Kansas City Royals top 10 prospects for 2019

Austin Cox, LHP

Birthday: 3/28/1997 (21)
Acquired: Draft, 5th round, 2018
Level(s): advanced rookie Burlington
Statistics: 9 GS, 33 1/3 IP, 3.78 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 10.5% BB, 35.7% K

The focus on college pitching in the 2018 draft by the Kansas City Royals led to unearthing some incredible gems. One of those certainly was Mercer’s Austin Cox, drafted in the 5th round.

Cox was known for having two elite breaking pitches but a hittable fastball. His 6’4″, 200-ish pound frame is incredibly athletic, and that athleticism played up quickly in the short time he spent in Burlington working on his delivery to clean up and repeat his mechanics.

With a fastball that reaches the mid-90s without extra effort, Cox has the build and raw stuff to be a mid-rotation starter from the left side. His slider is a pitch that he can manipulate as a firm, hard-breaking slider or a sweeping pitch, but if he struggles in his delivery, he can round off the pitch between the two varieties. If he’s able to repeat his delivery well, the slider can be even a plus-plus pitch.

Pairing that potential double-plus slider with his already above-average curve that he could see tick up to plus with a consistent delivery and arm slot would already allow Cox to fit as a back-end reliever. If he can also see his average-ish change tick up as well, Cox could be a mid-rotation starter with even more ceiling along with the ability to move quickly.