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Kansas City Royals: Five underrated prospects in 2019

CLEVELAND, OH - AUGUST 24: A glove and baseballs sit on the field before a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on August 24, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Teams are wearing special color schemed uniforms with players choosing nicknames to display for Players' Weekend. (Photo by Ron Schwane/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - AUGUST 24: A glove and baseballs sit on the field before a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on August 24, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Teams are wearing special color schemed uniforms with players choosing nicknames to display for Players' Weekend. (Photo by Ron Schwane/Getty Images) /
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Kansas City Royals mascot Sluggerrr (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Kansas City Royals mascot Sluggerrr (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

In seasons like this one, it’s easy to care a whole lot more about the minor league teams. Which Kansas City Royals prospects flew under the radar and had an underrated 2019 season?

It’s been a rough season for the Kansas City Royals but there is hope for the future in the minor leagues. The following five players put together fine 2019 seasons and may have solidified themselves as prospects.

Austin Cox (22-years-old) – 6’4″ LHP Starting Pitcher

  • Drafted in fifth round of 2018 amateur draft out of Mercer
  • 2018 (Rookie Burlington) – 3.78 ERA, 1.320 WHIP, 51 Ks in 33.1 Innings
  • 2019 (A Lexington) – 2.75 ERA, 1.075 WHIP, 77 Ks in 75.1 Innings
  • 2019 (A+ Wilmington) – 2.77 ERA, 1.247 WHIP, 52 Ks in 55.1 Innings

Austin Cox exhibits excellent deception with his four-pitch mix (Fastball, Curveball, Slider, and Change). Watching video on Cox, he hides the ball well and with his height/length the fastball gets in on hitters quick.

He repeats delivery with his arm slot and release mixing pitches. His above average fastball typically sits around 92-mph and can hit 94-mp, which he isn’t afraid to command inside on right-handed hitters. His off-speed offerings are each above average.

Cox commands the change-up and slider low and away to right-handed hitters. The curveball has tight spin and drops from the letters to the knees. Cox has put together a fine season utilizing his deception and pitch mix and could break onto the Royals roster in 2021 with an outlook of being a number three or four type starter.