Cornelius Randolph
| AB | 2024 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .248 |
| OBP | .334 |
| SLG | .369 |
| HR | 40 |
- Full name Cornelius Cleopatrick Randolph
- Born 06/02/1997 in Brunswick, GA
- Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Griffin
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Drafted in the 1st round (10th overall) by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2015 (signed for $3,231,300).
View Draft Report
Scouts became very familiar with Griffin (Ga.) High in 2008 when Tim Beckham was the first overall pick in the draft. Now, Randolph has them coming back to the Atlanta area school to see another likely first rounder. Unlike Beckham, Randolph will not stay at shortstop as a professional. But his natural hitting ability is such that questions about his future position haven't done much to dissuade scouts. He is a disciplined hitter with an excellent feel for the strike zone. There is some swing-and-miss in his game, but when he's at his best he stays balanced and drives the ball to all fields. He has the strength and bat speed necessary to hit for above-average power, giving him a chance to be one of the best all-around hitters in the draft class. While scouts are sure Randolph isn't a shortstop, they aren't quite sure where he'll ultimately settle defensively. Some believe his hands and arm are good enough that he could become a capable third baseman if he works to improve his infield actions. Others see him as a future left fielder, where he'd be more able to concentrate on his hitting. No matter where the Clemson recruit ends up defensively, Randolph's main attraction will always be his hitting ability.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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The Phillies loved Randolph's bat when they drafted him with the 10th overall pick in 2015. While he's shown it in flashes, he hasn't quite put it all together yet to hit like they had hoped. With a strong, stocky frame, Randolph entered pro ball with a hit-over-power profile. He stays inside the ball well with an approach geared toward going the opposite way. He has average raw power but didn't show it much in games, so he made an effort to get his contact point more out front in an attempt to pull the ball with more authority. Randolph did show more game power, though his strikeout rate jumped with it and his overall production was modest as he seemed caught in between with his approach. Randolph's lack of speed and arm strength limit him to left field, where his defense has improved but is still below-average. Finding the right balance of contact and power will be key for Randolph to show he can produce at a high enough level to be an everyday left fielder. Randolph is ticketed for Double-A Reading in 2018. -
Randolph was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2015 draft, signed for $3,231,300, then showed why the Phillies were so enamored with his bat by hitting well that summer in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Randolph's 2016 didn't go quite as well. He got off to a slow start in his first 12 games with low Class A Lakewood, then missed two and a half months due to shoulder and hamstring issues before returning on June 29. Drafted as an offensive-minded player, Randolph's lefthanded swing is calm, balanced and compact, with solid bat-to-ball skills and an approach geared toward shooting the ball to the opposite field. Randolph has strong hands, bat speed and average raw power in batting practice, but he shows little game power because of his approach. That power could show up once he learns to pull the ball with more authority and drive the ball in the air instead of putting it on the ground. A shortstop in high school, Randolph immediately moved to left field last season. A below-average runner with an average arm, Randolph made strides defensively, but the lack of outfield experience still shows. He will still be just 19 on Opening Day in 2017 and could return to Lakewood. -
From the same high school the produced the Rays' Tim Beckham, the No. 1 overall pick in 2008, Randolph spent his prep years as a shortstop but was immediately shifted to left field as a professional. The Phillies thought enough of him as a hitter to draft him 10th overall and give him a $3,231,300 signing bonus, the third-largest in team history. He ranked second in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in doubles (15), on-base percentage (.425) and walks (32). Randolph's value lies in his bat. He's an extremely balanced hitter with a compact lefthanded swing geared for line drives. There's enough strength to his swing and body that he could project for at least average power as well. He does an excellent job staying back on the ball and then using his strong hands to whip the bat through the zone. The Phillies worked with him this fall to get him turn on inside pitches instead of pushing them the opposite way. Randolph is new to the outfield and is a solid though unspectacular athlete. While his arm is at least average if not a tick above, he fits best as a left fielder. He'll have to work to maintain his body and athleticism. Randolph's bat is polished enough for a move to full-season ball, even though his defense probably isn't ready for competition at low Class A Lakewood. He has the bat to profile as a first-division regular in left field.
Draft Prospects
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Scouts became very familiar with Griffin (Ga.) High in 2008 when Tim Beckham was the first overall pick in the draft. Now, Randolph has them coming back to the Atlanta area school to see another likely first rounder. Unlike Beckham, Randolph will not stay at shortstop as a professional. But his natural hitting ability is such that questions about his future position haven't done much to dissuade scouts. He is a disciplined hitter with an excellent feel for the strike zone. There is some swing-and-miss in his game, but when he's at his best he stays balanced and drives the ball to all fields. He has the strength and bat speed necessary to hit for above-average power, giving him a chance to be one of the best all-around hitters in the draft class. While scouts are sure Randolph isn't a shortstop, they aren't quite sure where he'll ultimately settle defensively. Some believe his hands and arm are good enough that he could become a capable third baseman if he works to improve his infield actions. Others see him as a future left fielder, where he'd be more able to concentrate on his hitting. No matter where the Clemson recruit ends up defensively, Randolph's main attraction will always be his hitting ability.
Minor League Top Prospects
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The 10th overall pick in the 2015 draft, Randolph didn't really get going in the FSL until around his 20th birthday on June 2, coincidentally his first hitless game after four multi-hit games in a row. Randolph's bat always has been his best tool, with a natural feel for the barrel and ability to keep his hands inside the ball that allows the lefthanded hitter to spray line drives from gap to gap. The Phillies have coached him to get the ball out front more often to produce pull power. At times Randolph got caught in between approaches, but as the year went on, he found his power stroke more often. Randolph will have to do that as a left fielder, his best fit defensively. He's worked hard to improve on that front, improving his arm strength to average at times and cutting down on his mistakes. He's maintained his squat 5-foot-11, 205-pound frame and added strength, and his improved power helps him fit the left-field profile. -
Randolph's natural hitting ability drew the attention of the Phillies, who drafted him with the 10th overall pick and signed him for $3,231,300. He immediately showed why scouts were excited about his bat by ranking second in the GCL with a .425 on-base percentage, 15 doubles and 32 walks and third with a .442 slugging percentage. Randolph has a calm, balanced swing and keeps his hands back before whipping the barrel through the zone. He recognizes spin and has excellent plate discipline. His bat speed and strength should produce above-average power, though he hit only one home run in the GCL. He adeptly uses the middle of the field and goes the other way, giving him a chance to develop home-run power once he learns which pitches to turn on with authority. He already hangs in well against lefthanders. Randolph played shortstop in high school, but the Phillies immediately put him in left field. He is a below-average runner with a solid-average arm who adjusted well to the outfield.
