ST. CLOUD, MN – Former St. Cloud Rox right-handed pitcher Riley Cornelio made his Major League debut on Friday, April 24, 2026. Cornelio is the 418th former Northwoods League player to reach the Major League level.

Cornelio, a native of Honolulu, Hawaii, played for the St. Cloud Rox in 2021 while attending Texas Christian University (TCU). The 6’3″ right-hander went 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA in nine games (seven starts), pitching 33.0 innings while allowing 33 hits, 11 earned runs, 15 walks, and striking out 44 batters. He also set a St. Cloud Rox single-game playoff record with 14 strikeouts in one outing and was a key contributor during the team’s strong 2021 season.

Cornelio was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 7th round (201st overall) of the 2022 MLB Draft.

Minor League Statistics by Season:

2022 (Rookie – FCL Nationals): Limited action in his first professional season.

2023 (Single-A Fredericksburg, Carolina League): Appeared in 22 games with a 4.68 ERA in 92.1 innings.

2024 (High-A Wilmington, South Atlantic League): Made 26 starts, went 9-11 with a 5.56 ERA in 126.1 innings, striking out 114 batters.

2025 (High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A): Split time across three levels, posting a combined 6-7 record with a 3.28 ERA in 27 games (26 starts) and 134.1 innings. He struck out 135 batters and earned Nationals Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors.

2026 (Triple-A Rochester Red Wings): Began the season strong with a 2-0 record and 2.45 ERA in four starts (18.1 innings, 27 strikeouts) before his call-up.

In his Major League debut against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field, Cornelio entered in relief in the seventh inning. He pitched two innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits and four walks while striking out one, and was charged with the loss in a tight game.