Prospect Profile: JB Cox

Once upon a time in baseball, it was unheard of for young pitchers to be groomed specifically as relievers or as closers. However, with starting pitchers no longer a given to pitch at least 8 innings every start as well as the evolution of the role of the closer, teams have realized the importance of a strong bullpen. Thus, the specialization of pitchers as relievers had begun, which leads us to our next potential Yankee star, James Brent Cox. JB Cox, as he’s often referred to as, would probably no longer be eligible for such a profile if not for elbow surgery prior to the 2007 season. If he was healthy, Cox would have likely been a part of the Yankees bullpen in 2007, but instead he had a ligament in his elbow repaired, but not replaced like it would be in Tommy John Surgery. Cox also injured his hand in a bar fight, but that was only a minor injury. The 23 year old right hander was selected by the Yankees in the second round of the 2005 draft out of the University of Texas. Cox had become a legend at the University of Texas as their closer in their national championship season of 2005. Cox had inherited the role of closer after former teammate and now Oakland A’s closer Huston Street had left to the major leagues, allowing Cox to record the final out of Texas’s magical season. Cox had ERA’s of 2.25, 2.12, and 1.73 respectively in his three years at Texas and his success continued upon entering the Yankees minor league system where he posted a 2.60 for high A Tampa in 2005 and followed it up with a 1.75 ERA for AA Trenton in 2006. When 2.60 is the highest ERA you’ve ever finished with then you know things are going well. Cox compliments these pretty ERA’s with low home run and walk rates as well as a 7.51 K/9 in the minors which was even better in college. In 290.1 career innings (college and minors) Cox has allowed only 7 home runs which is exactly what you want to see from a reliever. His 0.99 WHIP from the minors certainly isn’t bad either.
Cox throws a fastball, a slider, and a changeup, and also throws all his pitches in a unique arm angle that used to be nearly side armed in college but the Yankees have raised it up a bit to a more three quarters delivery. His fastball is usually clocked in the 93 mph range with a lot of sink that has compared to that of Derek Lowe’s sinker. His slider is right around 85 mph and has been said to be even better then that of his former teammate Huston Street. Cox only began working on his changeup later in his career as he started using it in the 2006 season. As of now it is an average pitch to give hitters a different look, but if it continues to develop into a plus pitch it will be the thing that solidifies Cox as an elite reliever. Many scouts compare Cox to Scott Shields, although Cox seems to lack Shields durability. The only thing that could really keep Cox from fulfilling his potential is the injury problems, especially since they’ve already set him back at least a year. Cox used to be the obvious heir apparent of the closer role once Mariano Rivera hangs them up for good, but now he’ll have to re-establish himself and compete with other pitchers like Kevan Whelan and Humberto Sanchez for the role. The journey back should start early next season, possibly even right from the start where Cox may be sent back to single A ball until he gets a better feeling of pitching again. Only then can he get back to where he was in AA Trenton and hope to advance further in the system. Cox certainly would have already been a staple in the Yankees pen if not for the injuries, and while its possible that a late season debut could happen, 2009 is looking a lot more likely.