Cornelius Randolph facts for kids

Cornelius Cleopatrick Randolph (born June 2, 1997) is an American professional baseball player. He plays as an outfielder for the Tigres de Quintana Roo in the Mexican League. He was chosen by the Philadelphia Phillies as the 10th overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft. This means he was one of the first players picked by a professional team that year.

Baseball Journey

Cornelius Randolph went to Griffin High School in Griffin, Georgia. During his last year of high school, he was a fantastic hitter. He hit for a very high average and smashed eight home runs. He had planned to play college baseball for the Clemson Tigers.

However, the Philadelphia Phillies picked him early in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft. This was a big deal! Instead of going to college, he signed a contract with the Phillies. He received a large amount of money, called a signing bonus, to join their team.

Playing for the Phillies

Randolph started his professional career with a team called the Gulf Coast Phillies. He played well, hitting over .300. In 2016, he moved up to the Lakewood BlueClaws. He continued to play strongly, hitting two home runs.

In 2017, he played for the Clearwater Threshers. He hit 13 home runs and helped his team score many runs. After that season, he also played in a special league called the Arizona Fall League. This league helps young players get more experience.

He spent 2018 and 2019 with the Reading Fightin Phils. He kept improving his game, hitting more home runs each year. In 2020, he could not play because the minor league season was canceled. This happened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, Randolph played most of his games with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. This is a Triple-A team, which is just one step below the major leagues. After the season, he became a free agent. This means he could sign with any team he wanted.

Other Teams and Leagues

On March 8, 2022, Randolph signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox. He played for their Double-A team, the Birmingham Barons. However, his time with the White Sox was short, and he was released in May.

Soon after, on May 10, 2022, Randolph joined the Kane County Cougars. This team is part of the American Association of Professional Baseball, which is an independent league. He had a great season with the Cougars, hitting 14 home runs and stealing 13 bases. He was released at the end of the season.

He re-signed with the Cougars on May 1, 2023. He played well again, hitting five home runs. He became a free agent once more at the end of that season.

In early 2024, Randolph signed with the Dorados de Chihuahua in the Mexican League. But he was released before the season began. He then re-signed with the Kane County Cougars for a third time on May 2, 2024. He had another fantastic season, hitting 11 home runs. He helped the Cougars win their league championship! Randolph was even named the Series MVP for his amazing performance in the championship games.

Tigres de Quintana Roo

On November 8, 2024, Cornelius Randolph signed with the Tigres de Quintana Roo. This team also plays in the Mexican League.