ST. LOUIS -- Allen Cordoba has taken the first step in his long road back to the big leagues.
The Padres' former Rule 5 selection -- who suffered a severe concussion in a car accident during the offseason -- returned to game action for the first time on Monday night. He served as designated hitter for Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore and went 1-for-5 with a ninth-inning single.
Regardless of his line, the Padres were merely happy to see Cordoba's name in a box score. The 22-year-old infielder experienced some scary symptoms in the immediate aftermath of the accident, including sensitivity to light and forgetfulness.