Jose Corniell

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #18 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Corniell was signed by Seattle in 2019 for $330,000, the highest bonus awarded by the Mariners in that year’s signing class. He never threw a pitch in a Seattle uniform. Instead, the Rangers acquired him--along with infielder Andres Mesa--following the 2020 season as the return for reliever Rafael Montero. He’s moved slowly through the system but broke through in 2023, when he reached High-A for the first time and struck out 119 hitters, second-most in the system.
  
  Scouting Report: As Corniell has matriculated through the minors, his repertoire has undergone a metamorphosis. His four-seam fastball, which sits around 94 mph, worked in concert with a sweepy, potentially plus slider around 84 mph to give righthanded hitters fits. Lefthanders, however, fared much better. To remedy that issue, Corniell introduced a cutter to steal strikes early in counts and give hitters another option to consider. He was also encouraged to throw his mid-80s changeup more often to give himself a putaway pitch against lefties. The strike, chase and miss rates on the changeup were all plus in 2023. Corniell also throws a two-seam fastball, which comes in a few ticks slower than his four-seamer. Scouts reported a bit of inconsistency in Corniell’s slider shape, which may stem from not getting on top of the pitch regularly. The Rangers were also impressed by Corniell’s improved maturity, and rewarded him with the organization’s pitcher of the year award.
  
  The Future: Corniell was added to the 40-man roster and will reach Double-A for the first time in 2024. He has the upside of a back-end starter.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 55
• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #20 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Corniel, a product of the Marmolejos Baseball Academy in his native Dominican Republic, was one of the better pitchers in the 2019 class and signed with the Mariners for a $630,000 bonus on July 2.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Corniel has a very physical, projectable build with long levers and uses an effortless, balanced delivery with control rather than one that's explosive and effortful. A strike-thrower, he shows the ability to move the ball around the zone. His fastball ticked up to the low 90s during early workouts at the Mariners' academy in the Dominican Republic. Corniel can spin his above-average curveball and should have a solid changeup in time, giving him a three-pitch mix with above-average feel to pitch.
  
  THE FUTURE: Corniel won't turn 17 until June, so he likely won't get to the states for another year or two. He'll start his pro career in the Dominican Summer League in 2020.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: After signing with the Mariners for $620,000 in 2019, Corniell was slated to make his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2020 before the minor league season was canceled by the coronavirus pandemic. After a visa-related delay, he made it to Arizona in time to pitch in two games during instructional league before heading back to the Dominican Republic. In December, the Mariners traded Corniell and a player to be named later to the Rangers for righthander Rafael Montero.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Corniell has a tall, sturdy body that looks capable of eating innings as he matures. He pounds the bottom of the strike zone with a 90-93 mph fastball with natural sink. It projects as an above-average pitch and gets plenty of ground balls and soft contact. Corniell’s curveball and changeup both play up to average because of how well he commands them to both sides of the plate. He’s been toying with a slider in order to give himself a more complete repertoire. Corniell shows excellent poise, especially for a pitcher who won’t turn 18 until midway through 2021. He has a lot of projection remaining but shows the ingredients for plus control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Corniell’s pitchability and command make him advanced for his age. He should make his pro debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2021.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Corniel, a product of the Marmolejos Baseball Academy in his native Dominican Republic, was one of the better pitchers in the 2019 class and signed with the Mariners for a $630,000 bonus on July 2.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Corniel has a very physical, projectable build with long levers and uses an effortless, balanced delivery with control rather than one that’s explosive and effortful. A strike-thrower, he shows the ability to move the ball around the zone. His fastball ticked up to the low 90s during early workouts at the Mariners’ academy in the Dominican Republic. Corniel can spin his above-average curveball and should have a solid changeup in time, giving him a three-pitch mix with above-average feel to pitch.
  
  THE FUTURE: Corniel won’t turn 17 until June, so he likely won’t get to the states for another year or two. He’ll start his pro career in the Dominican Summer League in 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Corniel, a product of the Marmolejos Baseball Academy in his native Dominican Republic, was one of the better pitchers in the 2019 class and signed with the Mariners for a $630,000 bonus on July 2.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Corniel has a very physical, projectable build with long levers and uses an effortless, balanced delivery with control rather than one that's explosive and effortful. A strike-thrower, he shows the ability to move the ball around the zone. His fastball ticked up to the low 90s during early workouts at the Mariners' academy in the Dominican Republic. Corniel can spin his above-average curveball and should have a solid changeup in time, giving him a three-pitch mix with above-average feel to pitch.
  
  THE FUTURE: Corniel won't turn 17 until June, so he likely won't get to the states for another year or two. He'll start his pro career in the Dominican Summer League in 2020.