Daniel Corcino

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #13 prospect in 2014
  Heading into the 2013 season, Corcino appeared to be just a call away at Triple-A Louisville. The Reds thought he might be able to help as a power reliever or emergency starter, thanks to a plus fastball he could cut, run or sink as well as an average slider and changeup. But that possibility seemed to weigh on Corcino. He had a terrible spring as he consistently overthrew and saw his velocity dip from the low 90s to 88-91 mph. That carried over to the season, where Corcino eventually lost his spot in the Louisville rotation. He tinkered with his arm slot, dropping down from the low three-quarters he had used at his best, before eventually bringing his arm back up. That helped his slider regain some depth. Late in the season Corcino started relying more on his sinker than the four-seamer. He at times seemed to forget about using his average changeup as he struggled to throw strikes. Based solely on what he showed in 2013, Corcino is barely a prospect, but pitchers can reverse their fortunes in a hurry with slight changes. The Reds believe Corcino still could be a useful mid-rotation starter or power reliever, though to do so he must demonstrate better control, better velocity and better secondary stuff in his return to Louisville in 2014.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #4 prospect in 2013
  Even before he arrived in the United States, Corcino has been known as the Reds' 'next Cueto." He draws comparisons to Cincinnati's ace because he's a short but powerfully built Dominican righthander with a low three-quarters arm slot. And like Cueto, he has had success wherever he goes. In 2012, he pitched the first eight innings of the first no-hitter in Pensacola franchise history and ranked second in the Southern League with a 3.01 ERA. Because of his arm slot, cross-fire delivery and understanding of how to manipulate the baseball, Corcino throw 91-94 mph fastballs with either cutting action or armside run. His slider shows flashes of being a plus pitch, though it needs more consistency. His changeup has good sink at the plate, giving him the potential for three solid or better pitches. Corcino has some effort to his delivery. His control wasn't as sharp in Double-A, with his walk rate (4.1 per nine innings) nearly doubling from the year before (2.2). If the Reds needed a power arm out of the pen, Corcino is ready right now. Because he'll have more value as a starter, he'll head to Triple-A to continue to refine his secondary stuff and control. Added to the 40-man roster in November, he projects as a middle-of-the-rotation starter, much like Cueto did as he climbed the minor league ladder.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #6 prospect in 2012
  The Reds announced they were making a big push into the international market in 2008 by signing Yorman Rodriguez and Juan Duran to $4.5 million in bonuses. But it's Corcino who has proven to be the best Latin American they signed that year, a steal at $25,000. Corcino elicits frequent comparisons to Johnny Cueto for his stature, appearance, delivery and stuff. With a 92-94 mph fastball that touches 96, he throws harder than Cueto did at the same point in his career. Corcino doesn't generate much downward plane with his fastball, because he lacks height and throws from a three-quarters arm slot. He has tightened his slider, making it an average pitch, and his 84-85 mph changeup is just as effective. He has a very quick arm and throws strikes, but his delivery involves some effort as he spins off the mound after bringing his arm across his body. Some scouts believe Corcino's stuff and feel for pitching will allow him to become a No. 3 starter, while others point to his small stature and delivery and envision him as a back-of-the-rotation option or set-up man. Cueto has become a frontline starter, though he has a better slider. Corcino will make the jump to high Class A in 2012.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #15 prospect in 2011
  When watching Corcino pitch, scouts have a hard time avoiding Johnny Cueto comparisons. Like Cueto, Corcino is a short Dominican righthander with a thick body, tree-trunk legs and a plus fastball. He also uses a similar fast delivery that ends with a pronounced spin off his lead leg. Corcino's even bears a facial resemblance to Cueto. Like the Reds rotation stalwart, Corcino has plenty of upside. He showcases a 92-94 mph fastball that touches 97 mph at its best, and pairs it with a potentially plus 75-78 mph slider. His changeup is a little firm right now, and he needs to develop more separation between the two pitches. Corcino's stuff tailed off a little after his promotion to low Class A last year, and he needs to improve his command, but his combination of plus stuff and competitive makeup makes him one of the best young pitching prospects in the system. He'll help anchor the Dayton rotation in 2011.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #17 prospect in 2012
  The Reds skipped Corcino past high Class A and he proved he was up for the challenge, ranking second in the league in ERA (3.01) and opponent average (.216) and third in strikeouts (126). He draws comparisons to Johnny Cueto for size, stuff and Dominican heritage. Corcino has a quick, loose arm and throws a bit across his body, giving his 89-94 mph fastball some run and cutting action. He also throws a hard slider with occasional good depth, and a changeup with some deception and armside sink. His walk rate nearly doubled from 2011 to 2012, so he'll need to refine his control and command to reach his ceiling of a No. 3 starter.
• 
  Ranked Midwest League #16 prospect in 2011
  Corcino reminded several MWL observers of Johnny Cueto, who ranked 12th on this list when he pitched for Dayton five years ago. Both are sub-6-foot righthanders with quick arms and plus fastballs, though Cueto's slider was more devastating when he was with the Dragons. Corcino's fastball ranges from 91-96 mph, and he can run it on righthanders or get swings and misses up in the zone. That sets up his crisp slider down and away on the left side of the plate, and his changeup shows flashes of becoming an average pitch. Not only does he throw strikes, but when he makes a mistake, he rarely leaves it over the middle of the plate.
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  Ranked Pioneer League #11 prospect in 2010
  When the Mustangs ventured outside of Billings' Dehler Park, their team ERA ballooned from 2.61 in the relatively neutral environs at home to 5.10 on the road. Despite that disparity and one of the youngest rosters in the league, Billings came within two wins of winning the first-half division title. At the heart of the early surge was Corcino, who was much improved compared to his stint as a Mustangs reliever in 2009. Cron compared him to Johnny Cueto as a shorter righthander with plus stuff. Corcino has a strong build and a thick lower half, with mound presence to match. He can touch 96 mph with his fastball and throws 92-94 deep into starts. He commands his four seamer as well as a high-80s two-seamer he delivers with plus sink from a high three-quarters slot. Corcino also mixes in a tight, biting 75-78 mph slider that is a true swing-and-miss pitch. His changeup tends to be too firm at 85-86 mph, but it does feature good fade when he executes well. His main need is to improve his control and command, which should come with experience.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #94 prospect in 2013

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Even before he arrived in the United States, Corcino has been known as the Reds' "next Cueto."He draws comparisons to Cincinnati's ace because he's a short but powerfully built Dominican righthander with a low three-quarters arm slot. And like Cueto, he has had success wherever he goes. In 2012, he pitched the first eight innings of the first no-hitter in Pensacola franchise history and ranked second in the Southern League with a 3.01 ERA. Scouting Report: Because of his arm slot, cross-fire delivery and understanding of how to manipulate the baseball, Corcino throws 91-94 mph fastballs with either cutting action or armside run. His slider shows flashes of being a plus pitch, though it needs more consistency. His changeup has good sink at the plate, giving him the potential for three solid or better pitches. Corcino has some effort to his delivery. His control wasn't as sharp in Double-A, with his walk rate (4.1 per nine innings) nearly doubling from the year before (2.2). The Future: If the Reds need a power arm out of the pen, Corcino is ready right now. Because he'll have more value as a starter, he'll head to Triple-A to continue to refine his secondary stuff and control. Added to the 40-man roster in November, he projects as a middle-of-the-rotation starter, much like Cueto did as he climbed the minor league ladder.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: The Reds announced they were making a big push into the international market in 2008 by signing Yorman Rodriguez and Juan Duran to $4.5 million in bonuses. But it's Corcino who has proven to be the best Latin American they signed that year, a steal at $25,000. Scouting Report: Corcino elicits frequent comparisons to Johnny Cueto for his stature, appearance, delivery and stuff. WIth a 92-94 mph fastball that touches 96, he throws harder than Cueto did at the same point in his career. Corcino doesn't generate much downward plane with his fastball, because he lacks height and throws from a three-quarters arm slot. He has tightened his slider, making it an average pitch, and his 84-85 mph changeup is just as effective. He has a very quick arm and throws strikes, but his delivery involves some effort as he spins off the mound after bringing his arm across his body. The Future: Some scouts believe Corcino's stuff and feel for pitching will allow him to become a No. 3 starter, while others point to his small stature and his effort-filled delivery and envision him as a back-of-the-rotation option or set-up man. Cueto has become a frontline starter, though he has a better slider. Corcino will make the jump to high Class A in 2012.