- Full name Nate Cornejo
- Born 09/24/1979 in Wellington, KS
- Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- Debut 08/08/2001
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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There were few doubts about Cornjeo's arm strength as the 1998 draft arrived. It was considered first-round all the way, perhaps the best in the high school ranks that year. The questions about him centered on his knees. He blew both of them out during a high school career in which he also starred in football and basketball. Those concerns have been unfounded because Cornjeo has proven to be durable to this point. Considered one of the Tigers' top prospects since signing, he took a dramatic leap forward last season, winning 20 games in the upper minors and the majors. He dominated Double-A hitters and was even better in Triple-A before his promotion to the big leagues in August. With Detroit, Cornejo ran the gamut from very good to very bad. He comes from a baseball family, as his father Mardie pitched for the Mets and his brother Jesse pitches in the Devil Rays system. Both Cornjeo's fastball and breaking ball are excellent pitches. His fastball has exceptional movement, breaking down and in on righthanders. During his first three pro seasons, he consistently threw his fastball at 90-91 mph. Last year, his velocity rose to 93-94 and he didn't lose any life on the pitch. Cornejo also has an outstanding breaking ball, which is a cross between a slider and a curveball. He has good command of it. Despite his height, his mechanics are consistent, and he is athletic for his size. After throwing a lot of innings in the minor leagues, Cornejo didn't flash quite the same stuff once he reached the majors. His fastball didn't have quite the same zip and his breaking ball suffered after the big league staff ill-advisedly told him to change his grip. His changeup is not nearly as good as his other two pitches. Command of his fastball could be a problem because his ball moves so much. Unless he doesn't pitch well during spring training, Cornjeo will start 2002 in the major leagues. Scouts compare him to Kevin Brown because of the velocity and sink on his fastball. Though it would be a stretch to expect it this season, Cornjeo could become a No.1 starter in the future. -
After having surgery on both knees in high school, Cornejo slid from a projected first-rounder to the second round of the 1998 draft. He has been durable in his two full professional seasons, starting a total of 56 games. Sixteen of those came in 2000 in Double-A at age 20. His father Mardie is a former big league reliever. Cornejo consistently sits between 90-92 mph with sinking action on his fastball. He throws a heavy ball. His slider has late break when it's working. It could be an effective pitch in the major leagues if he develops more consistency with it. He's an excellent athlete who moves exceptionally well for someone his size. Cornejo's changeup needs a lot of work before he reaches the majors. He throws too many pitches about the same speed. His breaking ball often lacks crispness. When he gets his fastball up, it flattens out and he gets hit hard. Cornejo will start 2001 back in Double-A and likely will remain there for the entire season. There's no need to rush him. -
Background: There was a time when Cornejo's arm was considered among the best, if not the best, available from the high school ranks in the 1998 draft. He dropped to a supplemental first-round pick primarily because of concern about his knees. Cornejo has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in both his knees. He's the son of ex-major league pitcher Mardie Cornejo; his older brother Jesse also began his pro career this season in the Devil Rays' system. Strengths: Tigers scouts clocked Cornejo as high as 97 mph in high school, but he's thrown mostly in the 91-93 range since signing. What makes him so nasty is that he throws a heavy ball that dives. He has a good, hard curveball. Cornejo is big and strong with potential to throw harder and is a good athlete for his size. Weaknesses: The knees could be a problem though they haven't been so far. Everything Cornejo throws is hard. He needs to come up with a better changeup. The Future: Cornejo will likely begin the 1999 season at Class A West Michigan.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Cornejo was expected to spend the entire season in Erie. Instead, he finished the summer in Detroit's rotation. Managers were impressed with his 6-foot-5 frame and his heavy, low-90s sinker. He also throws a slider and changeup. "He just comes after you with that heavy sinker," Freiling said. "He's a workhorse. I can see him pitching 200 innings a year in the big leagues." "He has no idea how strong he is," one scout said. "He's everything you want to see in a No. 2 or No. 3 starter in the big leagues."