“Rangers Prospect Jose Corniell Out for Season with Elbow Surgery”
Rangers pitching prospect Jose Corniell is sidelined for the season. According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, the 20-year-old right-hander will undergo surgery to repair the UCL in his throwing elbow. It’s not yet determined whether he will need a full Tommy John surgery or a modified internal brace procedure.
Regardless, this will keep him out for all of 2024 and part of the following season. Corniell has been on the minor league injured list all season, trying to rehab the injury without surgery, which ultimately proved unsuccessful. This setback follows a strong season that had boosted his status as a prospect. The Dominican pitcher, acquired by Texas from the Mariners in 2020 in exchange for Rafael Montero, posted a 2.92 ERA in A-ball last year, striking out nearly 30% of batters while walking 7.8% over 101 2/3 innings.
The Rangers added Corniell to their 40-man roster last winter, worried that another team might select him in the Rule 5 draft and stash him in the bullpen despite his lack of experience above High-A. Corniell will remain on the 40-man roster while on the minor league injured list.
Texas could place Corniell on the 60-day IL to free up a roster spot if they are willing to pay him the prorated $740K MLB minimum salary. He would need to be reinstated during the offseason, but the Rangers might opt to non-tender him and then potentially re-sign him to a minor league deal.
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