Kansas City Royals: Prospect Q&A with pitcher Austin Cox

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(Photo by Brian Davidson/Getty Images) /

Austin Cox was drafted in the 5th round of 2018 MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals and has quietly established himself as a can’t miss prospect.

If ever there were a prospect that has caught my attention this year not part of the fab-five, Austin Cox would be at the top of that list. Cox, 22, was a 2018 5th round draft pick by the Kansas City Royals out of Mercer College. In his junior season, he went 7-4 with a 4.52 ERA while tossing 87.2 innings and striking out 124 strikeouts. His 12.73 K/9 ranked ninth nationally and his strikeouts were the second-most in school history.

Cox got started with the Burlington Royals last season, making 9 starts while tossing 33.1 innings with 51 strikeouts to just 15 walks. He held opponents to a 0.228 batting average and spun a 3.78 ERA. This season, he split time between Single-A and High-A and made two playoff starts for Wilmington in their run to the Carolina League Championship. In those starts, Cox had a perfect 0.00 ERA in 12.0 innings of work with 14 strikeouts and held opponents to a ridiculous 0.186 batting average.

We had the chance to catch up with him about his 2019 season and other odds and ends.

Q: Coming from Mercer College, what was the draft process like for you and how interested were the Royals in you throughout the draft process? Based on the level of interest, was there a particular team you thought might select you?

A: I would say that it was a pretty normal draft process. I didn’t have much hype considering I was a little bit of a late bloomer, but I felt like it was a pretty normal process. Everyone in the draft kind of tries to keep their cards close to the vest so to speak, so in my mind, everyone had about the same amount of interest.

“This is something that the Royals have preached to us since day 1 is that winning is a priority here.”

Q: Consistency has been a big key for you posting nearly identical ERA’s from Single-A to High-A this season. Can you tell me why you think you were able to be so successful this year?

A: I think it was just learning to really pitch and see how hitters react to certain things. Not to mention trusting the great defenses that were behind me every outing. The biggest adjustment I had to make early in the year was not nibbling and falling behind early, but instead going right after guys with my best stuff. The second big reason would have to be pitching inside. Third, I would have to say that refining my curveball and learning the situations that really help it play up.

Q: You were fantastic in 2 playoff starts. Can you walk me through those starts and what that championship run for you guys felt like? And what does it personally mean to you seeing several of the Royals affiliates winning their respective league’s championship?

A: Postseason baseball is always so much fun. I’m an extremely competitive guy so I love these situations and want the ball in my hand in these situations. For those two starts, I just told myself to trust the guys behind me and get this team to the next day. If I could get us to game 5 I had a really good feeling about what would happen the next day. If I did my job I know the guy following me whether it was relievers or the next days’ starter was going to do their job. That championship run was extremely special because of the way we played with our backs up against the wall. We were 5-0 facing elimination. That’s something that doesn’t come easily without guys coming together and fighting for one another. It’s also awesome to see the guys all over the farm getting it done too! This is something that the Royals have preached to us since day 1 is that winning is a priority here.

“It was just so cool seeing everyone step up game after game”

Q: I was chatting with Kris Bubic about this a little bit, but what are your personal thoughts on analytics and how the Royals are utilizing them? Are you seeing anything in your game from spin rates and/or pitch usage?

A: I think that the Royals have done a really good job with pitching and the analytics side. We use it every time we throw off of a mound so we are constantly refining our game. The main thing Rapsodo has helped me with was my curveball efficiency and spin direction to get it separated from my slider.

Q: Where do you feel you still need to improve in your game and how are you going to accomplish that?

A: I think I need to continue to get my changeup more consistent. This just comes from throwing it consistently and finding the right times in games to throw it.

Q: Other than your starts and the final out, what was your favorite moment from the championship run?

A: I would have to say my favorite moment would be just watching the team come together and battle with our backs up against the wall. There were so many points where just one person giving in and throwing in the towel would have sent us all home. It was just so cool seeing everyone step up game after game to get us to the end holding up that trophy.

A special thank you to Austin (@AustinJCox8) for speaking with us. We hope to see you very soon at the K!

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Austin Cox was drafted in the 5th round of 2018 MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals and has quietly established himself as a can’t miss prospect.

“This is something that the Royals have preached to us since day 1 is that winning is a priority here.”

“It was just so cool seeing everyone step up game after game”

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