Captain of the Week (8/6-8/11): Jake Fox
EASTLAKE, OH – After each series this season, the Lake County Captains will spotlight a Captain of the Week, presented by Official League, showcasing a player and their strong performance over the previous week. For the week of August 6 through August 11, Lake County is recognizing OF/2B Jake Fox
EASTLAKE, OH – After each series this season, the Lake County Captains will spotlight a Captain of the Week, presented by Official League, showcasing a player and their strong performance over the previous week.
For the week of August 6 through August 11, Lake County is recognizing OF/2B Jake Fox as its 16th Captain of the Week for the 2024 season.
The left-handed hitter had a productive week at the plate against the Dayton Dragons. He hit .263 with five hits, two runs, four RBI, and two walks. His four RBI ranked second among Captains hitters during this span, and his five hits ranked tied for second.
Fox, MLB Pipeline’s No. 17 Cleveland prospect, played a key role in Lake County’s series finale victory over Dayton this past Sunday. His two-run single capped off a four-run top of the ninth inning for the Captains, who eventually won the game 5-2.
So far this season, the 21-year-old has recorded 64 hits, 34 runs, 12 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 43 RBI, 43 walks, and seven stolen bases in 78 games.
Fox was drafted by Cleveland in the 3rd round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Lakeland Christian High School (FL). He excelled in 77 games with Lakeland Christian, primarily as a shortstop, hitting .448 with 91 hits, 91 runs, 18 doubles, six triples, four home runs, 55 RBI, and 56 stolen bases. In 2019, he helped lead the Vikings to their first baseball state championship in school history, winning Florida’s 3A State Championship with his father, Blane, as his head coach.
Upon being drafted by Cleveland, Fox was assigned to Cleveland’s Arizona Complex League team on August 24, 2021. He played 13 games in the ACL, hitting .405 with 17 hits, 10 runs, one double, six RBI, six walks, seven stolen bases, a .469 on-base percentage, and an .898 OPS.
He was then assigned to the Single-A Lynchburg Hillcats Opening Day roster the following year. In his first full professional season, primarily as a second baseman, he hit .247 with 94 hits, 74 runs, 25 doubles, four triples, five home runs, 44 RBI, 74 walks, and 21 stolen bases, while ranking sixth in the Carolina League with a .381 on-base percentage. Fox helped the Hillcats become 2022 Carolina League North First Half Division Champions. He recorded three hits, three runs, two walks, and two stolen bases in five postseason games, as Lynchburg fell in the 2022 Carolina League Championship Series.
Fox was assigned to the Captains’ Opening Day roster one year later, and eventually had a strong campaign for Lake County, primarily as an outfielder. He hit .256, while leading the team in: hits (103), runs (61), total bases (160), doubles (23), triples (five), and RBI (53). He also ranked second with 101 games played, and third with eight home runs.
Fox will look to sustain his recent success this week, as the Midwest League East First Half Division Champion Captains return home for a six-game series against the Great Lakes Loons. The series is set to begin on Tuesday night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake. All six games will be broadcast on the Bally Live app and MiLB.TV, with social media coverage courtesy of @LCCaptains on X and Instagram.
The Lake County Captains are the High-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians, and have been a Class A Affiliate of Cleveland since the team was founded in 2003. To find out more information about the Captains or purchase tickets, visit CaptainsBaseball.com, or call (440) 975-8085.