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Austin Cox
Cox with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2022
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1997-03-28) March 28, 1997 (age 27)
Macon, Georgia, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
May 4, 2023, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record0–1
Earned run average4.54
Strikeouts33
Teams

Austin Cox (born March 28, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut for the Kansas City Royals in 2023.

Amateur career

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Cox attended First Presbyterian Day School in Macon, Georgia, where he played baseball and football. For his high school career, he went 15–6 with a 2.19 ERA.[1] Undrafted in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft, he fulfilled his commitment to play college baseball at Mercer University.[2]

In 2016, Cox's freshman year at Mercer, he pitched 24 innings, compiling a 2–2 record and a 10.13 ERA. As a sophomore in 2016, he started 15 games, going 4–2 with a 5.69 ERA.[3] In 2018, his junior season, he was named Mercer's Friday night starter.[4] Over 17 starts, Cox pitched to a 7–4 record with a 4.52 ERA, striking out 124 batters over 87+2⁄3 innings.[5]

Professional career

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The Kansas City Royals selected Cox in the fifth round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.[6][7] He signed with the Royals and made his professional debut with the Burlington Royals of the Rookie-level Appalachian League, pitching to a 1–1 record and a 3.78 ERA over nine starts.[8] In 2019, he began the year with the Lexington Legends of the Single–A South Atlantic League, with whom he was named an All-Star alongside earning Pitcher of the Week honors in early June.[9][10] On June 23, 2019, he was promoted to the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the High–A Carolina League, and finished the season there.[11] Over 24 games (23 starts) between the two teams, he went 8–6 with a 2.76 ERA, compiling 129 strikeouts and 38 walks over 130+2⁄3 innings.[12] Cox did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[13]

To begin the 2021 season, he was assigned to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Double-A Central, and was promoted to the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Triple-A East in late September.[14] Over 17 games (16 starts) between the two clubs, Cox went 4-1 with a 4.10 ERA and 56 strikeouts over 63 innings.[15][16] He returned to Omaha for the 2022 season.[17] Over 29 games (24 starts), he went 7-7 with a 4.21 ERA and 105 strikeouts over 147+1⁄3 innings.[18] Cox began the 2023 season with Omaha, posting a 2.21 ERA, 22 strikeouts, and 11 walks in 20+1⁄3 innings pitched across five games (four starts).

On May 3, 2023, Cox was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[19] He proceeded to set a modern Major League Baseball record by not allowing a hit to any of the first 39 batters he faced.[20] In 24 appearances for Kansas City, Cox logged a 4.54 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 35+2⁄3 innings pitched. On September 8, Cox departed an outing against the Toronto Blue Jays after he was struck by an Alejandro Kirk come backer and collapsed in pain as he tried to cover first base.[21] The next day, he was placed on the 60–day injured list, ending his season.[22] On September 12, Cox was diagnosed with a full ACL tear in his left knee, as well as damage to his MCL in the same knee.[23] On November 17, Cox was designated for assignment by the Royals following the acquisition of Nick Anderson.[24] The following day, Kansas City re-signed him to a minor league contract.[25]

Cox spent the 2024 campaign with Triple–A Omaha, compiling a 3.90 ERA with 31 strikeouts across 30 innings pitched. On July 11, 2024, Cox opted out of his minor league contract and elected free agency.[26] Cox re–signed with the Royals on a new minor league contract on July 16.[27] On November 6, he elected free agency.[28]

References

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  1. ^ "Austin Cox - Baseball". Mercer Bears. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  2. ^ Sargent, Tucker (November 20, 2014). "Middle Georgia native among Mercer baseball's 2015 signees". 41NBC News | WMGT-DT. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  3. ^ Mastroianni, Jake (January 22, 2018). "2018 CBD Season Preview and Predictions: Southern Conference". College Baseball Daily. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  4. ^ "FPD's Austin Cox thriving on the mound in junior year with Mercer | WGXA". Wgxa.tv. March 21, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  5. ^ Torres, Maria (June 5, 2018). "Meet the Royals' MLB draft picks: KC takes more college players on Day 2". The Wichita Eagle. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  6. ^ "Six SoCon players taken on day two of MLB Draft - SoConSports.com - Official Web Site of The Southern Conference". Nmnathletics.com. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  7. ^ Wolf, Jordan (June 5, 2018). "Royals draft more college players on Day 2 | Kansas City Royals". Mlb.com. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  8. ^ Por William Boor (July 23, 2019). "Top prospect performers for Tuesday July 23". MLB.com. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  9. ^ "Lexington's Southpaw Austin Cox Named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week | Legends". Milb.com. June 7, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  10. ^ "Legends, Kentuckians load up South Atlantic League all-star rosters". Legends, Kentuckians load up South Atlantic League all-star rosters. June 4, 2019. Archived from the original on June 8, 2019.
  11. ^ Battifarano, Andrew (September 13, 2019). "Cox hurls gem, keeps Blue Rocks alive". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 17, 2024. ...after [Cox] was promoted from Class A Lexington on June 23.
  12. ^ Lewis, Alec (December 16, 2019). "Exploring the timelines for the Royals' top pitching prospects – The Athletic". The Athletic. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  13. ^ Adler, David (June 30, 2020). "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  14. ^ Gillespie, Mike (May 31, 2021). "KC Royals: Omaha club is bursting with good things". Kings of Kauffman. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  15. ^ Lewis, Alec (November 18, 2021). "With Rule 5 draft deadline approaching: Who will the Royals protect? And what does it say about the club's future?". The Athletic. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  16. ^ Rogers, Anne (November 19, 2021). "MJ Melendez, Nick Pratto added to Royals' 40-man roster". MLB.com. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  17. ^ "Storm Chasers reveal preliminary roster for 2022 season". Omaha Storm Chasers. MiLB.com. April 4, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  18. ^ "Austin Cox Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  19. ^ "Royals' Austin Cox: Contract selected by KC". cbssports.com. RotoWire. May 3, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  20. ^ Rieper, Max (June 23, 2023). "Royals Rumblings - News for June 23, 2023". Royals Review. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  21. ^ "Royals' Austin Cox: Leaves game with leg injury". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  22. ^ "Royals' Austin Cox: Season over due to sprained knee". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  23. ^ "Royals' Austin Cox: Diagnosed with full ACL tear". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  24. ^ Deeds, Nick (November 17, 2023). "Royals Designate Austin Cox For Assignment". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  25. ^ Polishuk, Mark (November 18, 2023). "Royals Sign Four To Minor League Contracts". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  26. ^ Franco, Anthony (July 11, 2024). "Austin Cox Opts Out Of Royals Deal". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  27. ^ "Transactions". MiLB.com. July 16, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  28. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 6, 2024). "Minor League Free Agents 2024". Baseball America. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
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