Skip to main content

PhoulBallz Interview: BlueClaws OF Cord Sandberg

Cord Sandberg, image- Jay Floyd
Lakewood outfielder Cord Sandberg is off to a quiet start this season in the Class A Sally League. The 20-year-old, through 24 games, is batting .235 with three doubles, eight RBI with a stolen base.

Praised by coaches for his toolsy skill set, his leadership qualities and his professionalism, the Phillies have high hopes for the 2013 third round draft selection.

Recently, I spoke with Cord about his game, his manager, his roommate and more. Read ahead for that full interview with the lefty batting Florida native, who is not related to Phils manager Ryne Sandberg.


-I've heard some great feedback on you with the coaches citing you as a leader for the team. When you've the coaches really believing in you and maybe teammates looking to you, even at 20 years old, as a leader, what does that mean to you?

That definitely means a lot. As far as other players looking up to me, I mean playing quarterback in high school, there are leadership qualities that kind of comes with playing that position. You know, baseball..I'm in the outfield, I just try to- I'm not really a vocal guy. I'm not really a big pump-up guy. I try to play the game the right way and I try to lead by example and hopefully, that shows with my effort on the field.

-If you were going to scout your own game, what would you tell me?

I'm an outfield guy and I think my arm is strong enough to make the throws I have to. It's not unbelievable by any means, but I feel it's good enough to get the job done out there. From a hitting standpoint, I'm not- in little league I was a power guy, but you know as I've developed, I've kind of grown to being a gap-to-gap guy and I can be a power guy, but I'm not really focused on home runs and things like that. I'm just trying to hit the ball hard and go gap-to-gap.


I'm trying to improve on the base paths, because speed wise, I'm fast enough to steal bags, but it's more than that with base running. It's all about getting jumps and different things. So, I mean, five tools are there, but I've just got to develop them and see what happens in the future here and try to improve every year.

-So with the goal to improve and get things clicking, how do you feel about how you've performed as a pro thus far? Is there any level of dissatisfaction?

No. I've been happy with what I've been able to do. I definitely didn't come into the game thinking I was going to dominate or have all these flashy numbers right away. And, you know, just talking with the guys in our organization, Shawn (Williams) and (Chad) Tracy our hitting guy, it's really just trusting the process and not really getting too caught up in numbers. Obviously, it's nice to hit .300 and do this or that. But it's more so about trusting to process and just finding a way to barrel stuff up and have confidence at the plate. The (big) numbers are nice, but they're a byproduct of doing it the right way.

-Your manager this year with Lakewood Shawn Williams follows you up a level from short-season A level Williamsport.  Is that helpful for you to stick with the same manager?
It's kind of nice because Shawn, I was with him last year in Williamsport.  So, to have the same guy, obviously, you know, whatever manager you have, you get to know him and try to do what you can, but having the same guy, Shawn knows the game, so I try to pick his brain and we all do.  It's really good having a guy that always helping with your confidence and he's a young guy which helps him relate to us too. 

-What's your excitement level to be playing in a full-season league this year?

I think we're all pretty excited. I'm staying with Derek Campbell and Rhys Hoskins, we're staying with the same host family, so I've been around those guys a lot and we're just definitely excited about playing baseball over the summer here in Lakewood up and down the South Atlantic League. We've got a good group of guys, good camaraderie with this bunch and I'm excited to be in the dugout, cheering these guys on and just feeding off each other.

-I asked your teammate Rhys Hoskins, "Who is fun? Who should I talk to?" He told me you. Why? What's so fun about you?

(Laughs). I can't say. I'm not sure. You'd have to ask him that. You know, we stayed with the same host family last year with Williamsport and I have a great friendship with Rhys. He's an absolutely great guy and is a great player. We have a lot of things in common, we get along, we laugh at the same stupid stuff, we kind of have the same view on baseball and life in general, so he's a great guy to spend my time with.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Diekman a Late Addition to Mesa AFL Roster

On Wednesday, Phillies lefty pitching prospect Jacob Diekman made his Arizona Fall League debut. Diekman, who was drafted in the 30th round of the 2007 amateur draft, was assigned to Mesa late, in order to increase his 2010 innings total, according to Mesa hitting coach Mark Parent, who managed Diekman in Lakewood this past season. Diekman, 23, posted a 2-0 record with 1.90 ERA in 21 games with Class A Lakewood before being promoted to High-A Clearwater on June 24th. In 24 games with the Threshers, Diekman went 0-2 with a 3.66 ERA. Combined, Diekman tossed 55 2/3 innings and held opponents to a .187 batting average against at two levels in 2010. However, after not pitching in an official game since he threw a shutout inning to wrap up the Clearwater season on September 5th, Diekman was unable to record an out as all seven batters he faced reached base, six with hits, one on an error. Diekman was charged with 5 earned runs in the outing. Diekman had spent time at instructional ball from

2022 Phillies Top Prospects Countdown: #24 RHP Cristian Hernandez

Venezuelan born right-hander Cristian Hernandez has begun to earn recognition as one of the Phillies most promising pitching prospects. Signed as a 16-year-old in 2017 for a reported $120,000, Hernandez got his professional career started the following summer as a starter for the Phillies' Red Dominican Summer League club.  There, in 13 starts, Hernandez tallied a 2-3 record with 2.57 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP as well as a 7.0 K/9 mark. An injury sidelined Hernandez in 2019 and the 2020 season was cancelled due to the global pandemic. In 2021, Hernandez saw his first regular season action in the United States, starting his season in Florida Complex League.  After two appearances there, the six-foot-three 185-pounder was promoted to the Class A Clearwater Threshers.  In 20 combined outings (17 starts), Hernandez notched a 2-7 record with a 3.57 ERA, a .228 batting average against and an 11.2 K/9 mark. Projectability is something that baseball folks like about Hernandez.  His size, consistent

Who is Your Favorite Willie 'Mays' Hayes?

PhoulBallz.com is wondering which individual who has portrayed Willie "Mays" Hayes is the favorite of the public. Hayes, of course, is the character made famous in the Major League motion picture series. In Major League , Willie "Mays" Hayes was portrayed by budding Hollywood actor Wesley Snipes, who would go on to action movie superstardom. Snipes has starred in major motion pictures like the Blade trilogy, Passenger 57 , Undisputed and many more. Snipes remains an impact Hollywood actor, despite legal troubles related to income tax evasion. Snipes was replaced for the sequel, Major League II when his busy career, and possibly the film's budget, would not allow him to return, by Omar Epps. Another budding actor, Epps had previously worked with director David S. Ward, on the film The Program , and landed the role of Hayes, who had become a Hollywood action star over the off-season that occured between the two films. Epps' career portraying athletes rolle