Austin Cox #19

Austin resides in Kansas City, Mo., with his wife, Hope, with whom he celebrated their wedding on Dec. 16, 2022 in Charleston, S.C…they have a dog, Rosie, and they welcomed their first child, Cooper, together on Nov. 6, 2023... Graduated from First Presbyterian Day School (Ga.) in 2015, the same school that LHP Richard Lovelady attended...he pitched to a 2.19 career ERA and was captain of the football team... Pitched at Mercer University (Ga.) from 2016-18, where he led the club with 17 starts as a junior...his 12.7 K/9 rate was the second-highest mark in all of DI baseball, behind only 2022 AL All-Star Shane McClanahan at the University of South Florida (14.1).

2023

Cox had his contract selected for the first time on May 3, 2023 and enjoyed three stints on the Major League roster, from May 3-4, June 7-July 4 and July 19-Sept. 9, after which he was placed on the 60-day Injured List with a left knee sprain after injuring himself trying to cover first base in Toronto on Sept. 8... Made his big league debut on May 4 vs. Baltimore and worked 2.0 scoreless innings with one walk and his first strikeout to Anthony Santander... He began his Major League career by retiring 35 of the first 39 batters he faced across 6 relief appearances, allowing only four walks…his 39 batters without allowing a hit marked the longest such streak in the Expansion Era (since 1961), according to Elias, surpassing the record shared by Mark Rogers (32, Sept. 10-Oct. 1, 2010) and Joel McKeon (32, May 6-25, 1986), and the previous Royals record, held by D.J. Carrasco (23, April 2-14, 2003)... Recorded a 14.1-inning scoreless/homerless streak to begin his career, which tied Kris Wilson (2000) for the third-longest scoreless-inning streak to begin a career in Royals history, according to Elias, trailing Bob McClure (17.0 IP) from 1975-76 and Aaron Crow (15.1 IP) in 2011... Earned his 1st Major League save on Aug. 4 in Philadelphia, becoming the 42nd left hander to record a save in franchise history... In three starts with the Royals, he allowed seven runs in 10.1 innings, but in 21 relief appearances, he had a 3.91 ERA (11 ER in 25.1 IP) with one save... Made 12 appearances (nine starts) with Triple-A Omaha and went 2-1 with a 3.61 ERA (19 ER in 47.1 IP) with 39 strikeouts.

2022

Spent the entire 2022 season with Triple-A Omaha after earning his second consecutive invitation to Major League Spring Training...Made 29 appearances (24 starts) for the Storm Chasers, in which he went 7-7 and recorded his first career save while maintaining a 4.21 ERA (69 ER in 147.1 IP) and a career-high 105 strikeouts.

2021

Appeared in 15 games (all starts) for Double-A Northwest Arkansas, going 4-1 with a 3.00 ERA (21 ER in 63.0 IP), striking out 56 hitters with 25 walks....His final Double-A start was Game 1 of the Double-A Central Championship Series, when he allowed three runs on six hits in 4.0 innings vs. Wichita....Earned a promotion to Triple-A Omaha on Sept. 26, where he pitched in two games (1 start).

2020

Spent the season at the Alternate Training Site in Kansas City, Kansas...Also participated in the Royals’ postseason camp at Kauffman Stadium in October.

2019

Named a South Atlantic League midseason All- Star, splitting the year between Lexington (A) and Wilmington (A+)...His eight victories overall trailed only Brady Singer (12), Jonathan Bowlan (11) and Kris Bubic (11), for most among Royals minor league hurlers...Went 5-0 with a 1.79 ERA (10 ER in 50.1 IP) over his last eight starts with the Legends…tossed 6.1 innings of one-hit ball on May 28 at West Virginia, which earned him SAL Pitcher of the Week honors...Joined Wilmington on June 23…recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts and no walks over 7.0 innings on July 23 vs. Potomac, his sixth start with the Blue Rocks...Tossed 12.0 scoreless innings with 14 strikeouts (three walks) over two postseason starts, including 6.0 innings of one-hit ball in a Game 4 victory (2-0) in the Carolina League Championship Series.

2018

Recorded 51 strikeouts in 33.1 innings (13.8 K/9) in his first professional season, pitching at Burlington (Rookie)...Fanned a season-high nine batters over 3.2 innings in his second pro start, July 2 at Bluefield…matched that total over 5.0 innings in his next outing, July 8 vs. Greeneville...Collected his first victory on July 22, allowing one earned run on five hits over 5.0 innings, in a 9-2 triumph at Greeneville.