Matt Fox Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Matthew Jacob Fox
Born 12/04/1982 in Columbus, OH
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Central Florida
Debut 09/03/2010
Drafted in the C-1 round (35th overall) by the Minnesota Twins in 2004 (signed for $950,000).

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A sixth-round pick out of high school, Fox spent the first two seasons of his college career trying to be a two-way player. In so doing, he posted a 6.36 ERA over 52 innings. Once he left hitting behind and added a slider to his pitching repertoire, his career blossomed, and he was having one of the nation's best seasons with an 11-2, 2.02 record and 100 strikeouts in 89 innings. He has been closely scouted by all the organizations that place a premium on performance. Fox has excellent athletic ability, which helps him command his fastball, curveball, slider and changeup, making him a four-pitch pitcher. His delivery has some length to it, and though his quick arm makes up for it, he lacks deception. He's gaining experience using all his stuff, and his fastball is a little straight, but he has shown velocity in the low 90s, touching 96.

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Fox turned down a sixth-round offer from the Diamondbacks in 2001 to play both ways at Central Florida. He had elbow surgery as a freshman and posted a 6.36 ERA in his first two seasons before becoming a full-time pitcher in 2004. That decision paid off, as he became a first-team All-American and a supplemental first-round pick. Recommended by area scout Brad Weitzel, Fox pitches at 88-92 mph and touches 94 with good location on his fastball, and he also shows touch and feel for both a slider and curveball. He even has the makings of a decent changeup. The Twins were frustrated by Fox' inability to stay healthy after signing for $950,000. He was bothered by shoulder tendinitis and was sent to Minneapolis for tests. Nothing turned up, which heightened the aggravation on all parts. Fox attended instructional league but wasn't able to throw, though he did earn points with an upbeat attitude and willingness to learn. He could start the year in the low Class A rotation.

Fox threw 112 innings as a junior at Central Florida, a workload that more than doubled his previous college experience. Elbow tendinitis and shoulder stiffness cost Fox a few starts, so he never was at his best in the Appy League. "We're anxious to see what he's going to be when he's right," Smith said. "He topped out at 93-94 and pitched at 90-91, and that was with a tired shoulder." Fox attacks hitters with excellent command of his fastball and a power slider. Despite the fatigue, his control never wavered and he still managed to record 32 strikeouts in 27 innings despite being knocked around a bit. He's working to hone his changeup, which he rarely used in college but can be an average pitch.