Xavier Edwards

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Xavier Edwards

|image =

|team = Miami Marlins

|number = 9

|position = Second baseman / Shortstop

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|8|9}}

|birth_place = Mineola, New York, U.S.

|bats = Switch

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = May 2

|debutyear = 2023

|debutteam = Miami Marlins

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = June 13, 2025

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .305

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 1

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 44

|teams =

Miami Marlins ({{mlby|2023}}–present)

|awards =

}}

Xavier James Edwards (born August 9, 1999) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Amateur career

Edwards graduated from North Broward Preparatory School in Coconut Creek, Florida. As a senior, he batted .406 with 16 runs batted in, 24 stolen bases, and a .532 on-base percentage.{{cite web|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/highschool/baseball/broward/fl-sp-baseball-draft-xavier-edwards-20180604-story.html |title=North Broward Prep SS Xavier Edwards chosen by Padres in MLB draft |publisher=Sun Sentinel |date=July 17, 2018 |access-date=August 8, 2018}} He committed to play college baseball at Vanderbilt University.{{cite web|author=Kegan Lowe |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/xavier-edwards-excels-on-day-1-of-wilson-premier-classic/ |title=Xavier Edwards Excels on Day 1 of Wilson Premier Classic |publisher=Baseballamerica.com |date=September 23, 2017 |access-date=August 8, 2018}}

Professional career

=San Diego Padres=

The San Diego Padres selected Edwards with the 38th overall pick in the 2018 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft, and he signed for $2.6 million.{{cite web|author=AJ Cassavell |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/padres-pick-weathers-edwards-little-on-day-1/c-279779622 |title=Padres pick Weathers, Edwards, Little on Day 1 |work=MLB.com |date=May 24, 2018 |access-date=August 8, 2018}}{{cite web|author=John Horvath |url=https://www.foxsports.com/san-diego/story/padres-select-prep-ss-xavier-edwards-with-38th-overall-selection-060418 |title=Padres select prep SS Xavier Edwards with 38th overall selection |work=FOX Sports |date=June 4, 2018 |access-date=August 8, 2018}}{{Cite web |last=Sanders |first=Jeff |date=June 14, 2018 |title=Padres sign Xavier Edwards, Pick No. 38, for $2.6 million |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/sd-sp-padres-sign-xavier-edwards-20180613-story.html |access-date=August 8, 2018 |website=The San Diego Union-Tribune}} He made his professional debut with the AZL Padres and was promoted to the Tri-City Dust Devils on August 8. In 45 total games with the two teams, Edwards slashed .346/.453/.409, with 16 RBIs and 22 stolen bases.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?sid=milb&player_id=669364#/career/R/hitting/2018/ALL|title=Xavier Edwards Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=MiLB.com|access-date=September 11, 2018}}

In 2019, he began with the Fort Wayne TinCaps, earning Midwest League All-Star honors.{{cite web|url=http://www.journalgazette.net/sports/professional/tincaps/20190404/talent-rich-infield-set-to-supply-excitement |title=Talent-rich infield set to supply excitement | TinCaps |publisher=The Journal Gazette |date=April 4, 2019 |access-date=November 9, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://eastvillagetimes.com/2019/06/three-fort-wayne-tincaps-selected-for-2019-midwest-league-all-star-game/ |title=Three TinCaps selected as All-Stars | East Village Times |access-date=October 13, 2019 |archive-date=July 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709170831/https://eastvillagetimes.com/2019/06/three-fort-wayne-tincaps-selected-for-2019-midwest-league-all-star-game/ |url-status=dead }} After slashing .336/.392/.414, with one home run, 30 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases in 77 games, he was promoted to the Lake Elsinore Storm on July 9.{{cite web|url=http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20190709/WEB/190709856 |title=Edwards promoted to Lake Elsinore | TinCaps |publisher=The Journal Gazette |date=July 9, 2019 |access-date=November 9, 2019}} In 46 games with Lake Elsinore, he hit .301/.349/.367 with 14 stolen bases.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=edward000xav |title=Xavier Edwards Minor Leagues Statistics & History |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=November 9, 2019}}

After the season, on October 10, 2019, he was selected for the United States national baseball team in the 2019 WBSC Premier 12.{{cite web | url=https://www.usabaseball.com/news/usa-baseball-names-premier12-roster/c-311115688?tid=216632610 | title=USA Baseball Names Premier12 Roster | work=USA Baseball | date=October 10, 2019 | access-date=October 13, 2019}} In the tournament, he appeared in four games, hitting two singles and striking out three times in six at bats.{{Cite web |title=World Baseball Softball Confederation |url=http://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2019-premier12/teams/1547/players/28860 |access-date=July 30, 2024 |website=World Baseball Softball Confederation |language=en}}

=Tampa Bay Rays=

On December 6, 2019, Edwards, Hunter Renfroe, and a player to be named later (PTBNL) were traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Tommy Pham and Jake Cronenworth.{{cite web|url=https://padres.mlblogs.com/padres-acquire-of-tommy-pham-and-inf-rhp-jake-cronenworth-from-tampa-bay-rays-4859d6621ec5|title=Padres Acquire OF Tommy Pham and INF/RHP Jake Cronenworth From Tampa Bay Rays|website=MLB.com|date=December 6, 2019|access-date=December 6, 2019}} The PTBNL, Esteban Quiroz, was named in March 2020.{{cite web|author=Marc Topkin |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2020/03/26/rays-get-esteban-quiroz-to-complete-deal-with-padres/ |title=Rays get Esteban Quiroz to complete deal with Padres |publisher=Tampabay.com |date=March 26, 2020 |accessdate=September 17, 2022}} Rays pitcher Blake Snell infamously referred to Edwards as a "slapdick prospect" upon learning about the trade, later apologizing and explaining that his reaction was about losing his friend Pham to the Padres.{{Cite news |last=Tolentino |first=Josh |title='Slap—- prospect?!' Blake Snell opens up about his viral comments on Twitch following Tommy Pham trade |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1440221/2019/12/07/slap-prospect-blake-snell-opens-up-about-his-viral-comments-on-twitch-following-tommy-pham-trade/ |access-date=November 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

Edwards did not play in 2020, due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled|website=MLB.com|access-date=January 24, 2022}} In 2021, he played for the Montgomery Biscuits, slashing .302/.377/.368, with 27 RBI and 19 stolen bases over 79 games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/prospect-season-in-review-tampa-bay-rays-infielder-xavier-edwards|title=Prospect season in review: Rays' Edwards|website=MiLB.com|access-date=January 24, 2022}}

=Miami Marlins=

On November 15, 2022, Edwards was traded to the Miami Marlins along with J. T. Chargois in exchange for Marcus Johnson and Santiago Suarez.{{cite news |title=Marlins trade with Tampa Bay, add pitchers to 40-man roster |url=https://apnews.com/article/mlb-sports-miami-tampa-baseball-40605f9fca8fe8f7ae609cacc9f14aa9 |access-date=July 28, 2024 |work=Associated Press News |date=November 15, 2022}} The Marlins subsequently added him to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.{{Cite web|title=Marlins trade with Tampa Bay, add pitchers to 40-man roster|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/miami-marlins-trade-tampa-bay-baseball-pitchers/|access-date=September 12, 2023|website=cbsnews.com|date=November 16, 2022 |language=en}} Edwards was optioned to the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to begin the 2023 season.{{cite web | title=Marlins' Xavier Edwards: Among Tuesday's cuts | website=CBSSports.com | date=March 14, 2023 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/marlins-xavier-edwards-among-tuesdays-cuts/amp/ | access-date=February 15, 2025}} He played in 20 games for Jacksonville, batting .306/.427/.361 with no home runs, 4 RBI, and 7 stolen bases.

On May 2, 2023, Edwards was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{cite web | title=Marlins' Xavier Edwards: Receives call-up | website=CBSSports.com | date=May 2, 2023 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/marlins-xavier-edwards-receives-call-up/amp/ | access-date=February 15, 2025}} On May 30, Edwards was again optioned to Jacksonville.{{Cite web |title=Xavier Edwards Stats, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/marlins/player/xavier-edwards-669364 |access-date=September 17, 2023 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} On September 1, he was brought back to the Marlins. In 30 games for Miami in total, Edwards batted .295/.329/.333 with no home runs, three RBI, and five stolen bases. He hit a single in his only postseason at bat, scoring the Marlins' lone run in a series-ending loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on October 4, 2023.{{Cite web |title=2023 National League Wild Card Series (NLWC) Game 2, Miami Marlins vs Philadelphia Phillies: October 4, 2023 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI202310040.shtml |access-date=July 30, 2024 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

Edwards began the 2024 season on the 10-day injured list with a bacterial infection in his left foot.{{Cite web|title=Marlins' Xavier Edwards: Moves to injured list|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/marlins-xavier-edwards-moves-to-injured-list/|access-date=May 9, 2024|website=cbssports.com|date=March 28, 2024 |language=en}} He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on May 7.{{cite news |title=Marlins send Anderson and Edwards to rehab with Jacksonville |url=https://www.milb.com/news/marlins-send-anderson-and-edwards-to-rehab-with-jacksonville |access-date=July 28, 2024 |publisher=MILB.com |date=May 18, 2024}}{{cite news |title=Yamamoto goes 8 innings and Muncy hits early slam as Dodgers beat Marlins 8–2 for 6th straight win |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/401569008 |access-date=July 28, 2024 |agency=Associated Press |work=ESPN.com |date=May 7, 2024}} On May 27, Edwards was activated and optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville.{{Cite web |last=McDonald |first=Darragh |date=June 1, 2024 |title=Marlins Outright Eli Villalobos |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/06/marlins-designate-eli-villalobos-for-assignment.html |access-date=February 15, 2025 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} He was recalled to Miami on June 7 and played in three games before being optioned back to Jacksonville on June 10. He was recalled to Miami on July 2.

On July 28, 2024, Edwards hit his first career triple and home run in addition to hitting for the cycle in a 6–2 loss against the Milwaukee Brewers, becoming the second player in franchise history to hit for the cycle, after Luis Arráez on April 11, 2023, against the Phillies.{{cite web|last=De Nicola|first=Christina|title=Xavier Edwards hit for cycle|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/xavier-edwards-hits-for-cycle|website=MLB.com|date=July 28, 2024|access-date=July 28, 2024}}{{cite news |title=Xavier Edwards second Marlins player ever to hit for cycle |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40667311/xavier-edwards-second-marlins-player-ever-hit-cycle |access-date=July 28, 2024 |agency=Associated Press |work=ESPN.com |date=July 28, 2024}} On September 27, Edwards hit three triples in a 15–5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, becoming the first player to achieve the feat since Yasiel Puig in 2014.{{Cite web |last=Harrison |first=Ian |date=September 28, 2024 |title=Xavier Edwards has MLB's first three-triple game since 2014 as Marlins rout Blue Jays 15–5 |url=https://apnews.com/article/marlins-blue-jays-score-xavier-edwards-triples-58dec15e21cab0843a8adbeeb010c782 |access-date=December 28, 2024 |website=AP News |language=en}}