Rory Fox is set to kick off his professional baseball journey with the Yankees in just a few weeks. But at the moment, he’s sharpening his skills by practicing with his girlfriend.
Selected 194th overall in the sixth round of the 2025 MLB draft, Fox had some last-minute practice sessions over the weekend with Reese Sanders, a hurdler from Notre Dame. Sanders showcased their practice on Instagram on Sunday.
During their practice, Fox pitched from behind an L-screen, while Sanders playfully taunted him throughout.
“Yeah! I got it!” she exclaimed after connecting with one of Fox’s pitches.
“Base hit! Base hit!” she shouted after hitting another one.
Fox’s performance has seen considerable growth since he joined Notre Dame in 2023. He only pitched five innings during an injury-plagued freshman year and had a sophomore ERA of 6.48.
However, in 2025, he transitioned into a full-time starter and recorded a commendable 3.58 ERA, with 64 strikeouts over 65 innings.
Fox can throw a fastball clocked at 96 mph, along with a curveball and a slider.
Originally, he arrived at Notre Dame as a two-way player, initially focusing on infield positions.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound right-hander also stood out as an all-state quarterback in high school, leading his Wisconsin team to a state championship.
Interestingly, he was also the defense attorney for his graduating class.
Meanwhile, Sanders competes in the 400-meter hurdles and achieved a noteworthy performance at the 2024 ACC Outdoor Championship, running a time of 58.84, which marked the program’s eighth-best result at that distance.
Maybe Fox should consider trying his hand at track one of these days.
