July 5, 2006

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - University of North Carolina products Jay Cox and Jonathan Hovis have signed minor league contracts with the Colorado Rockies and New York Yankees, respectively, and reported to their professional clubs this week.

A 22nd-round pick in last month's draft, Cox is on the roster of the Casper Rockies of the Rookie-level Pioneer League, while Hovis has been added to the Staten Island Yankees of the A-level New York-Penn League.

Cox enjoyed a career year as a junior in 2006 and picked up first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in the process. The Smithfield native hit .375 with a team-best 15 home runs and a career-high 65 RBI and led the team with a .634 slugging percentage and a .462 on-base mark.

Additionally, Cox ranked among the top five in the ACC in average, home runs and slugging percentage and finished in the top 10 in RBI, total bases and slugging percentage. The Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional, Cox was at his best in the postseason with 21 RBI in the NCAA tournament to earn spots on the regional and College World Series all-tournament teams.

The NCAA's leader in earned run average, Hovis was undrafted despite posting an 8-2 record with two saves over 38 appearances and 69.1 innings. Hovis' 1.17 ERA was the fifth-best mark in UNC history and the lowest qualifying ERA since 1970. The Gastonia product's 38 appearances were the second-best mark at Carolina, and his 106 career appearances are fourth all-time.

Hovis, who wraps up his collegiate career with an 18-7 record, seven saves and a 2.58 ERA, led the ACC in ERA and appearances and was third in opponent batting average (.199) in 2006.