Team Detail

Baseball’s Cornejo-Farmer Commits to Loyola Marymount

10/17/2023

Willie Cornejo-Farmer has made a commitment to play baseball and attend Loyola Marymount University in the fall.

“The school has great academics and I like the coaching staff and their respective styles,” said Cornejo-Farmer. “It took a while over the summer for the recruiting process to start but it ramped up towards the end. Committing moved really fast once I made a decision.”

Cornejo-Farmer will play for Head Coach Donegal Fergus, who was named the ninth head coach of the Lions baseball program on June 24, 2023. He joins the Lions athletics staff after successful stints at UCSB and the Minnesota Twins of the MLB. The staff includes assistant coaches Justin Dedman, former ASU assistant coach Travis Buck, and former Arizona standout Mathew Troupe.

“The teaching styles of the staff are different,” said Cornejo-Farmer, whose sister Camila is a senior at Xavier and plays on the Gator volleyball team. “There is the freedom to do my own thing while also guiding me to be successful.”

The Lions are the defending West Coast Conference regular season champion.

“It means a lot to be able to play in college,” said Cornejo-Farmer. “I have been waiting since freshman to get to that level.’

He hit .279 with a team-best seven doubles, four home runs, and 21 RBI as a junior. He ranked second on the team in both home runs and RBIs. He had eight multi-hit games.

“Over the past four years Willie has shown he’s willing to do whatever it takes to be a good player,” said Head Coach Josh Garcia. “From sophomore year, spending extra hours in the “lab” learning out to hit an outside pitch, to junior year taking his defense to another level to this year as a senior, learning how to hit off-speed pitches to make himself a tougher out. Willie has constantly taken himself out of his comfort zone to make himself a better player and that’s what has brought Willie here today.”

He will find a few familiar faces on campus including current teammate Johnny Casale. Overall, he is one of three Broncos from the Class of 2024 to commit to LMU (Luke Burns, soccer).

“I am looking forward to playing with Johnny in college,” said Cornejo-Farmer. “I have known him for a long time and we have played against each other in club since we were 10.”

He credits his work in the weight room and Coach Garcia for his development into a Divison 1 recruit over the last four years.

“I have improved since freshman year by working in the weight room physically and mentally with Coach Garcia to get my mind right,” said Cornejo-Farmer, who plans to study business.

With his commitment sealed, he will now prepare for the upcoming 2024 season. He will participate in the Brophy Collegiate Signing Day celebration on Nov. 8.