T-Rat Talk: Alexander Cornielle

Alexander Cornielle has been an important part of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers rotation all season. He was the starting pitcher on June 16 in West Michigan and pitched four scoreless innings in the game that clinched Wisconsin's first playoff berth since 2016. Kyle Lobner gets the story on Cornielle's season on the field and reveals how important the right-handed pitcher is behind the scenes, too.

Two years ago this month, Timber Rattlers pitcher Alexander Cornielle had just celebrated his 21^st birthday when he came to Appleton for the first time to play the final few weeks of the 2022 season. He has since made a big impact both on and off the field with the Timber Rattlers.

It didn’t take long for Cornielle to get comfortable pitching in the Midwest League: He had posted a 1.62 earned run average in his final seven starts for Low-A Carolina and brought that momentum along to Wisconsin, where he pitched into the sixth inning in each of his first three appearances, allowed just four runs across those outings and struck out 21 opposing batters while walking just six. Cornielle said the biggest thing he remembers from that first taste of the Midwest League, however, was the fans.

“I remember coming in, watching the crowd, how supportive they are. It was a totally different environment from Low-A. I really cherish those times,” Cornielle said.

Cornielle has been a mainstay in the Timber Rattlers’ starting rotation ever since, making 37 starts and logging nearly 200 innings with Wisconsin over the last three seasons. He’s endured some ups and downs over that time, but said his growth as a person is the biggest difference in his game between his debut and today.

“I feel like maturing has been a big part of it. I’ve been grateful to have people around me that want to make me better and want the best for me, and so I feel like that’s been a big part of my development,” Cornielle said.

Alexander Cornielle closed out his season with 6 strong and 7 Ks in another solid start in High-A. In 3 games there:

17.1 IP / 21 K / 6 BB / 4 R#ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/3V7l9U6Fki

— Brewers Player Development (@BrewersPD) September 12, 2022

Cornielle is an efficient worker on the mound: Since the beginning of his Wisconsin tenure he’s been someone who routinely pitches well into games without racking up high pitch counts. He hasn’t thrown more than 92 pitches in a game in 2024 but he’s gone five innings or more in the majority of his starts. Twice this season he’s thrown six scoreless innings on 83 pitches or less.

“I think every time Cornielle pitches, his fastball plays up in the zone. His fastball stays up there at 92, 93, and executing that spot he creates a lot of swings and misses. That’s been the key lately for him, and he’s been doing an outstanding job for us,” Timber Rattlers manager Victor Estevez said.

Along the way Cornielle has run up some of the longest hot streaks by a Timber Rattlers pitcher this season. On two separate occasions he’s logged 18 consecutive scoreless innings, doing it across three starts in May and again in three starts and a relief appearance between June and July.

“I don’t really think about it,” Cornielle said of his runs of success. “It’s just going out there, doing what you know how to do and using you strengths against the hitters’ weaknesses. That’s going to be successful more often than not.”

Second straight lock-down start for Alexander Cornielle for the @TimberRattlers, going 7-shutout innings allowing 2 hits and striking out 7. His last two games:

May 4th: 6IP / 2H / 0R / 3BB / 6K
May 11th: 7IP / 2H / 0R / 3BB / 7K#ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/OOpMertDZr

— Brewers Player Development (@BrewersPD) May 13, 2024

Cornielle’s overall numbers don’t always reflect his potential because of a few rough outings. He pitched 20 times in 2023, for example, but more than half of the runs he runs he allowed came in five of those games. Similarly, he had a 2.59 ERA for the season in 2024 before a bad night on Tuesday, when South Bend tagged him with twelve earned runs across 4 2/3 innings. The three home runs he allowed in that game matched his season total to that point.

“I think for me personally it was kind of necessary. I’ve been doing so good the whole year, and it was kind of like a mental thing too. But I kind of lost my north, a little bit, but that happening to me clarified where I want to go,” Cornielle said.

Cornielle said the way he’s dealt with tough times is his biggest point of pride from this season.

“The way I’ve been able to handle myself when adversity comes my way. I’m thankful for all the good times I’ve had here,” Cornielle said.

He's on a different level. 😈

Cornielle was named the final Midwest Pitcher of the Week. The right-hander allowed 3 hits and walked one over 7 scoreless innings against Cedar Rapids.

Final 3 Starts:
25 SO | 18 IP | 2 R#tratnation pic.twitter.com/9S1GLkYiCP

— Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (@TimberRattlers) September 11, 2023

When he’s not pitching, Cornielle often serves another important role in the Timber Rattlers’ clubhouse. He was born in the Dominican Republic but is fully bilingual, a relatively rare skill for minor league players at this level. Strong English skills have been a priority for Cornielle’s family since he was a child.

“I’ve got to give props to my dad and my mom. They spoke English at home, and they also put me in classes. I grew up speaking both languages since I was a little kid,” Cornielle said

Eighteen players born in Spanish-speaking countries have played for the Timber Rattlers this season and while many of them are learning English rapidly, most are not fluent enough to be comfortable being interviewed in their second language. Cornielle has been a regular this season on the Timber Rattlers Review postgame podcast translating for his teammates.

“I love helping people out, especially my Latin friends, because I know how hard it is for them to be in another country and not speak the language. So whenever I can be there to help them, I’ll be there,” Cornielle said.

Timber Rattlers manager Victor Estevez, also a native of the Dominican Republic, is fully bilingual now but certainly remembers what it was like to be learning a new language while also trying to grow as a player at the professional level. He described his English skills as “maybe a 5 or 6 out of 10” when he played in the Midwest League with South Bend in 2009 and 2010, and still remembers many of the teammates and coaches who helped him during those days.

“That’s really helpful. When you’re a person that’s helping others, that’s always going to make you valuable in every clubhouse, and it’s great that he (Cornielle) is willing to help those guys. It’s good to have a guy who’s bilingual on the team because you know he’s going to help out the guys that struggle a little bit with the language barrier and all that,” Estevez said.

As is the case for most minor leaguers who have been with one team for a while, Cornielle is eager to see how his skills will translate to the next level. As the Timber Rattlers make their push for a Midwesy League championship, however, he’s also excited to continue to be a part of that effort.

“As much as I would love to go to AA before the year ends, if God says that I have to stay here and be in the playoffs I’ll do that gratefully,” Cornielle said.

In the meantime, however, nearly every day Cornielle can be found in one of three places: The ballpark, at church or in his video game chair. Gaming is one of Cornielle’s favorite pastimes, and lately he said he’s mostly been playing Call of Duty: Warzone and Valorant.

“I love playing so much, but the only days I can play are on my off days. I just spend the whole day in my chair playing video games with my friends,” Cornielle said.