Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Cutter: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 45

Corniell signed out of the Dominican Republic with the Mariners for $630,000, the fifth-largest bonus given to a right-handed pitcher during the 2019-20 international signing period. The Rangers acquired him and infield prospect Andres Mesa in exchange for Rafael Montero in December 2020, and Corniell didn't make his pandemic-delayed pro debut until six months later. After a rough introduction to full-season ball in 2022, he improved his arsenal and control, breezed through two Class A levels last summer at age 20 and earned organization Minor League Pitcher of the Year accolades. He missed the start of the 2024 season with an elbow injury and was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in June that will require surgery that will sideline him into 2025.

Corniell throws three different fastballs: a four-seamer that sits at 92-95 mph and touches 97 with armside run and carry, a low-90s two-seamer to get ground balls and an upper-80s cutter he added in 2023 to combat left-handers. His best pitch is an 82-85 mph slider with two-plane depth that earns plus grades at its best. He's also making progress with a low-80s changeup that tumbles when it's on.

With a drop-and-drive delivery, Corniell creates extension and a flat approach angle. Some scouts think he has more of a reliever arm action, though he does have plenty of arm speed and a strong 6-foot-3 frame that should lend itself to durability. If he can regain his stuff once healthy and continue to refine his cutter and changeup to improve his success against lefties, he could be a No. 4 starter.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40 

The Mariners signed Corniell out of the Dominican Republic for $630,000, the fifth-largest bonus given to a right-handed pitcher during the 2019-20 international signing period. Seattle traded him along with infield prospect Andres Mesa to the Rangers for Rafael Montero in December 2020, with the pandemic delaying Corniell's pro debut until June 2021. After getting knocked around in his full-season debut in 2022, he has improved his pitch mix and control this year. 

Corniell employs three versions of a fastball, highlighted by a four-seamer that ranges from 92-97 mph at its best with arm-side run and carry. He also uses a low-90s two-seamer to get groundballs and has added an upper-80s cutter this season. His best secondary pitch is an 82-85 mph slider with two-plane depth that helps him dominate right-handed hitters. 

Corniell has had much less success against left-handers and needs to refine a low-80s changeup that flashes some promising tumble. He's providing more consistent strikes in 2023, though some scouts believe his arm action will land him in the bullpen. His ability to use his cutter and changeup to combat lefties will go a long way toward determining his future role. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

The Mariners inked Corniell in July 2019 for $630,000, the fifth-highest bonus given to a right-handed pitcher during the 2019-20 international signing period. The coronavirus pandemic wiped out his opportunity to make his pro debut in 2020, when his development was limited to instructional league. He never appeared in a game for Seattle before changing organizations, going to Texas with a player to be named last December in exchange for Rafael Montero. 

Corniell already works in the low 90s with his fastball, which features sink that elicits weak groundball contact. His best secondary pitch is a low-80s changeup that also sinks. His low-70s curveball lags behind his other two offerings and will need more power and depth to be effective. 

Corniell's stuff and projectable 6-foot-3 build resemble those of Luis Severino at the same stage of their careers. He has advanced feel for pitching, as evidenced by his aptitude for throwing a changeup and filling the strike zone. It’s unclear exactly what the Rangers have in a pitcher so young and inexperienced, but they're looking forward to finding out.

One of five international free agents who got a bonus of $400,000 or more from the Mariners during the 2019-20 international amateur signing period, Corniell was the lone pitcher of that group. The right-hander’s $630,000 bonus was the second-highest for the organization and the fifth-highest among all pitchers on the amateur market. The Rangers acquired him in December along with a player to be named in exchange for Rafael Montero.

If it all clicks for the young right-hander, Corniell will have three usable pitches at his disposal, and he already has more of a feel for pitching than many arms his age. His fastball can touch the mid-90s with good, late life to it. He has some feel to spin a breaking ball, a power curve that some could see morphing into a slider in the future. He throws a solid changeup, which might be better than the breaking ball currently. He throws all three pitches for strikes, filling up the zone in a way that belies his years.

The 6-foot-3 barrel-chested hurler has worked to firm up his frame, attending the Mariners’ High Performance Camp in the Dominican since he signed. That should help his stuff tick upwards. He hasn’t been stretched out yet as a starter, pitching in shorter relief stints, but look for him to get a chance to develop into a rotation piece as he begins his pro career in 2020.

Awards

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2023

SAL Pitcher of the Month

Month	Team
08/2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	10/01/2024	Texas Rangers recalled RHP Jose Corniell from Frisco RoughRiders.
	06/25/2024	Frisco RoughRiders placed RHP Jose Corniell on the full-season injured list.
	04/05/2024	Frisco RoughRiders placed RHP Jose Corniell on the 7-day injured list.
	03/28/2024	RHP Jose Corniell assigned to Frisco RoughRiders from Round Rock Express.
	03/10/2024	Texas Rangers optioned RHP Jose Corniell to Round Rock Express.
	03/10/2024	Round Rock Express activated RHP Jose Corniell.
	03/07/2024	Texas Rangers Prospects activated RHP Jose Corniell.
	03/07/2024	Texas Rangers Prospects activated RHP Jose Corniell.
	11/14/2023	Texas Rangers selected the contract of RHP Jose Corniell from Hickory Crawdads.
	06/20/2023	RHP Jose Corniell assigned to Hickory Crawdads from Down East Wood Ducks.
	04/08/2022	Down East Wood Ducks activated RHP Jose Corniell.
	04/08/2022	RHP Jose Corniell assigned to Down East Wood Ducks.
	06/28/2021	RHP Jose Corniell assigned to ACL Rangers from DSL Rangers1.
	12/15/2020	RHP Jose Corniell assigned to DSL Rangers1.
	12/15/2020	Texas Rangers traded RHP Rafael Montero to Seattle Mariners for RHP Jose Corniell and Player To Be Named Later.
	02/14/2020	RHP Jose Corniell assigned to DSL Mariners.
	07/02/2019	Seattle Mariners signed free agent RHP Jose Corniell to a minor league contract.