Austin Cox Bio
Austin Cox, born on March 28, 1997, is an American professional baseball pitcher currently playing for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). A left-handed pitcher, Cox has also spent time in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Kansas City Royals and the Atlanta Braves. He made his MLB debut in 2023 after a steady climb through the Kansas City minor league system. He now represents the BayStars wearing jersey No. 42, continuing his career in Japan’s top professional league.
Early Life and Background
Austin Cox grew up in Macon, Georgia, where he attended First Presbyterian Day School. As a two-sport high school athlete, he played both baseball and football, eventually choosing to focus on pitching. Over the course of his high school career, he posted a 15–6 record with a 2.19 earned run average (ERA), establishing himself as one of the more promising young arms in the area.
Despite that performance, Cox went undrafted in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft. He chose to honor his college commitment and joined the Mercer University baseball program, where he continued to develop his skills on the mound. His time at Mercer allowed him to refine his mechanics and gain valuable experience as a starter, preparing him for the next level of professional baseball.
Path to Professional Baseball
Cox’s college career at Mercer University unfolded over three seasons, marked by steady improvement. In 2016, his freshman year, he pitched 24 innings and compiled a 2–2 record with a 10.13 ERA. As a sophomore in 2016, he started 15 games, going 4–2 with a 5.69 ERA, showing flashes of his potential.
By his junior year in 2018, Cox had earned the role of Mercer’s Friday night starter, a clear sign of his growth. Over 17 starts, he pitched to a 7–4 record with a 4.52 ERA, striking out 124 batters across 87 and two-thirds innings. That performance caught the attention of Major League scouts, and the Kansas City Royals selected him in the fifth round, 152nd overall, of the 2018 MLB draft.
Austin Cox Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
After signing with the Royals, Cox made his professional debut with the Burlington Royals of the Rookie-level Appalachian League. In nine starts, he went 1–1 with a 3.78 ERA, adjusting to the demands of professional baseball. The following year, he began with the Lexington Legends of the Single-A South Atlantic League, where he was named an All-Star and earned Pitcher of the Week honors in early June 2019.
On June 23, 2019, Cox was promoted to the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the High-A Carolina League, where he finished the season. Across both levels, he appeared in 24 games, making 23 starts, going 8–6 with a 2.76 ERA, 129 strikeouts, and 38 walks over 130 and two-thirds innings. The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, costing Cox a full year of development.
Minor League Development and MLB Debut (2021–2023)
Cox began 2021 with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of Double-A Central before earning a late-season promotion to the Triple-A East’s Omaha Storm Chasers. Over 17 games and 16 starts, he went 4–1 with a 4.10 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 63 innings. He returned to Omaha in 2022, where he appeared in 29 games with 24 starts, going 7–7 with a 4.21 ERA and 105 strikeouts over 147 and one-third innings.
Cox started the 2023 season with Omaha, posting a 2.21 ERA, 22 strikeouts, and 11 walks in 20 and one-third innings across five appearances. On May 3, 2023, he was selected to the Royals’ 40-man roster and promoted to the majors for the first time. He immediately made headlines by setting a modern MLB record of not allowing a hit to any of the first 39 batters he faced. In 24 appearances for Kansas City, Cox logged a 4.54 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 35 and two-thirds innings.
His season ended abruptly on September 8, 2023, when he was struck by a come-backer from Alejandro Kirk of the Toronto Blue Jays and collapsed in pain while trying to cover first base. The next day, he was placed on the 60-day injured list. On September 12, Cox was diagnosed with a full ACL tear in his left knee along with MCL damage, ending his rookie campaign. On November 17, he was designated for assignment following the Royals’ acquisition of Nick Anderson, but he re-signed with Kansas City on a minor league deal the following day.
Atlanta Braves and Move to Japan (2024–2025)
Cox spent the 2024 season with Triple-A Omaha, posting a 3.90 ERA with 31 strikeouts across 30 innings. He opted out of his minor league contract on July 11, 2024, elected free agency, then re-signed with the Royals on July 16. After the season, he again elected free agency on November 4.
On January 2, 2025, Cox re-signed with Kansas City on a new minor league contract. In 11 appearances for Triple-A Omaha, he went 2–1 with a 3.55 ERA and 18 strikeouts across 12 and two-thirds innings. He was released by the Royals organization on May 4, 2025. That same day, he signed a major league contract with the Atlanta Braves and was optioned to the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers. In 13 appearances for Atlanta, Cox struggled to an 8.86 ERA with 22 strikeouts across 21 and one-third innings. On November 6, 2025, he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A Gwinnett, electing free agency the same day. On December 10, 2025, Cox signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball, beginning a new chapter of his career in Japan.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Austin Cox’s career came during his 2023 MLB debut season, when he set a modern Major League Baseball record by not allowing a hit to any of the first 39 batters he faced. That stretch of dominance quickly established his reputation as a pitcher capable of silencing opposing lineups. His tenure was cut short by a serious knee injury later that year, but his resilience has carried him to international competition in Japan.
Austin Cox Family
Personal Life
Public information about Austin Cox’s personal and family life is limited. He is recognized primarily for his accomplishments on the mound, and details about his parents, spouse, or children have not been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Austin Cox’s 2025 season was defined by movement between organizations. He opened the year with Triple-A Omaha under a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals, pitching effectively with a 2–1 record, a 3.55 ERA, and 18 strikeouts across 12 and two-thirds innings in 11 appearances. His performance at the Triple-A level showed glimpses of his potential, though the Royals ultimately released him on May 4, 2025.
That same day, Cox signed a major league contract with the Atlanta Braves and was optioned to the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers. His time in the Atlanta bullpen proved difficult, as he posted an 8.86 ERA with 22 strikeouts across 21 and one-third innings in 13 appearances. On November 6, 2025, the Braves removed him from the 40-man roster and sent him outright to Triple-A Gwinnett, after which he elected free agency.
Just over a month later, on December 10, 2025, Cox signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball, opening the door to a fresh opportunity in Japan. As he transitions to the NPB, Cox brings a track record of perseverance, a notable MLB rookie record, and the experience of nearly 40 career major league appearances to his new role with the BayStars.