The Giants are looking for a spark, and they have called up outfielder Jonah Cox from Double-A Richmond. Cox describes himself as a “hair-on-fire” player. The Giants are trying to fend off the cellar-dwelling Rockies, who trailed them by a half-game in the standings.
Cox’s Unexpected Call-Up
Cox, 24 and a native of Louisville, Colorado, received the news during a team meeting. The meeting’s topic was how to handle oneself in the Major League environment.
Cox recalled that they talked about how to act like a big leaguer and the way you play. Little did he know, he would end up being “Exhibit A” at the end of the discussion.
He had a challenging journey to the big leagues. Cox explained that he got on a flight from Akron to Chicago at 7 o’clock on Saturday night, and got into O’Hare at around 10. The flight got delayed repeatedly, and he ended up leaving at 7 o’clock the next morning.
Despite the flight delays, Cox has arrived in the big leagues ahead of schedule.
Impressive Stats Earned Promotion
It is rare these days to see a player jump from Double-A to the Majors. This jump can sometimes be an indictment of a team’s depth rather than a testament to a player’s early prowess. However, Cox earned a closer look by hitting .400 (64-for-160) with 11 doubles, five triples, six homers, 35 RBIs, 31 runs scored and 27 stolen bases in 44 games with Richmond this season.
Manager Tony Vitello said that Cox certainly earned it. Vitello added that Cox was born in Colorado, so for him to get there is a great thing and that he is pretty juiced.
Other Giants players to make the leap from Double-A to their debut include Miguel Gomez (2017), Madison Bumgarner (’09) and Pablo Sandoval (’08).
What the Manager Says
Vitello described Cox as a heady player, a JUCO guy, who comes from a great college program at Oral Roberts, and had success there, and he really hasn’t slowed down. He believes this momentum will continue for him at this level, regardless of how long he’s with the team.
- Cox’s speed precedes him and has helped get him on the radar of prospect watchers.
- Cox didn’t hit .400 through speed alone.
Vitello stated that the more physical young players get, and the more experienced, the more at-bats they get, the better they become offensively. He added that Cox has really swung the bat well.
Family Connections
In addition to his speed and his head for baseball, Cox has a big league pedigree. His father, Darron Cox, made the Majors as a catcher with the Expos for 15 games in 1999. He’s also married to Kate Cox, a successful college golfer who recently transferred to Notre Dame.
Cox said that he gets to be a trophy husband in the offseason, which is awesome.
Bryce Eldridge is a familiar face in the Giants’ clubhouse for Cox. The two played together in San Jose in the California League and in High-A in Eugene, both in 2024. Beyond that, he doesn’t know the Major League players yet. Cox wasn’t slotted.