oregon. The Emeralds are members of the Northwest League and the High-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Eugene plays ...
during the season. In 83 games between the two teams, he batted .255 with nine home runs and 44 RBIs.
Cordero returned to Fort Wayne in 2015, and he compiled a .243 batting average with five home runs and 34 RBIs in 126 games. Cordero opened the 2016 season with the
Lake Elsinore Storm
The Lake Elsinore Storm are a Minor League Baseball team based in Lake Elsinore, California. The Storm compete in the California League as the Single-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The team plays its home games at Lake Elsinore Diamond, w ...
. In July, he was promoted to the
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a Minor League Baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The Missions compete in the Texas League as the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The team plays its home games at Nelson W. W ...
. He also played four games for the Triple-A
El Paso Chihuahuas
The El Paso Chihuahuas are a Minor League Baseball team based in El Paso, Texas. The Chihuahuas compete in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) as the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The team plays its home games at Sou ...
at the end of the season. In 137 games between the three clubs, he batted .290/.344/.450 with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs. The Padres added him to their 40-man roster after the 2016 season.
Cordero began the 2017 season with El Paso. The Padres promoted Cordero to the Major Leagues on May 27, 2017, as regular center fielder
Manuel Margot went to the disabled list with a strained calf. Cordero made his major league debut that day,
striking out
''Striking Out'' is an Television in the Republic of Ireland, Irish television legal drama television series, broadcast on RTÉ, that first aired on 1 January 2017, based on ''The Good Wife'' by Robert King (writer), Robert and Michelle King. Prod ...
against
Stephen Strasburg
Stephen James Strasburg (; born July 20, 1988) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who spent his entire 13-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the Washington Nationals. He is a three-time Major League Baseball All-Star G ...
as a
pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter (PH) is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead (not in active play); the manager may use any player who has not yet entered the game as a substitute. Unlike basketball, A ...
. Cordero started hot, collecting 19 hits in his first 17 games, but then only had one hit in his final 10 games before he was sent back to El Paso upon Margot's return. Cordero returned to the Padres for 3 more games in July when Margot was on the paternity list but finished the season with El Paso. In 93 games for El Paso, Cordero slashed .326/.369/.603 with 17 home runs and 64 RBIs, and in 30 games for the Padres he batted .228/.276/.424 with three home runs and nine RBIs, making 22 starts in center field and one in left field.
Cordero began 2018 on the
disabled list
In Major League Baseball (MLB), the injured list (IL) is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players. Before the 2019 Major League Baseball season, 2019 season, it was known as the disabl ...
with a groin injury and joined the Padres after he was activated in early April. He was the Padres everyday starter in left field before he was sent to the disabled list on May 28 with forearm soreness. Cordero began a rehab assignment in El Paso in June, but pain in his right elbow led to the diagnosis of a bone spur. Surgery on the elbow ended Cordero's Padres season, but he played in the
Dominican Winter League
The Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League ( or LIDOM) is a professional baseball Winter league baseball, winter league consisting of six teams spread across the Dominican Republic; it is the highest level of professional baseball played ...
. He finished the regular season hitting .237/.307/.439 with 9 home runs, making 22 starts in left field, 10 in center, and 4 in right. On April 20, he hit the second-longest home run in MLB in 2018, at .
Kansas City Royals
On July 16, 2020, the Padres traded Cordero and
Ronald Bolaños
Ronald Bolaños (born August 23, 1996) is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres and Kansas City Royals.
Career San Diego Padres
Before coming t ...
to the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...
in exchange for
Tim Hill. On August 9, 2020, he was placed on the 10-day injured list, but was then transferred to the 45-day injured list on August 10, after suffering a wrist injury. Overall with the
2020 Kansas City Royals, Cordero batted .211 with two home runs and seven RBIs in 16 games.
Boston Red Sox
On February 10, 2021, the Royals traded Cordero to the
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
as part of a three-team trade in which the Royals acquired
Andrew Benintendi and cash considerations. The Red Sox also acquired
Josh Winckowski
Joshua Winckowski (born June 28, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). Listed at and , he throws and bats right-handed.
Career Toronto Blue Jays
Winckowski is from Toledo, Ohio ...
and three
players to be named later, and the
New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...
acquired
Khalil Lee
Khalil Rashad Lee (born June 26, 1998) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets. He made his MLB debut in 2021.
Career Amateur career
Lee g ...
. During spring training, Cordero was on the COVID-19 related injured list from February 22 until March 30. After batting .179 in 34 games with Boston, Cordero was optioned to the
Triple-A Worcester Red Sox
The Worcester Red Sox (nicknamed the WooSox) are a professional minor league baseball team based in Worcester, Massachusetts. Beginning play in 2021, the team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, succeeding the Pawtucket Red Sox. Th ...
on May 27. After hitting .329 in 44 games in Triple-A, Cordero was recalled to Boston on July 22. He was optioned back to Worcester on August 16, and recalled briefly in early September. Overall during the regular season, Cordero appeared in 48 games for Boston, batting .189,
and 78 games for Worcester, where he had a .300 average.
On October 21, Cordero was
designated for assignment
Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must, within seven days, return the pla ...
by the Red Sox; he cleared waivers and was assigned outright to Triple-A four days later.
In spring training in 2022, Cordero competed with
Travis Shaw
Travis Richard Shaw (born April 16, 1990) is an American former professional baseball infielder who played eight seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for three MLB teams—the Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays� ...
,
Rob Refsnyder,
Christin Stewart,
Jonathan Araúz
Jonathan Aldair Araúz (; born August 3, 1998) is a Panamanian professional baseball shortstop and second baseman for the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox, ...
, and
Yolmer Sánchez for one of two available spots on Boston's Opening Day roster. He began the season with Worcester, then was added to Boston's active roster on April 29. Cordero was optioned back to Triple-A on August 2, when the team made several trade deadline moves. Cordero was activated for Boston's neutral-site game of August 21, the
MLB Little League Classic
The MLB Little League Classic is an annual Major League Baseball (MLB) specialty game held in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, during the Little League World Series, first contested during the edition of that event. The series is part of MLB's effo ...
, then remained with the team, as
Eric Hosmer
Eric John Hosmer (born October 24, 1989) is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago Cubs. Internationally, Hosmer ...
was placed on the injured list prior to Boston's next game. Cordero was placed on the 60-day injured list on September 7, ending his season, due to a right ankle sprain sustained in a game two days prior.
For the season, he appeared in 84 games for Boston and batted .219 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs while playing defensively at first base and in all three outfield positions.
[ He was non-tendered and became a free agent on November 18, 2022.
]
Baltimore Orioles
On December 2, 2022, Cordero signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...
organization. Cordero hit .413 with two home runs in 46 spring training at-bats for Baltimore, but was released by the team on March 27, 2023.
New York Yankees
On March 30, 2023, Cordero signed a split contract with the New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
that would pay him $1 million in the major leagues and $180,000 in the minor leagues. On April 7, he hit a three-run homer at Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards, commonly known as Camden Yards, is a ballpark in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the home of Major League Baseball (MLB)'s Baltimore Orioles, and the first of the Baseball park#Retro-classic ballparks, "retro" major le ...
as his first home run for the Yankees. He went on to become the first player in Yankees history to record four or more homers and 11 or more RBIs in his first seven games with the team. In 24 games for the Yankees, he hit .188/.211/.478 with 6 home runs and 13 RBI. Following the season on November 2, Cordero was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, often abbreviated to SWB RailRiders, are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. They are located in Moosic, Pen ...
. He elected free agency on November 6.
Saitama Seibu Lions
On December 6, 2023, Cordero signed with the Saitama Seibu Lions
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based north of Tokyo in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture. Before 1979, they were based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, in Kyushu. The team is owned by a subsidiary of Seibu Railway ...
of Nippon Professional Baseball
is a professional baseball league and the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning simply ''Professional Baseball''; outside of Japan, NPB is often referred to as "Japanese baseball".
The roots of the league ...
. In 23 games for the Lions in 2024, he slashed .129/.151/.200 with one home run and four RBI. On October 14, 2024, the Lions announced they would not be renewing Cordero's contract for the 2025 season, thus making him a free agent.
Washington Nationals
On January 15, 2025, the Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. They play their home games at Na ...
signed Cordero to a minor league contract. In 44 appearances for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They are located in Rochester, New York, and play their home games at Innovative Fie ...
, he batted .213/.289/.333 with four home runs and 17 RBI. Cordero was released by the Nationals organization on June 10.
Toros de Tijuana
On June 15, 2025, Cordero signed with the Toros de Tijuana
The Toros de Tijuana (English: Tijuana Bulls) are a Mexican baseball team based in Tijuana, Mexico, that competes in the Mexican Baseball League. The team plays its home games at Estadio Chevron.
Team history
Original Attempt
The franchise w ...
of the Mexican League
The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports league in the country.
The league has 20 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games ...
.
Scouting report
Cordero was once considered to have elite speed, leading all the minor leagues in triples in 2016 and 2017, and ranking in the top 3 percent of qualified major league players in sprint speed in 2017. However, his sprint speed in his most recent MLB season (2023) was only in the 53rd percentile. He has also shown elite power, ranking 35th in average batted ball exit velocity in 2017, and 20 percent of his batted balls exiting at or above .
Personal life
Cordero is a second cousin to Socrates Brito
Socrates Orel Brito (born September 6, 1992) is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder for El Águila de Veracruz of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Toronto Blue J ...
, who has played in MLB and the KBO League
The KBO League () is a professional baseball league in South Korea. The league comprises ten teams. The KBO League was founded with six franchises in 1982 and is the most popular sports league in South Korea. The Kia Tigers are the most success ...
.
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cordero, Franchy
1994 births
Living people
Arizona League Padres players
Boston Red Sox players
Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in the United States
Dominican Summer League Padres players
El Paso Chihuahuas players
Eugene Emeralds players
Fort Wayne TinCaps players
Kansas City Royals players
Lake Elsinore Storm players
Leones del Escogido players
Major League Baseball outfielders
Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic
21st-century Dominican Republic sportsmen
New York Yankees players
Baseball players from Azua Province
Peoria Javelinas players
Rochester Red Wings players
San Antonio Missions players
San Diego Padres players
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders players
Worcester Red Sox players