Clemson baseball: Grant Cox remains positive through adversity

Q: Before we talk about your Clemson experience, who are some people besides your parents and family that helped you get to Clemson.

Timothy Bright and Jeff Young. Timothy Bright was my coach growing up throughout middle school and high school, and he was one of the first people to really see something in me. We had a special bond and, he helped me throughout the recruiting process, specifically, by getting my name out there. He died on Oct. 4, 2014 of stage 4 colon cancer and the funeral was on Oct. 11, my birthday. I definitely think about him every year on that day. He was only 32.

Jeff Young was my “second dad” and he said me, Glenn Batson, Clark Scolamiero and Bradley Jones were the sons that he never had. He was my hitting coach and basically my mentor all throughout middle school, high school and still is to this day, even after his passing in July of 2017. I love his family very much and he was a great friend to me. He was also hard on me and expected me to respect everything and everyone. Both Mr. Bright and Mr. Young were good coaches, friends and mentors.

Q: You had never had a serious injury until your freshman year. What was going through your mind before your surgery? 

I can remember looking in my family’s eyes as they were walking away before my surgery. It made me dig a little bit deeper, work a little bit harder and push myself a little bit further. I can always remember that connection right before they left the room. One quote that I live by is “don’t let your struggle become your identity.”

Q: I know it has to be so tough dealing with the injuries and sometimes you ask, why me? But how do you deal with people asking, why you? 

When people say, why do you think this happened to you. I just say, why not me. Because this is the perfect opportunity to be a blessing to someone else. If it’s my story or the circumstances of my situation and it can help someone else get through whatever they are going through, then I know that’s what God’s plan is. That’s how I take it, why not me.

Q: I can’t imagine how you felt on February 14, after hearing that Luke was killed. You were already dealing with a serious injury and worried about your athletic career. 

As it pertains to Luke, there will never be an answer for that. My injuries can’t compare to Luke at all, and I never will compare them. That’s a life lost of a good kid who was on his way to a bright future. But we do everything to live through him and capture his dreams through us. That’s what we are on our way to doing.

I never will forget the feeling that I felt while we were in Parkland with Luke’s family and friends and seeing everyone mourn over what had happened. I’ve never felt so empty before in my life, but I also felt so comforted because of the support we received from Greenville and the people in Ft. Lauderdale. It was unbelievable. That feeling and what I saw will never leave me. Luke was a hero, well respected and liked. He was such a special kid. Now, it is in my control to live through him and think about him every step of the way. His parents, Aunt Gena and Uncle Tom, and siblings, Abby and Jake are the bravest and strongest people that I have ever came in contact with. They are my heroes. I love them so much!

Q: How’s your leg? 

Physically, there are some things I just can’t do. I will never let a circumstance or situation define my life. Adversity is adversity. And the reason, why I love adversity is because you don’t judge a person’s character by where they stand in comfort and when everything is all good. Everybody can stand up and do good when everything is all good, everybody can smile when there is sunshine, everybody can do right when everything is right. What about when everything is going left? You judge them on how high they bounce back, when they hit rock bottom. You judge the smile that they have on their face even when they are fighting through it. Sometimes rock-bottom can become the solid foundation in which you rebuild your life.

Q: Are you anywhere close to returning to action and how was this season for you? 

This season was fine. We didn’t want to have another surgery, but we did. But I was a part of it. I helped the guys as much as I could. I enjoyed it. It was nice to see some of the guys I came in with graduate and get drafted. I hate seeing them go, but I’m surely super proud of all of them. When it comes to my injury, I’m not close to being back. But in my heart, I do think I can come back. My teammates inspire me to get back and have been very helpful throughout this process.

When all that had happened with my leg. The doctor told me that I shouldn’t be active because of the severity of my injury. In that moment though, I wasn’t thinking about baseball or the MLB. I was thinking. Will I be able to race against my son or my daughter like my dad did with me, whenever that chapter comes in my life? I wasn’t caught up in the baseball side, more the beauty of life side.

Q: You seem to be very wise beyond your years and it’s evidenced by your words. Have you thought about what you will do, if you are not able to make it back on the field?

Public speaking.. I plan on using my story to inspire and motivate all sorts of people, with anything, especially, life. I believe that one of the most beautiful things in the world is being able to bless someone while you’re going through your own storm. The circumstances and tribulations that have been brought my way is a sign for me that God wants me to do something with this. I feel it is like a calling for me, and I’m going to answer!

Next: Schedule: Ranking the 2018 Home Games

Q: I know Luke is never far from your heart and mind. Is there anything that you would like to say to him? 

Luke, I love and miss you, every day. I hope I can mean as much to somebody as you do to so many. You are truly a hero known across the world. I pray that you give us half the strength that you have and that strength will be a lot stronger than anyone else. I love you, until we meet again, keep that big smile on your face. I know you are beating everybody on the court up there! I love you, my boy.