The Braves have officially signed left-handed pitcher Austin Cox to a Major League contract and assigned him to Triple-A Gwinnett. Cox was previously with the Royals on a minor league deal, but according to his MLB.com profile, he was released by Triple-A Omaha earlier today.
Cox’s brief big league career consists of just 35 2/3 innings with a 4.54 ERA for Kansas City in 2023, so it’s somewhat surprising to see him secure a guaranteed contract. However, offering a guaranteed spot on the 40-man roster isn’t unusual for teams trying to outbid others for a player with minimal or no MLB experience. The Braves may have had an added advantage, as Cox hails from Macon, Georgia, making this move a homecoming of sorts.
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A fifth-round pick by the Royals in the 2018 draft, Cox is changing teams for the first time in his professional career. His 2023 MLB debut was cut short after he tore his ACL in September, but he made a successful recovery and was back on the mound by mid-April 2024. Last season, Cox posted a 4.25 ERA, with a 24% strikeout rate and a 15.2% walk rate across 55 innings in Triple-A. In 12 2/3 innings with Omaha this year, he showed notable improvement, posting a 3.55 ERA with a 32.7% strikeout rate and a 10.9% walk rate.
Despite his improved performance in the minors, the Royals decided to part ways with the 28-year-old. Now with Atlanta, Cox could add depth to a Braves bullpen that has seen a lot of turnover. If he gets another shot at the majors, he could join Dylan Lee and Aaron Bummer as the left-handed options in the Braves’ bullpen.
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