Sizing up the Padres’ 40-man roster, from A to Z, heading into the 2017 season.
ALLEN CORDOBA
- Position: Shortstop
- Acquired: In the 2016 Rule 5 Draft (originally signed April 2013 by the Cardinals)
- 2017 Opening Day age: 21
- Contract status: Must remain on Padres’ 25-man roster the entire season
- Key stats (rookie): .362 avg., .427 OBP, .495 SLG, 0 HRs, 18 RBIs, 49 runs, 22 steals, 19 strikeouts (50 games, 217 plate appearances)
Stat to note
0 – Number of games played above rookie ball.
Trending
Up – Cordoba signed for $7,500 in 2013 and played parts of four seasons in rookie ball before the Padres plucked the right-handed infielder out of the Cardinals system. An uber-aggressive move to be sure, the Padres are hoping Cordoba’s bat is advanced enough to at least hold down a bench spot, a role that he could fill well defensively due to range and quickness that should allow him to stick at shortstop long-term. Offensively, his profile is buoyed both by the Appalachian League batting title he won last year, the 21 extra-base hits he bunched among his 71 hits, his 22 steals and the 21 walks he piled up against 19 walks. Even without showing a ton of homer-power (just four in 767 minor league at-bats), Cordoba is a .309/.375/.395 hitter in parts of four seasons in rookie leagues and, as 21st-ranked prospect in the system according to MLB.com, is a steal for the organization if they can managed to hold onto him all year.
2017 outlook
As a Rule 5 draftee, Cordoba will have to remain on the Padres’ active roster all season and must be active (not on the disabled list) for at least 90 days to avoid having to offer him back to the Cardinals. Not having a definitive answer at shortstop (Jose Rondon, Luis Sardinas or Javier Guerra are the only others on the 40-man roster) won’t make that any easier, as the perceived starter at shortstop in the post-Everth Cabrera era has force the Padres to defer to their bench the last two seasons (see Alexi Amarista/Clint Barmes, Alexei Ramirez). Indeed, Cordoba may have to prove himself worthy of at least at-bats and defensive duty off the bench in Cactus League play to justifying using a valuable roster spot on him as its highly unlikely that the Opening Day shortstop, whomever he is, will win the job and run with it.
PADRES POWER RANKINGS
(Currently 40 players on 40-man roster)
- RHP Jhoulys Chacin
- LHP Ryan Buchter
- RHP Carter Capps
- C Christian Bethancourt
- 2B Carlos Asuaje
- RHP Paul Clemens
- OF Jabari Blash
- LHP Buddy Baumann
- CF Franchy Cordero
- SS Allen Cordoba
jeff.sanders@sduniontribune.com; Twitter: @sdutSanders
