KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Mercer baseball 2018 MLB fifth-round draft pick Austin Cox was called up to the Kansas City Royals from AAA affiliate Omaha Storm Chasers on Wednesday, it was announced by the Royals.
 
Cox, a left-handed pitcher, has played in five games, starting four, for the Storm Chasers so far this season. He has struck out 22 batters in 20 1/3 innings to start the year and currently owns a 2.21 ERA.
 
The Macon, Georgia, native joins the Royals ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles at 7:40 p.m. (ET). This is Cox’s first time receiving a call-up to the MLB.
 
While at Mercer, Cox made 59 appearances, including 33 starts, across three years. During his third season, Cox recorded a 4.52 ERA while starting all 17 games, earning seven wins. He struck out 124 batters in 87 2/3 innings pitched that year, posting 12.73 strikeouts per nine innings, which ranked ninth nationally. His 124 strikeouts are the second-most in a single season in Mercer program history.