Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

las vegas 51s:

Chad Cordero working for return to big leagues with Las Vegas 51s

Las Vegas 51s Media Day

Steve Marcus

Las Vegas 51s pitcher Chad Cordero listens to a reporter’s question during media day at Cashman Field Tuesday, April 5, 2011.

51s vs. Grizzlies

KSNV coverage of Las Vegas 51s vs. Fresno Grizzlies, April 15, 2011.

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Beyond the Sun

Chad Cordero didn’t expect to be in the minor leagues at this stage of his baseball career.

Drafted in June 2003 with the 20th overall pick by the Montreal Expos out of Cal-State Fullerton, he earned a spot in the majors by late August. From college to Montreal in two months is very rare — but so was the ability of the talented relief pitcher.

“I was the right guy on the right team at the right time,” Cordero said.

Now, with 128 career saves under his belt and a wealth of experience, the 29-year-old former all-star is trying to work his way back to the big leagues with the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s. Las Vegas, the top affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, gave up five runs Friday in the ninth inning to fall 11-7 to the Fresno Grizzlies in the home opener at Cashman Field.

A near career-ending shoulder injury three years ago took a little velocity off Cordero’s pitches and forced him out of the closer role he previously thrived in. But he still has the experience to be a serviceable part of a big-league roster.

“He is not lighting up the radar gun anymore, but his command is phenomenal,” Las Vegas manager Marty Brown said. “I think consistency is the best thing for Chad. For him, right now, he is a guy who needs to get innings and pitch.”

Cordero, who because of the injury has only appeared in 14 innings of 15 big-league games the last three years, has been used in several roles for the 51s. But the 6-foot, 220-pound right-hander has started slow, pitching 5 and 2/3 innings with a 12.71 earned run average and no strikeouts in three appearances.

And with several early season roster changes and big-league promotions, Cordero had to pickup a spot-start April 11 at Sacramento. He gave up three earned runs in three innings — which is partially to blame for the inflated ERA.

Cordero, however, won’t complain about having to start.

“I will pitch wherever they need me. Whatever it takes to get back to the major leagues,” he said.

Cordero’s best season was in 2005 with the Washington Nationals. He led the National League with 47 saves, was selected to the all-star team and took fifth in the Cy Young Award voting.

From 2005 to 2007, Cordero had 113 saves, which was second-best in the National League behind Trevor Hoffman’s 131. But after missing all of 2008 to repair a labrum tear, Cordero had to reinvent himself on the mound — he’ll rely on hitting his spots, not the power pitches that made him an elite closer.

“It’s just a matter of getting in some games,” he said.

Cordero, a seven-year big-league veteran, pitched in nine games last year with the Seattle Mariners and also spent some time in 2010 with the New York Mets organization. He signed a free-agent deal in January with the Blue Jays.

“They have been very up front with me,” Cordero said. “I knew it would be a hard time making the team in the spring.”

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