Back in 2005, J.B. Cox was Huston Street‘s successor in the closing role at the University of Texas. He filled the shoes nicely. During his junior year, Cox racked up 19 saves and closed out Texas’s 2005 College World Series championship season. The Yankees would draft Cox in the 2nd round of the 2005 draft, and he would end the year mowing down hitters at High-A Tampa. Cox spent 2006 with AA-Trenton and continued to pitch well, seemingly destined to become a solid set-up man in the majors. He ended the season as New York’s #8 overall prospect.
But like so many pitchers, the injury bug bit him. He had Tommy John surgery in 2007, and when he came back in 2008 he was no longer the same pitcher. Prior to the injury, he relied on control to get batters out, and he was never able to totally recover that following his TJ surgery. He retired following the 2010 season, never advancing past AAA ball.