Clemson baseball: Grant Cox remains positive through adversity
Clemson shortstop Grant Cox faced a tough decision before he attended Clemson University but that decision pales in comparison to what he has dealt with since he left Greenville High.
Grant Cox was faced with a tough decision in 2014. Should he accept a preferred walk-on defensive back offer from Dabo Swinney and fulfil a dream or sign with Jack Leggett, a move that could lead to a pro career?
He picked baseball over football. But so far, his career hasn’t been anything like he anticipated and a dream to play as a true freshman was shattered with one dive.
That dive for a ball tore his shoulder labrum and a bicep tendon. So Cox was faced with his first serious injury, surgery and adversity in one unfortunate leap that likely caused him a chance to start. However, recovery went well.
From that point, the injuries kept coming.
In November of 2016, Cox discovered a growth on his ankle called Acessory Soleus, an extra muscle, found in only about three percent of the population. It required surgery to have it removed.
In August of 2017, he felt pain and discomfort in his groin and suffered a labral tear in his hip. Yet another setback, but he was cleared to begin physical activities in December.
In early February, he experienced swelling in his right leg and numbness in his toes. After a visit to the doctors on the 14th, he was diagnosed with chronic exertional compartment syndrome, a muscle and nerve condition, that required surgery. After sharing the devastating news with his teammates later that evening, he received the worse news in his life. His first cousin Luke Hoyer, 15, was one of the 17 victims in the Parkland shooting. That news changed his life.
Through it all, he keeps a positive attitude and leans on his faith, family and teammates to get through the tough times. Specifically, he relies on a dad, who taught him hard work, diligence and confidence, a mom, who taught him patience and to never forget who he is, a brother, who taught him toughness and persistence and a family saying that helps him daily, “I can get through this, I will get through this, I must get through this.”
He also pushes on because of Hoyer’s spirit and he even wears a necklace, a past Christmas gift from the Hoyer family, that has Luke 1:37 on it. The proverb reads “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Luke selected that particular gift for Cox because it beared his name and that significance plus the message drives him today.
Cox spoke to me about his journey, dealing with the death of his cousin and what’s next for him.