Obituaries
Read Baseball Star's Sad Farewell To South Jersey Man Who Died
"You were a great kid and it kills me to know that you are gone."
Mike Trout promised to watch after Aaron Cox's family. Because he knows he's watching over him.
"You will always be remembered for your crazy dance moves and your big smile and how much you cared for people and our family," said Trout, a star Los Angeles Angels outfielder from Millville.
"You were always the life of the party and you were always making people laugh. You were a great kid and it kills me to know that you are gone."
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Trout, perhaps baseball's best player, paid the emotional tribute on Thursday to his brother-in-law on Instagram one week after his death.
Cox, a former South Jersey high school baseball standout, died last week for undisclosed reasons. Cox, who graduated from Millville High School in 2012, died at the age of 24, according to the Los Angeles Angels. The cause of death wasn’t released.
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Aaron, words can’t describe the emotions that I’ve been feeling the past week and a half. You were more than just my brother-in-law... you were my best friend. You made such an impact on my life since the day I first met you. You were an amazing person inside & out that showed us all how to live life to the fullest. Seeing and hearing about your impact on other people are all things that made me a better person every single day. The things we have done together like hunting trips, family vacations, golfing, fishing, and all the fun times we had together I will cherish forever... you brought so much happiness and joy to my life every time I was with you. You will always be remembered for your crazy dance moves and your big smile and how much you cared for people and our family. You were always the life of the party and you were always making people laugh. You were a great kid and it kills me to know that you are gone... I can’t thank you enough for what you have meant to me over these last 11 years. I know you will be watching over me now that you are gone, I promise to take care of your sister and watch over your whole family. Heaven got a great one and I know I will see you again someday... I love you bro!!!!
A post shared by Mike Trout (@miketrout) on Aug 23, 2018 at 9:24am PDT
Like Trout, Cox put together an amazing baseball career at Millville before moving on to become a member of the Angels. In 2012, Millville coach Roy Hallenbeck began designating a special member of the Thunderbolts baseball team to wear Trout’s No. 1 jersey, beginning with Cox, according to The Press of Atlantic City. That year, Cox was 6-0 as a pitcher, striking out 71 batters in 48.2 innings.
Cox was in the Angels system for three seasons, but retired from the sport on Aug. 6, according to ESPN. In his professional career, he was 7-3 with a 3.64 ERA in 68 appearances. Cox and Trout were also connected through marriage, as Cox’s sister, Jessica, married Trout in December.
“Early this morning, our families lost a phenomenal human being,” the Trout and Cox families said in a statement. “Aaron Cox was a tremendous son, brother and brother-in-law. He had a deep love for his family, and a passionate dedication and commitment to his friends. As our families grieve together, we will also celebrate the memories, the laughter, and the love we each shared with Aaron in the short time we had him. He will forever be at the forefront in the hearts and minds of the Cox and Trout families.”
From Mike, Jessica and their families: pic.twitter.com/E1hASpyJSm
— Angels (@Angels) August 15, 2018
Image via YouTube video
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