Matt Fox (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Matthew Jacob Fox is an American professional baseball
pitcher
for the Seattle Mariners
of Major League Baseball
.
in the 6th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
, but he did not sign. He instead opted to attend the University of Central Florida
, where he played for the UCF Knights baseball
team. He was a first round sandwich pick (35th overall) in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
.
Fox was ranked the 11th best prospect in the Appalachian League
by Baseball America
in his first season in professional ball with the Elizabethton Twins
. A shoulder injury kept him on the disabled list
for the entire season, however, he returned in to go 4-0 with two saves and a 3.79 earned run average
.
Fox has both started and pitched in relief
during his minor league career, however, he was used primarily as a starter in for the Twins' Double A affiliate, the New Britain Rock Cats
. He went 9-9 with a 3.58 ERA and 120 strikeouts in 2009 to help the Rock Cats to their first post season appearance since .
Fox was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on September 3, 2010. He earned a no decision in his major league debut that same day, pitching 5 2/3 innings in a 4-3 win for the Twins. He was designated for assignment
on September 4 to make room on the 40 man roster for Ben Revere
.
On September 9, 2010, Fox was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox
. On September 17, 2010, he has made his debut with the Red Sox as a reliever, in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays
. He was designated for assignment by the Red Sox after the season. He declared free agency after the 2011 season.
The Seattle Mariners
signed Fox to a minor league contract on November 12, 2011.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
Career
Fox was drafted by the Arizona DiamondbacksArizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
in the 6th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
2001 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Background:The Minnesota Twins selected St. Paul, MN native Joe Mauer with the number one pick in the 2001 draft. The 18-year-old Mauer, a catcher from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, became the seventh Minnesotan to be...
, but he did not sign. He instead opted to attend the University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
, where he played for the UCF Knights baseball
UCF Knights baseball
The University of Central Florida Knights baseball program, commonly referred to as the UCF Knights, represents the University of Central Florida in National Collegiate Athletics Association Division I. The Knights compete in the Eastern division of Conference USA...
team. He was a first round sandwich pick (35th overall) in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
2004 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
.
Fox was ranked the 11th best prospect in the Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
in his first season in professional ball with the Elizabethton Twins
Elizabethton Twins
The Elizabethton Twins are a minor league baseball team in Elizabethton, Tennessee, USA. They are a Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League, and have been a farm team of the Minnesota Twins since 1974. The Twins play home games at Joe O'Brien Field...
. A shoulder injury kept him on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
for the entire season, however, he returned in to go 4-0 with two saves and a 3.79 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
.
Fox has both started and pitched in relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
during his minor league career, however, he was used primarily as a starter in for the Twins' Double A affiliate, the New Britain Rock Cats
New Britain Rock Cats
The New Britain Rock Cats are the Double-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club. They compete in the Eastern League and play their home games at New Britain Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut.-History:...
. He went 9-9 with a 3.58 ERA and 120 strikeouts in 2009 to help the Rock Cats to their first post season appearance since .
Fox was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on September 3, 2010. He earned a no decision in his major league debut that same day, pitching 5 2/3 innings in a 4-3 win for the Twins. He was designated for assignment
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
on September 4 to make room on the 40 man roster for Ben Revere
Ben Revere
Ben Daniel Revere is an outfielder for the Minnesota Twins.-Minors:Before the Twins made Revere their first-round pick in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft, he went to Lexington Catholic High School in Lexington, KY where he led them to the state title and was named MVP his junior year .He...
.
On September 9, 2010, Fox was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. On September 17, 2010, he has made his debut with the Red Sox as a reliever, in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. He was designated for assignment by the Red Sox after the season. He declared free agency after the 2011 season.
The Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
signed Fox to a minor league contract on November 12, 2011.