While I was perusing minor league stats the other day, I happened upon former Strasburg Express Jonah Cox, who is off to an excellent start this season at Low-A San Jose in the San Francisco Giants’ system.

Cox was drafted by the Oakland A’s in the 6th round in 2023 out of Oral Roberts after he hit .412/.470/.646 in 277 at-bats, with an excellent blend of power and speed. He had 35 extra-base hits that year, along with 28 stolen bases. This came to no surprise to fans of the Express, as he hit .290/.396/.333 in 138 at-bats with 30 stolen bases in his summer in the Valley.

After he was drafted, he played in seven games in the Arizona Complex League (going 8-19 with six stolen bases), and then was assigned to Low-A Stockton, in the California League. In 28 games and 110 at-bats there, he hit .264/.325/.373 with 14 stolen bases. His plate discipline needed some work, though, as he had only five walks against 40 K’s (he struck out in exactly 33% of his plate appearances).

In the offseason, he was traded from Oakland to San Francisco for major leaguer Ross Stripling. Sent back to the Cal League starting the 2024 season, Cox has really taken off. In 54 games and 259 plate appearances, he’s hitting .301/.415/.380, with five doubles, three triples, two home runs, 46 runs scored, a solid 34/58 BB/K ratio, and 38 stolen bases while getting caught only three times. (He’s cut his strikeout percentage all the way down to 22%.)

He’s still a long way from the major leagues, but things are looking promising!

Other Things

  • MLB Pipeline’s latest mock draft (out today) has Trey Yesavage (Charlottesville 2022) going #7 to the Los Angeles Angels (can we call them the California Angels?) and Seaver King (Harrisonburg 2022) going #16 to Miami. We’re still looking at two first rounders in two drafts in a row….
  • I noticed a little bit of “unrest” out there about the league’s choices for the Prospect games coming up in a few days. So a quick note on process. While I haven’t been a part of the VBL for two seasons, in the years I was Sports Media Relations Director, families, individuals, and sometimes teams would get upset that “their guy” wasn’t chosen for an award or to participate in the Prospect Showcase or All-Star game. The process for years has been that the coaches get together to make the choices for both the Prospect games AND the All-Star game. Parameters are different for the two events, though. The league tried to identify the top prospects, regardless of current VBL stats, to go to the Showcase games. The VBL All-Star game is where current stats matter more. The idea of choosing representatives, unfortunately, means that worthwhile players will likely be left out (look at the public uproar, on both sides, about Caitlin Clark not making the USA Olympic team, for example). I encourage anyone who is frustrated to talk to their team’s general manager and/or coach, respectfully of course, for more information about how these decisions are made.
  • The VBL All-Star game, in Purcellville this year, is scheduled for Saturday, June 29, and Sunday, June 30. I’m excited to say that I’ll be there! If you see me and are so inclined, grab me and say hello…