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Interview with Tyler Cox

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2008
R:  2-3-0, 1.79 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 45.1 IP, 2.2 BB/9, 8.3 K/9
A-:  0-1-0, 13.50 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 2 IP, 4.5 BB/9, 13.50 K/9

Posted very good numbers as a starter and reliever in the GCL, but you have to take into account the fact that he was a college senior facing much younger players.  He made one late-season appearance with State College.

2009
A-:  8-3-0, 3.93 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 73.1 IP, 1.8 BB/9, 7.0 K/9
A:  0-4-0, 10.25 ERA, 1.98 WHIP, 26.1 IP, 4.1 BB/9, 5.8 K/9

Started the season at West Virginia and couldn’t get anybody out in eight games.  Cox joined State College when its season opened and had a decent ERA, but opponents still hit .279 against him and his K rate was a little on the low side.  Cox started ten times out of 15 appearances.

2010
A+:  6-2-1, 3.32 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 62.1 IP, 4.8 BB/9, 10.1 K/9

Cox moved full-time to relief and spent the season at Bradenton.  He had a very good season, including a .199 opponents’ average.  In fact, he was almost flawless outside of one very bad month (May) in which he gave up over half his season’s total of earned runs.  The one issue was control, but he had a very high K rate.  RH batters hit for only a slightly higher BA against him than LH hitters, but they accounted for all but one of the eight HRs he allowed.

2011
A+:  2-0-0, 2.60 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 27.2 IP, 3.6 BB/9, 9.1 K/9
AA:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 1 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9

Cox was hurt at the start of the year and didn’t pitch until mid-June, when he rejoined Bradenton.  He struggled in his first two outings, but had little trouble after that.  Overall he had a 2.60 ERA, .175 opponents’ BA, 1.05 WHIP and 91 K/9.  Without the first two games, he had a 1.42 ERA, .144 opponents’ BA, 0.95 WHIP and 8.9 K/9.  He was very effective against hitters from both sides of the plate.

Cox was eligible for the Rule 5 draft this fall, but wasn’t selected.  He’ll turn 26 early in the 2012 season and has pitched only one inning above class A, so he’ll need to show quickly that his stuff will play at higher levels.