Cole Wilcox

Last updated

Cole Wilcox
Tampa Bay Rays – No. 73
Pitcher
Born: (1999-07-14) July 14, 1999 (age 26)
Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 19, 2025, for the Tampa Bay Rays
Men's baseball
Representing Flag of the United States.svg  United States
U-18 Baseball World Cup
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2017 Thunder Bay Team

Mitchell Cole Wilcox (born July 14, 1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Contents

Amateur career

Wilcox attended Heritage High School in Ringgold, Georgia, where he played baseball, basketball, and football. [1] He committed to play college baseball at the University of Georgia as a freshman. [2] In 2018, his senior year, he went 9–2 with a 1.59 ERA, striking out 95 batters over 65+23 innings. [3] [4] He was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 37th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign and instead chose to fulfill his college commitment. [5]

In 2019, Wilcox's freshman year at Georgia, he appeared in 19 games (six starts) in which he went 3–2 with a 4.07 ERA, striking out 64 over 59+23 innings. [6] He specifically excelled during SEC play, compiling a 2.29 ERA and a .184 batting average against over 43+23 innings pitched during conference play. [7] He was named to the All-SEC Freshman Team. [8] That summer, he played for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, and also played briefly for the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League. [9] [10] [11] Wilcox compiled a 3–0 record and a 1.57 ERA over four starts in 2020 before the college baseball season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [12]

Professional career

San Diego Padres

Wilcox was considered a top prospect for the 2020 Major League Baseball draft. [13] [14] He was selected by the San Diego Padres in the third round with the 80th overall selection. [15] He signed with the Padres on June 30 for a $3.3 million signing bonus, a record among players drafted in the third round. [16] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the pandemic. [17]

Tampa Bay Rays

On December 29, 2020, Wilcox, along with Luis Patiño, Blake Hunt, and Francisco Mejía, were traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Blake Snell. [18] To begin the 2021 season, he was assigned to the Charleston RiverDogs of the Low-A East. [19] He was placed on the 10-day injured list with an elbow strain on July 19, and transferred to the 60-day injured list on August 9, effectively ending his season. [20] Over ten starts prior to the injury, Wilcox was 1-0 with a 2.03 ERA, striking out 52 batters over 44+13 innings. [21] He underwent Tommy John surgery in early September. [22]

Wilcox was activated off the injured list in early August 2022 and made seven appearances between the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Rays and Charleston. [23] Over seven starts between the two teams, he went 0-2 with a 3.94 ERA and 24 strikeouts over 16 innings. [24] For the 2023 season, he was assigned to the Montgomery Biscuits of the Double-A Southern League. [25] Over 25 starts, Wilcox went 6-8 with a 5.23 ERA and 99 strikeouts over 106+23 innings. [26] He split the 2024 season between Montgomery and the Durham Bulls and pitched to a 10-7 record and 3.57 ERA over 28 starts between the two teams. Wilcox opened the 2025 season with Montgomery in a relief role, and was promoted to Durham in late April. [27] Over 39 games between the two teams, he went 2-5 with a 3.70 ERA. [28]

On September 17, the Rays selected Wilcox's contract and promoted him to the major leagues. [29] He would make his debut on September 19 against the Boston Red Sox, pitching one inning with one strikeout and giving up seven runs. [30] Wilcox was optioned back to Triple-A Durham the following day. [31]

References

  1. Nyman, Rick (April 19, 2018). "Heritage Hard Throwing Pitcher Cole Wilcox Attracts Plenty of Attention". WDEF-TV .
  2. "Heritage pitcher Cole Wilcox makes it official by signing with 'dream school'". timesfreepress.com. November 9, 2017.
  3. McElhaney, Tori (May 28, 2018). "Draft profile: Cole Wilcox". MLB.com.
  4. Adams, Kipp (June 5, 2018). "Cole Wilcox turns down MLB Draft for Georgia". Dawgs247.
  5. Janes, Chelsea (June 6, 2018). "Nationals scoop up position players on Day 3 of MLB draft". The Washington Post .
  6. Cantrell, Mason (February 13, 2020). "Bulldogs open season with 'Unfinished business'". Athens Banner-Herald .
  7. MacCoon, Patrick (June 16, 2019). "Heritage graduate Cole Wilcox was sharp in SEC play as Georgia freshman". timesfreepress.com.
  8. "Baseball: Five Bulldogs Earn All-SEC Honors". WGXA (Press release). Georgia Bulldogs. May 21, 2019.
  9. "Hancock and Wilcox Invited to USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Camp". USA Baseball . June 7, 2019.
  10. Keneely, Kevin (July 19, 2019). "Cole Wilcox helps Team USA one-hit Japan". WSB Radio.
  11. "Cole Wilcox". pointstreak.com. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  12. Adams, Kipp (March 13, 2020). "UGA baseball player Cole Wilcox begs SEC for one more game". Dawgs247.
  13. "Top Draft Prospects". MLB.com.
  14. Rowe, Jake (June 6, 2019). "Pair of Georgia pitchers projected top-10 in 2020 MLB Draft". Dawgs247.
  15. Towers, Chip (June 12, 2020). "Padres wait till third round to snatch Georgia's Cole Wilcox". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution .
  16. Sanders, Jeff (June 30, 2020). "Padres sign third-rounder Cole Wilcox for record $3.3 million". The San Diego Union-Tribune .
  17. West, Jenna (June 30, 2020). "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Canceled". Sports Illustrated .
  18. Cassavell, AJ (December 30, 2020). "Padres' blockbuster trade for Snell official". San Diego Padres . Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  19. Dykstra, Sam (April 30, 2021). "Where TB top prospects are starting season". MLB.com .
  20. "Rays' Cole Wilcox: Out with undisclosed injury". CBS Sports . July 19, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  21. "Rays' Cole Wilcox: Out with elbow strain". CBS Sports. August 4, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  22. Adams, Steve (September 10, 2021). "Rays Prospect Cole Wilcox Undergoes Tommy John Surgery". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  23. "Rays' Cole Wilcox: Kicks off rehab assignment". CBS Sports. August 8, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  24. "Cole Wilcox Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com .
  25. Dykstra, Sam (April 5, 2023). "Where Rays' top prospects are starting 2023 season". MLB.com. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  26. Camras, Noah (February 16, 2024). "Padres News: Key Piece of Blake Snell Trade Signs Minor League Deal With Angels". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  27. Topkin, Marc (March 4, 2025). "Remember the Blake Snell trade? As Rays' last man left, Cole Wilcox does". Tampa Bay Times . Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  28. "Rays' Cole Wilcox: Added to roster". CBS Sports. September 17, 2025. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  29. Adams, Steve (September 17, 2025). "Rays Select Cole Wilcox". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  30. https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rays-cole-wilcox-optioned-after-big-league-debut/
  31. "Rays' Cole Wilcox: Optioned after big-league debut". CBS Sports. September 20, 2025. Retrieved September 21, 2025.