IBL's Barrie Baycats sign Cox

The Intercounty Baseball League’s Barrie Baycats have signed pitcher Chris Cox. Photo: Barrie Baycats

June 28, 2021

By Ryan Eakin

Barrie Baycats

BARRIE - The Barrie Baycats Baseball Club have signed pitcher Chris Cox for the 2021 season.

Cox, 32, was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft before signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2012 as a free agent.

The Toronto, Ont., native spent his college career at Canisius College before pitching the majority of his professional baseball career in the Can-Am League for the Quebec Capitales.

In three seasons with the Capitales, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound reliever appeared in 107 games -- all in relief -- tossing 119 innings with an earned run average of 4.31, helping the Capitales win the league championship in 2012 and 2013.

No stranger to the IBL, Cox pitched for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2011, appearing in 12 games -- all in relief -- tossing 17 innings with an earned run average of 1.59.

Cox -- who was rated as Baseball America's second-best independent league prospect in 2013 -- briefly pitched for the Brantford Red Sox in 2016 before having shoulder surgery.

Baycats manager Josh Matlow -- who played with Cox at Canisius College -- said he is excited to add Cox's experienced arm to the Baycats' pitching staff.

"Cox is a tremendous pickup for our organization. Not only does he have a great mound presence, but his pro ball experience will also play a major factor on our staff. He is also the perfect fit to help develop some of our young arms. Chris’s explosive arm will be fun to watch throughout the season and we expect him to make a major impact immediately. We are thrilled to have him on board and look forward to his leadership throughout the season."

Furthermore, the Baycats have also signed relief pitchers Max Lojko and Lucas Earle.

Lojko, a 6-foot-5 230-pound reliever from Barrie, Ont., is coming off his sophomore campaign at Lourdes University.

In 13 2/3 innings pitched, the righty recorded an earned run average of 5.27.

Earle, meanwhile, just completed his freshman season at Allan Hancock Community College in the California Community College Athletic Association.

In 11 relief appearances for the Bulldogs, the 6-foot-4, 190-pound southpaw from Orillia, Ont., recorded an earned run average of 0.73 in 12 1/3 innings pitched.

Lastly, we have released infielders JT Patterson and Riley MacDonald. Reliever Evan Chenier, meanwhile, will be taking the summer off after a successful sophomore season for the VCU Rams.