Cox (knee) signed a minor-league contract with the Royals on Saturday.
After being designated for assignment and later non-tendered by the Royals on Friday, the team will now bring Cox back to round out their farm system for next season. The 26-year-old southpaw put up a 4.54 ERA over 35.2 frames during his first season in the majors before tearing the ACL and damaging the MCL in his left knee in September. The injury will likely cause him to miss the beginning of next season.
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Austin Cox: Cut loose by Kansas City
Rotowire
Cox (knee) was non-tendered by the Royals on Friday.
Cox was designated for assignment earlier in the day and is now officially a free agent. The 26-year-old left-hander posted a 4.54 ERA over his first 35.2 major-league innings in 2023 before suffering a full tear of the ACL in his left knee in early September. He also did damage to his left MCL and might have to miss the start of the 2024 campaign.
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Royals' Austin Cox: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
The Royals designated Cox (knee) for assignment Friday.
In order to make room for the acquisition of Nick Anderson from Atlanta, Cox will be booted from the 40-man roster and placed on the waiver wire. Cox put up a 4.54 ERA and 1.26 WHIP through 35.2 innings with the Royals in 2023, but he could be at risk of missing the start of the 2024 campaign after tearing his left ACL and damaging his MCL in September.
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Royals' Austin Cox: Diagnosed with full ACL tear
Rotowire
Cox was diagnosed Tuesday with a full ACL tear as well as damage to the MCL in his left knee, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Cox suffered the knee injury Friday, when he was hit by a comebacker and stumbled awkwardly to the ground. He will receive a second opinion, but the Royals fully expect that he'll require surgery. It's not known at this point how long his rehab process will take, but Cox could be sidelined for the start of the 2024 campaign.
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Royals' Austin Cox: Leaves game with leg injury
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Cox left Friday's game against the Blue Jays with an apparent leg injury, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
Making a relief appearance in the bottom of the seventh inning, Cox was struck by an Alejandro Kirk comebacker and went down in pain as he tried to cover first base. He was unable to walk off the field without assistance, suggesting the injury could be season-ending, but Cox's status should become clearer after he's sent for testing.
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Royals' Austin Cox: Gets hold, but cedes two runs
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Cox retired one batter and picked up his third hold of the season but was charged with two earned runs on two walks in Monday's 7-6 win over the Royals.
Cox appeared poised to pick up a save chance Monday, as he entered the game in the top of the ninth with the Royals holding a 5-4 lead. After issuing a leadoff walk, Cox was able to induce a groundout but was then pulled from the game after walking the next batter he faced. Nick Wittgren came on with one out and two on and wasn't able to protect the Royals' 5-4 lead, but he ended up scooping up the backdoor win after Kansas City broke through for two runs in the bottom of the ninth. With all three of the Royals' high-leverage relievers in Cox, Wittgren and Carlos Hernandez (two outs recorded, two earned runs allowed) struggling Tuesday, the team's closing situation would still appear to be highly unsettled in the wake of Scott Barlow being dealt to the Padres on Aug. 1.
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Royals' Austin Cox: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Cox was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
The move comes a day after Cox allowed three runs over 4.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Twins. Cox had pitched well in relief for the Royals but was ineffective in both starts with the big club. It's not clear whether he'll be used in the rotation or bullpen at Omaha.
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Royals' Austin Cox: Falters again in starting role
Rotowire
Cox allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out four batters over 4.2 innings in a no-decision against Minnesota on Monday.
Cox fared a little better than in his first MLB start last Wednesday, when he yielded four runs over 3.2 frames against Cleveland. However, the southpaw allowed a lot of traffic on the basepaths and wasn't able to record a single 1-2-3 inning. Cox was yanked after 4.2 frames having thrown 81 pitches (53 for a strike), and he's going to need to be able to go deeper into contests in order to be a viable starter. It remains to be seen if the Royals will keep in the rotation or move him back to the bullpen, where he thrived with 12.1 scoreless innings to begin his big-league career.
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Royals' Austin Cox: Drawing another start
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Cox is scheduled to start Monday's game in Minnesota, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
After opening his big-league career with 12.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, Cox was moved into the rotation last week. He couldn't keep the momentum going in a starting role, as he lasted just 3.2 innings in his first career start while giving up four earned runs on four hits and four walks en route to taking a loss to the Guardians. Despite the poor showing, Cox will get another chance to start against a divisional opponent, though he may need to show improvement Monday to stick as the team's fifth starter over Alec Marsh coming out of the All-Star break.
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Royals' Austin Cox: Takes loss in first start
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Cox (0-1) took the loss against Cleveland on Wednesday, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks while striking out two batters over 3.2 innings.
Cox was magnificent in his first six major-league appearances (all out of the bullpen), posting 12.1 scoreless innings with a 13:4 K:BB. The scoreless streak continued for two frames in his first start Wednesday, but Jose Ramirez put an end to it with a grand slam in the third. Cox retired five of the next seven batters before being pulled with two outs in the fourth. Control was a problem for him in the outing, as he threw just 39 of 68 pitches for a strike and walked four. The last-place Royals could keep in the rotation to see if he's able to improve upon his poor first start, though his minor-league numbers don't inspire confidence that he's ready to be a reliable big-league arm.
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Royals' Austin Cox: Back in minors
Rotowire
Cox was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
Cox did well in his major-league debut Thursday, allowing just one man to reach base over two scoreless frames. He's performed well in Triple-A as well (2.21 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), so it wouldn't be surprising to see him return to Kansas City at some point this season. Jonathan Heasley was promoted to the Royals to take Cox's roster spot.
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Royals' Austin Cox: Summoned from Triple-A
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The Royals selected Cox's contract from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.
Cox will be making his MLB debut the first time he makes an appearance out of the Kansas City bullpen. The 26-year-old left-hander had posted a 2.21 ERA and 22:11 K:BB through 20.1 innings (four starts, one relief appearance) this season at Omaha.
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Royals' Austin Cox: Building up in extended ST
Rotowire
Cox (not injury related) is being held back in extended spring training as he builds up before joining an affiliate in mid-May, Sam Dykstra of MLB.com reports.
It's possible Cox was delayed by COVID protocols or that the Royals are simply slow playing his buildup to manage his innings on the year. Cox will likely head to High-A or Double-A.
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Royals' Austin Cox: Joining major-league camp
Rotowire
Cox received an invitation Friday to join the Royals' big-league camp.
Cox got to stay close to the major-league team as part of the Royals' 60-man player pool last season and will now get to work with the organization's big-league coaches this spring. He's impressed so far in his professional career, riding a 26.6 percent strikeout rate and 7.8 percent walk rate to a 2.96 ERA in 164 innings, though none of those innings have come above High-A. He'll likely need some time in the upper minors before pushing for his MLB debut.
