Wil Cordero
Encyclopedia
Wilfredo Cordero Nieva is a former first baseman
/outfielder
in Major League Baseball
. He was best known as a member of the Montreal Expos
(-, -). Cordero made his Major League Baseball debut in 1992 and last played in . In addition to the Expos, Cordero has played for the Boston Red Sox
(-), Chicago White Sox
, Cleveland Indians , Pittsburgh Pirates
(2000), Florida Marlins
, and Washington Nationals
(2005). He batted and threw right-handed.
In a 14-season career, Cordero was a .273 hitter with 122 home run
s and 566 RBI
in 1247 games
.
17 times in 38 spring training
at bat
s, and was sent down to Triple-A Indianapolis
. He debuted with the big team after the All-Star
break and finished with a .314 batting average
in 45 games, despite missing significant stretches of playing time due to a sprained ankle, a strained middle finger, and a serious case of chicken pox.
A line drive hitter, he finished his first full season with a .248 average, 10 homers and 58 RBIs in . Meanwhile, he displayed excellent range at shortstop and a strong throwing arm. In the strike-shortened season, Cordero finished with a career-high .294 average, 15 home runs, 63 RBI, 65 runs
scored and 35 doubles
, and made the National League
All-Star team. The next year he batted .286.
Cordero was traded to the Boston Red Sox before the 1996 season. The Expos received pitchers Rheal Cormier
and Shayne Bennett
, and first baseman Ryan McGuire in the deal. In his first year in Boston, a pair of nagging injuries and the presence of John Valentin
at shortstop limited his playing time. Cordero was used at second base and as designated hitter
in only 59 games. His most productive season came in 1997, when he hit .281 and posted career-highs in home runs (18), RBI (72), runs (82), hits
(160) and games (140). However, Cordero drew the ire of fans after he was arrested on June 10, 1997, on domestic abuse charges. He was re-arrested for violating an order to stay away from his wife after being released on $200 bail. Later that month, the Boston Globe published court documents from Cordero's 1993 divorce from his first wife Wanda Mora in which she alleged that he had struck her "on numerous occasions" causing "bruises and bleeding", including when she was pregnant.http://ww1.sportsline.com/b/page/pressbox/archive/jun97/ryanb62797.htm Upon returning to the line up after an eight game absence, Cordero was booed by the Boston fans. On November 4, 1997, Cordero pled guilty to the charges and received a 90-day sentence, suspended for two years. At the end of the 1997 season, the Red Sox released Cordero and he signed with the Chicago White Sox.
Between 1998 and 2004, Cordero played for five teams, including two stints with the Cleveland Indians and a full season with his former club, Montreal. He suffered new injuries, had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in 2004, and some personal problems, including domestic abuse, that have plagued his career. Cordero was back in 2005, with the new-look Washington Nationals franchise.
On, July 25, 2005, the Nationals placed Cordero on waivers for the purpose of giving the veteran his unconditional release. The 33-year-old Cordero, who had been bothered by knee problems, batted just .118 with two RBI in 29 games that season for the Nationals. On July 27, the New York Mets signed Cordero to a minor league contract and assigned him to their Triple-A affiliate, the Norfolk Tides
. The Mets released Cordero on August 15 after he hit just .129 for the Tides.
After not playing at all in , the New York Mets
signed Cordero to a minor league contract on March 7, , but released him during spring training. Cordero works as a baseball coach during the summers at Kutsher's Sports Academy in Great Barrington, MA.
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
/outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He was best known as a member of the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
(-, -). Cordero made his Major League Baseball debut in 1992 and last played in . In addition to the Expos, Cordero has played for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(-), Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, Cleveland Indians , Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(2000), Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
, and Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
(2005). He batted and threw right-handed.
In a 14-season career, Cordero was a .273 hitter with 122 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 566 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 1247 games
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
.
Professional career
Cordero had an opportunity to make the Montreal Expos roster on Opening Day in 1992, less than four years after he signed with the team at the age of sixteen, but he struck outStrikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
17 times in 38 spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s, and was sent down to Triple-A Indianapolis
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
. He debuted with the big team after the All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
break and finished with a .314 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
in 45 games, despite missing significant stretches of playing time due to a sprained ankle, a strained middle finger, and a serious case of chicken pox.
A line drive hitter, he finished his first full season with a .248 average, 10 homers and 58 RBIs in . Meanwhile, he displayed excellent range at shortstop and a strong throwing arm. In the strike-shortened season, Cordero finished with a career-high .294 average, 15 home runs, 63 RBI, 65 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
scored and 35 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, and made the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
All-Star team. The next year he batted .286.
Cordero was traded to the Boston Red Sox before the 1996 season. The Expos received pitchers Rheal Cormier
Rheal Cormier
Rhéal Paul Cormier is a Canadian former Major League Baseball pitcher.He attended Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick, Rhode Island, and was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 6th round of the 1988 amateur draft...
and Shayne Bennett
Shayne Bennett
Shayne Anthony Bennett was an Australian rules footballer who played for North Adelaide Football Club in the South Australian National Football League , and a right-handed pitcher, who last played in Major League Baseball for the Montreal Expos on 15 August 1999.The younger brother of fellow North...
, and first baseman Ryan McGuire in the deal. In his first year in Boston, a pair of nagging injuries and the presence of John Valentin
John Valentin
John William Valentin is a former shortstop and third baseman in Major League Baseball. He played most of his major league career with the Boston Red Sox, with his final season being for the New York Mets. He batted and threw right-handed...
at shortstop limited his playing time. Cordero was used at second base and as designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
in only 59 games. His most productive season came in 1997, when he hit .281 and posted career-highs in home runs (18), RBI (72), runs (82), hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(160) and games (140). However, Cordero drew the ire of fans after he was arrested on June 10, 1997, on domestic abuse charges. He was re-arrested for violating an order to stay away from his wife after being released on $200 bail. Later that month, the Boston Globe published court documents from Cordero's 1993 divorce from his first wife Wanda Mora in which she alleged that he had struck her "on numerous occasions" causing "bruises and bleeding", including when she was pregnant.http://ww1.sportsline.com/b/page/pressbox/archive/jun97/ryanb62797.htm Upon returning to the line up after an eight game absence, Cordero was booed by the Boston fans. On November 4, 1997, Cordero pled guilty to the charges and received a 90-day sentence, suspended for two years. At the end of the 1997 season, the Red Sox released Cordero and he signed with the Chicago White Sox.
Between 1998 and 2004, Cordero played for five teams, including two stints with the Cleveland Indians and a full season with his former club, Montreal. He suffered new injuries, had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in 2004, and some personal problems, including domestic abuse, that have plagued his career. Cordero was back in 2005, with the new-look Washington Nationals franchise.
On, July 25, 2005, the Nationals placed Cordero on waivers for the purpose of giving the veteran his unconditional release. The 33-year-old Cordero, who had been bothered by knee problems, batted just .118 with two RBI in 29 games that season for the Nationals. On July 27, the New York Mets signed Cordero to a minor league contract and assigned him to their Triple-A affiliate, the Norfolk Tides
Norfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. They play at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Since 2007 they have been a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles; prior to that, they had a 38-year affiliation with the New York Mets.-Franchise history:The...
. The Mets released Cordero on August 15 after he hit just .129 for the Tides.
After not playing at all in , the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
signed Cordero to a minor league contract on March 7, , but released him during spring training. Cordero works as a baseball coach during the summers at Kutsher's Sports Academy in Great Barrington, MA.