Cordell Opens Eyes In Rangers System
ARLINGTON–No player in the Texas League was hotter longer to start the 2016 season than Ryan Cordell was for Double-A Frisco. Naturally, the outfielder was the MVP of the league’s all-star game.
Cordell, 24, collected a home run and four RBIs to lead the Southern Division to an 8-5 victory. The performance capped a big first half for Cordell, who reached base in 32 consecutive games earlier in the season.
He hit .269/.322/.506 with 17 home runs and a TL-leading 58 RBIs through 86 games.
The strong first half served as an encore to his first big league spring training, during which he impressed Rangers coaches with his athletic ability and put himself on the prospect radar despite being overshadowed in a camp that also included Nomar Mazara, Joey Gallo and Lewis Brinson.
That experience helped launch Cordell into the season.
“I had a good spring, so I took that confidence into the season, and I’ve just tried to keep my focus there,” said Cordell, an 11th-round pick out of Liberty in 2013. “There’s really nothing mechanical. It’s just being on time (with my swing), not giving any at-bats away and just being focused.”
Because Brinson hit the disabled list twice with a shoulder injury, Cordell had played more games in center field (37) than left (25) or right (17). That was the case last season, too, after he started the season playing some shortstop at high Class A High Desert.
The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Cordell batted .311 in the California League and was promoted to Frisco, where he hit just .211. But he received an invitation to big league spring training, where he showed that he can do more than just hit.
The Rangers liked the way Cordell played defense and were wowed by his speed. He did it all in the first half for Frisco.
“He’s had a great year,” general managers Jon Daniels said. “He’s always been supremely athletic and a plus outfielder at all three spots. Offensively, the consistency of his at-bats has really taken a step this year.”
RANGER ROUNDUP
• Triple-A lefthander Michael Roth threw a complete-game two-hitter for Round Rock on June 26. Signed as a minor league free agent, Roth led the Pacific Coast League with a 2.58 ERA through mid-July.
• The Rangers claimed 29-year-old lefthander Eric Surkamp on waivers from the Athletics on June 29. He could have been a big league rotation option had the Rangers not granted him his release so that he could play in the Korean major league.
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