Allen Cordoba Stats & Scouting Report

AB	42
AVG	.31
OBP	.431
SLG	.381
HR	1

Full name Allen Octavio Córdoba
Born 12/06/1995 in Changuinola, Panama
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 235 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Debut 04/03/2017

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Cordoba signed for just $7,500 as part of the Cardinals' 2013 international class and was more raw than many of his fellow Panamanians after growing up in the remote northwestern part of the country near the Costa Rica border. He needed more development time as a result but busted out in his third year in Rookie ball, winning Gulf Coast League MVP honors in 2015. Cordoba followed up by winning the Appalachian League batting title (.362) at Rookie-level Johnson City in 2016. The Padres selected him with the third pick of the Rule 5 draft at the 2016 Winter Meetings. He had been Rule 5 eligible only because his initial contract with St. Louis had been voided. Cordoba controls the barrel well and shows exceptional strike-zone discipline, allowing him to wait for a hittable pitch and drive it to the gaps. His offensive game is enhanced with above-average speed that allows him to leg out infield hits and steal bases efficiently. He has no power present or projectable, however. Defensively he can stick at shortstop with good short-range quickness and plus arm strength, though he struggles with accuracy. Cordoba is nowhere near ready for the majors, but the Padres will try to hide him at the end of their bench until they can send him down to the minors for further development in 2018.
Cordoba earns frequent comparisons in the organization with Edmundo Sosa because both hail from Panama and both are Rookie-level shortstops. Sosa has bigger tools and more experience, but Cordoba established himself as a legitimate prospect in 2015, earning MVP honors in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Cordoba has added considerable strength to his swing since signing, but he impressed the Cardinals as an amateur with his bat control and knack for contact. He played third base in extended spring training in deference to Sosa, but he slid to short in the GCL, where he was erratic defensively but has the tools to stay in the infield. He has a plus if inaccurate arm, short-area quickness that produces strong range and improving footwork. Cordoba's offensive game is more polished than his defense thanks to his approach and strike-zone judgment, and he has above-average speed that helps him steal bases and leg out infield hits. His power will be below-average but should play to the gaps. Cordoba is a middleinfield prospect with some offensive ability, and he has the bat to jump to low Class A Peoria for 2016.

Minor League Top Prospects

While he wasn't a high-profile international prospect, Cordoba opened eye this year by hitting .362 to win the Appy League batting title. He has made slow progress since turning pro in 2013, however, by spending two seasons in the Dominican Summer League and now two in domestic Rookie ball. Evaluators noted Cordoba has an unconventional swing and setup. Despite that, he made consistent, authoritative contact, a testament to his pitch recognition and bat-to-ball ability. He built his high batting average with hard, low-trajectory line drives and not a series of bloop hits. He showed an aggressive approach and looked to do damage early counts, but he has a sound understanding of the strike zone for a young player. Cordoba has a chance to stick at shortstop, though he doesn't have the standard, quick-twitch athleticism typically found in shortstops at the highest level. Cordoba has an average arm and near-average range. He is a plus runner and knows how to use his speed on the basepaths.