Local Cornwell drafted by Chicago Cubs
Though injuries hampered the senior season of Pasadena Maranatha High baseball product Alex Cornwell, the La Cañada Flintridge pitcher tossed well enough and displayed a talent that earned him major league recognition.
On Wednesday afternoon, Cornwell was selected with the No. 1,125th pick in the 37th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the reigning World Series champion Chicago Cubs.
Wednesday was the third and final day of the three-day-long baseball draft and Cornwell was unaware of his fate until his phone started to ring uncontrollably.
“I was out with some close friends the whole day when I heard the texts coming into my phone,” Cornwell said. “Then I received texts from coaches and knew what had happened.”
Cornwell was ranked the No. 74 top prospect in Southern California and No. 498 in the nation by Baseball America. Yet, there was some uncertainty as to when and if he would be drafted.
“I really had no idea,” Cornwell said. “I’m just pretty happy that a team is showing interest in me. I hope that one day things will work out for the best.”
Cornwell received a scholarship to USC and noted that though he was happy and honored to be drafted by Chicago, the left-handed pitcher will continue his career and education with the Trojans.
“I’m going to USC and I’m going to learn the game,” said Cornwell, who throws a curveball and circle change along with a two- and four-seam fastball that tops off at 92.
Cornwell said he impressed the Cubs with a pre-draft workout at Compton’s Urban Youth Academy and believes that the door with Chicago was not closed shut.
“They just told me flat out that this was the opening of a relationship between us,” Cornwell said.
This past season, Cornwell posted a 5-2 record with a 2.29 earned-run average with nine starts in 10 total appearances. Cornwell struck out 43 batters and walked 25 in 39 2/3 innings.
The senior pitched the entire season with a knee injury that limited his durability and effectiveness.
“I played with a hurt knee which hurt way more when I pitched with it,” Cornwell said. “It was a rough season and it really changed the way I played the game and gave me a different perspective. It was definitely a battle and my goal after was to get rested and healthy.”
Maranatha coach Matt Shupper, a La Cañada High alumnus of 1999, believes Cornwell would have turned in an even more dominant year had his knee been in better shape.
“No doubt,” Shupper said. “If he’s healthy, he’s pitching longer into games and is able to get through innings quicker. He showed a lot of toughness this year.”
Cornwell is the first Maranatha player drafted since Dylan Covey, a member of the crosstown Chicago White Sox, was picked in 2013.
“We were hoping [Cromwell] was going to get taken,” Shupper said. “I know that we had thought he was going earlier. He set a high price and to get picked, it’s great for his confidence. It’s nice to know teams were still looking for him.”
Twitter: @campadresports
