Rays' Fox, Hernandez combine for six hits in AFL

November 14th, 2018

PEORIA -- With a name like Lucius Fox, you automatically turn heads. But the Rays' No. 9 prospect garnered attention using his bat in the Peoria Javelinas' 14-3 victory over the Mesa Solar Sox on Tuesday.
The shortstop did a little bit of everything, going 3-for-4 on the day with a double, an RBI, two runs scored and a walk out of the leadoff spot, raising his average to .337 after his 10th multihit effort of the Arizona Fall League.
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Though the AFL is a small sample size, Fox has been more patient in Arizona than he was in the 2018 regular season.
"Just a different approach, not missing my pitch," Fox said. "I don't have to swing at the first pitch and I don't have to be in an advantage count to get a hit. Sometimes with two strikes you get mistakes, so it's just being patient and waiting on my pitch and not missing it."
Fox originally signed with the San Francisco Giants out of the Bahamas in 2015, but was dealt to the Rays in a trade for Matt Moore at the 2016 Trade Deadline. He spent 2018 mostly with Class A Advanced Charlotte before earning a promotion to Double A Montgomery in August, but he hit just .221 in 27 games. However, for Fox, the success in Arizona provides a confidence boost for the future.
"Especially going into the offseason where I get to work and get back into the cages to work on my swing," Fox said. "It's a lot of confidence and I'm loving it."
Just six players from the Bahamas have ever made it to the big leagues. Fox hopes to be the seventh very soon with the youth movement currently going on in St. Petersburg.
"Getting to this year and actually seeing them call up my friends -- you know, guys that I played with or talked to -- and seeing them make an impact on the big league level, that does excite me," Fox said. "I can't wait to contribute with what I can do in Tampa and hopefully make the playoffs next year."
Though he is a little further away than Fox, the Rays' No. 7 prospect, Ronaldo Hernandez, also starred on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old power-hitting catcher was 3-for-4 with a triple off the left-field wall, an RBI single and three runs scored. A former infielder, Hernandez flashed his arm strength early in the game by throwing out Daz Cameron (Tigers) on an attempted stolen base.
Hernandez spent 2018 with Class A Bowling Green, where he hit .284 with 21 home runs and 79 RBIs over 109 games.
"Awesome player," Fox said of his teammate. "Power catcher with a strong arm, you can't beat it. He's a great player and will be playing baseball for a long time."