Austin Cox | |
---|---|
Kansas City Royals | |
Pitcher | |
Born: Macon, Georgia, U.S. | March 28, 1997|
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
MLB debut | |
May 4, 2023, for the Kansas City Royals | |
MLB statistics (through 2023 season) | |
Win–loss record | 0–1 |
Earned run average | 4.54 |
Strikeouts | 33 |
Teams | |
Austin Cox (born March 28,1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Kansas City Royals organization. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut for the Royals in 2023.
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]
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] He was promoted to the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the High–A Carolina League in June, 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]
Below are select minor league players of the San Diego Padres organization and the rosters of their minor league affiliates:
Aaron Lee Brooks is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Oakland Athletics organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles, and St. Louis Cardinals, and in the KBO League for the Kia Tigers.
Michael Ryan Mariot is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Seattle Mariners organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cincinnati Reds, and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the CTBC Brothers.
Fred Foster Griffin is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays.
Joshua Tyler Staumont is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals. He made his MLB debut in 2019.
Brad Michael Keller is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox. He made his MLB debut with the Royals in 2018.
Richard Tyler Lovelady is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, and Chicago Cubs. Lovelady was selected by the Royals in the 10th round of the 2016 MLB draft.
Jackson Alexander Kowar is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals.
Justin Charles Anderson is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Angels.
Austin Richard Davis, nicknamed "Big Fudge", is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Red Sox, and Minnesota Twins. He was selected by the Phillies in the 12th round of the 2014 MLB draft and made his major league debut for them in 2018.
Gregory Wyatt Mills is an American professional baseball relief pitcher in the Boston Red Sox organization. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2021 for the Seattle Mariners and has also played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals.
Joseph Israel Barlow is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers.
Daniel Vincent Tillo is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 3rd round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.
Ángel David Zerpa is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2021.
Samuel Trenton Long is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics. He played college baseball for the Sacramento State Hornets. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 18th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. In 2018, at 23 years of age, he stopped playing baseball for a year and explored becoming a firefighter, but decided to stick with baseball and made his MLB debut with the Giants in 2021.
Yunior Marte is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born in Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic.
Collin Kenneth Snider is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals.
William Boone Klein is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB).
José Luis Cuas is a Dominican-American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals and Chicago Cubs.
Steven Adalberto Cruz is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB).