Drafted in the 3rd round (103rd overall) by the Boston Red Sox in 2006 (signed for $250,000).
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Cox is an intriguing senior sign who was face down in the draft pool at this time a year ago. He was considered a first five rounds talent last year before he suddenly couldn't find the strike zone. He was struggling this spring as well, with an ERA hovering around 7.00, until the Owls coaching staff altered his arm angle. Suddenly Cox was throwing 97 mph with a high-80s slider and pitched well for in a regional appearance against Prairie View A&M in a tight game, sending him back up draft boards.
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With shoulder problems putting Jonathan Papelbon's career as a closer in jeopardy, the Red Sox were searching for a new closer in spring training last year. Given his spectacular success down the stretch with Rice and in his pro debut the year before, there was talk that Cox might even take over the role at some point during his first full season. That didn't happen, of course, and not just because Papelbon proved healthy enough to keep the job. After finally finding a compact delivery and a three-quarters arm slot that not only worked for him but also produced spectacular results, Cox lost them again in 2007. He missed time in Double-A and again after a demotion to low Class A with hamstring strains, and he never got his mechanics back. The Red Sox tried everything, even hitting him groundballs at third base like the Rice coaching staff had. By the end of the year, Cox had regained the 92-94 mph velocity on his fastball, but it didn't have its previous ride and sink. His wipeout slider also remained AWOL. The logical next step for him in 2008 would be high Class A, but Boston doesn't want to expose him to Lancaster while he's struggling. He's an enigma with huge upside, but the fact remains that in five years of college and pro ball, he has dominated for just four months.
More of a third baseman at Paris (Texas) Junior College, Cox had major command issues after transferring to Rice. Then a shortened delivery suddenly clicked for him, and he posted a 0.32 ERA and a 36-4 K-BB ratio over his final 28 innings. After signing for $250,000 as a college senior, he was nearly as dominant in his pro debut. Cox' wipeout slider features so much lateral break that the Owls' Danny Lehmann, one of college baseball's top receivers, struggled to hang on to it. The Red Sox knew Cox had a 92-93 mph fastball that could touch 96, but they were surprised by how much riding life and sink the pitch has. He's working on a changeup for lefthanders, but they didn't give him much trouble in his debut, going 7-for-43 (.163) with one extra-base hit (a double). The Red Sox rushed relievers from the previous two drafts, and both Cla Meredith and Craig Hansen suffered for it. They'll try to take it slow with Cox and may start him back in high Class A. If he keeps pitching like this, though, he could reach Boston by the end of 2007.
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Rated Best Slider in the Boston Red Sox in 2007
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