Jimmy Cordero is a Dominican right-handed reliever from San Cristóbal who has built a quiet, durable career across Major League Baseball and the Dominican winter league. He made his MLB debut on August 2, 2018, and has since pitched for the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees — proving along the way that late bloomers can absolutely hold their own in a big-league bullpen.
Quick Facts
- Full name: Jimmy Cordero
- Position: Pitcher (Reliever)
- Bats / Throws: Right / Right
- Height / Weight: 6’4″ / 245 lbs
- Born: October 19, 1991 — San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic
- MLB Debut: August 2, 2018
- Winter ball: Gigantes del Cibao (LIDOM, 2026–27)
Background
Cordero grew up in San Cristóbal, a city that has produced no shortage of big-league talent. He worked his way through the minor leagues and Dominican winter ball before reaching the majors at 27 — older than most pitching prospects, but with the maturity and command that often define Dominican players who make it to the top level. That experience showed immediately once he got his shot.
MLB Career
Cordero’s best MLB season came in 2019, when he posted a 2.89 ERA with a 0.99 WHIP over 37.1 innings, striking out 31 batters. Those numbers made him one of the more reliable arms in his bullpen that year. The 2020 shortened season was rougher — a 6.08 ERA in 26.2 innings with the White Sox — but he bounced back convincingly in 2023 with the Yankees, going 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA, 34 strikeouts, and a 1.07 WHIP over 32.2 innings. That kind of rebound at 31 says a lot about his makeup.
MLB Stats at a Glance
- 2023 — New York Yankees: 3.86 ERA | 3-2 | 34 K | 1.07 WHIP | 32.2 IP
- 2020 — Chicago White Sox: 6.08 ERA | 1-2 | 22 K | 1.58 WHIP | 26.2 IP
- 2019: 2.89 ERA | 1-1 | 31 K | 0.99 WHIP | 37.1 IP
Winter Ball
Cordero has been a fixture in the LIDOM for years, splitting time between the Leones del Escogido and the Gigantes del Cibao. His 2025–26 winter split told two very different stories: a 5.65 ERA in 14.1 innings with Escogido (though he did rack up 4 saves), versus a 1.08 ERA in 8.1 innings with Cibao — dominant stuff. The previous winter with Escogido he posted a solid 2.45 ERA over 11 innings. Now in the 2026–27 campaign, he’s back with Cibao, carrying a 3.18 ERA with 1 save through 6 appearances.
LIDOM Stats at a Glance
- 2026–27 — Gigantes del Cibao: 3.18 ERA | 0-1 | 1 SV | 6 K | 5.2 IP
- 2025–26 — Gigantes del Cibao: 1.08 ERA | 0-0 | 1 SV | 11 K | 8.1 IP
- 2025–26 — Leones del Escogido: 5.65 ERA | 1-1 | 4 SV | 15 K | 14.1 IP
- 2024–25 — Leones del Escogido: 2.45 ERA | 0-0 | 1 SV | 10 K | 11.0 IP
Still Going at 35
At 35, Cordero is proof that consistency and experience can stretch a pitching career well beyond what the prospect rankings ever suggested. He keeps showing up in the winter, keeps posting competitive numbers, and keeps himself in the conversation. For a reliever from San Cristóbal who didn’t debut in the majors until 27, that’s a career worth respecting.
