By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas third baseman Zack Cox wasn’t paying attention to the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft on Monday night. He was busy helping the Razorbacks win a do-or-die game against Washington State in the Fayetteville Regional.
It was a good thing Cox was preoccupied because he was on the draft board much longer than expected.
Cox was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 25th pick in the first round, ending a lengthy wait. He slipped several spots after being regarded as a top 10 pick by most mock drafts leading up to the big night.
He didn’t sound disappointed after the game, though.
“God has a plan,” Cox said. “It will all work out.”
Why the fall? MLB.com baseball reporter Peter Gammons indicated one possibility during the network’s broadcast of the draft’s first round.
“One of the reasons he may have slid a little bit is because he is a draft-eligible sophomore, which means he has a lot more leverage than a college junior,” Gammons said during the broadcast. “So it’s going to cost a little more money. I think the Cardinals have a history of going out and spending the money.”
The sophomore, who has been battling a back injury the past three weeks, started at third base and went 2-for-3 with a double against the Cougars. He was taken out of the game after the third inning, though, after aggravating his back and ribcage injuries.
Cox said it’s not severe, but one that will continue to nag him the rest of the season because of its location. Hitting isn’t a problem. Running, fielding and throwing has hindered him this week, though.
“It’s not a bad injury,” said Cox, who found out he had been drafted thanks to Arkansas fans in the stands Monday night. “It’s just in a bad spot. Every twist and turn you do in baseball just kind of pinches a nerve on it. … Something I’m just going to have to battle and play through.”
Cox was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers with the 20th pick in the 2008 MLB Draft, but turned down a hefty signing bonus to come to Arkansas.
He said the decision wasn’t about money. There were parts of his game he needed to work on and adjustments Cox wanted to make to be prepared for pro baseball when his next opportunity came around.
“If I went straight out of high school I probably would’ve went straight to the outfield,” Cox said. “They probably wouldn’t have even given me a chance to play third. But I came here, I improved defensively. Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to play third. Wherever I play it doesn’t really matter. Just adjusting to the better pitching has been very key.”
Cox has impressed in his two seasons with the Razorbacks. The two hits Monday pushed Cox into a tie with Matt Erickson for the school’s single-season hits record (97). His current batting average – .427 – also ranks first on Arkansas’ single-season chart.
The Hogs knew they would likely lose him after just two seasons because, at 21, he was eligible for the 2010 draft. But Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said the Razorbacks are glad Cox decided to go to school.
He became Arkansas’ sixth first-round pick.
“Zack turned down a lot of money to come here,” Van Horn said. “He did us a big favor by coming. He’s been fun to watch. I’m looking forward to watching him in the big leagues in a couple of years.”
Cox wasn’t the only Arkansas player or signee selected in the draft’s first 50 picks Monday night.
Signee Justin O’Conner was picked by the Tampa Bay Rays with the 31st pick in the first round. The catcher was Indiana’s Gatorade Player of the Year.
The draft continues today and runs through Wednesday. Arkansas players like Brett Eibner, Drew Smyly and Collin Kuhn are expected to be selected.
Cox won’t have to worry about it now. Instead, he said he’s concentrating on another goal now.
“I’ve still got a lot of unfinished business here at Arkansas,” Cox said. “I have a lot of goals I want to accomplish. I want to win a national championship.”
