Franchy Cordero’s long wait to get into a Grapefruit League game finally ended, and when the first pitch came his way from Braves righty Bryse Wilson, he belted it into left field for a single.

Boston’s new slugger was perhaps a little too excited to be back on the field. When Bobby Dalbec followed with a single to right, Cordero took a wide turn around second and was nearly thrown out as he retreated back to the bag.

Forgive him for his enthusiasm. Cordero has missed far too much time due to various injuries over the past few years, then was placed on the COVID-19 injured list, with the subsequent protocols he needed to be cleared delaying his first Spring Training for the Red Sox.

“Yeah, it was very emotional,” Cordero said during Boston’s 8-2 loss to the Braves. “You know, obviously it's something like I said, I've been waiting to get this opportunity, to be able to play again. So getting that chance, is something that I'm really grateful for.”

Red Sox manager Alex Cora actually liked seeing Cordero so aggressive on the bases.

“Actually I was saying, ‘Go to third,’” Cora said. “But it was a good athletic move. He was able to stop and go back, which is a good sign. He’s moving well. It’s just a matter of stamina, his conditioning. It’s not the same running sprints as it is playing seven innings in the outfield, so hopefully we can get there soon enough and he’ll be OK.”

Cordero, serving as the designated hitter, grounded out in his second and final at-bat on Saturday.

“It felt good,” Cordero said. “Obviously it was something that I've been waiting for and finally to be able to get the chance to be out there, it felt great being there.”

Now the question is: Will Cordero be on the field when the Red Sox open their season against the Orioles at Fenway Park on April 1?

“Obviously that's something that we're working on together as a team, you know, working with the trainers and trying to get ready. But that's the goal right now is to be able to be ready to be available for Opening Day,” said Cordero.

For the Red Sox, it is a delicate issue because of Cordero’s injury history. They don’t want to rush him for Opening Day, only to pay for it with a setback.

The plan is for Cordero to get a down day on Sunday and then make his first start in left field on Monday.

“We have to be cautious,” said Cora. “We know the player. We have to make sure he feels right, he's able to bounce back in the outfield. And obviously playing the outfield is not five innings. Now guys are playing seven [innings], playing back to back. We have guys playing three games in a row. We have to build into that. If we move quickly this week there's a chance.”

Staying with 14 pitchers
With Cordero gaining more steam in his quest to be ready for Opening Day and Christian Arroyo and Michael Chavis both playing well, there is heated competition for the final spot on the bench between those two players.

One way for Cordero to be active and for Arroyo and Chavis to both make the squad would be for the Red Sox to carry 13 pitchers instead of 14. However, Cora said that isn’t going to happen.

“I think with the versatility that we have, it helps going with 14,” said Cora. “We know the red flags, the question marks with the pitching staff, we have to protect them. That's the route that we're taking.”

In a rush, Pérez struggles
After two sparkling outings to start the spring in which he didn’t allow one run and had just one walk, Martín Pérez gave up five runs and five walks in five innings against the Braves on Saturday.

“I was rushed with my mechanics a little bit, my front side,” Pérez said. “I threw strikes. I think the fastball in was a little bit [too] in today. But I feel strong and that was maybe my upper body was too fast a little bit. But I’ll be OK. Just trying to get ready. Let’s see how my last two are, if I start getting better.”

“The stuff was actually better. He hit 96 mph at one point,” said Cora. “One thing’s for sure, the positive is the stuff was better today. He feels strong. He just has to get back to being aggressive in the zone and get people out.”

Valdez trying to find it
Of the many low-risk pitching acquisitions that chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom made in 2020, the one that has paid off the most so far is righty Phillips Valdez, who was selected off waivers from the Mariners. Valdez was one of the few reliable pitchers the Red Sox had last year, posting a 3.26 ERA in 24 games.

This spring, Valdez’s outings have not been pretty. He gave up a hit, a walk and two earned runs in one inning on Saturday. In five appearances, Valdez has six walks and a 9.53 ERA.

“He’s struggled with command. The whole spring, he’s been falling behind hitters,” said Cora. “He hasn’t thrown strikes. He needs to be more aggressive. He’s got two pitches, fastball and changeup. The changeup is a good one. The fastball has good spin, but he lives and dies with the changeup and hasn’t had command the whole spring.”

As a candidate for one of the last spots in the bullpen, Valdez needs to fix his issues in short order.

Up next
Righty Nick Pivetta gets the start for Sunday’s home game against the Pirates. Pivetta has been a bright spot of Spring Training so far, giving up three runs over nine innings in his three starts. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who got the day off on Saturday, should be back in the lineup. First pitch at JetBlue Park is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET. Watch all the action live on MLB.TV or listen live on MLB Gameday Audio.