Miami Marlins rookie shortstop Xavier Edwards made history by becoming the third player in Major League Baseball to hit for the cycle this season. He achieved this remarkable feat during Sunday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers, despite the team’s 6–2 loss.
Edwards kicked off his exceptional performance by hitting the first pitch of the game for a home run off Tobias Myers. This marked the first home run of his major league career and only his 14th in professional baseball.
Throughout the game, he continued to impress with a double in the fifth inning, a triple in the seventh, and completing the cycle by beating out an infield single in the ninth inning. Additionally, Edwards reached base five times on Sunday, including a third-inning walk.
Joining the ranks of the elite, Edwards is now the third player and second rookie to hit for the cycle this season in MLB, following Wyatt Langford of the Texas Rangers and Yordan Álvarez of the Houston Astros. He also became the second Marlins player to achieve this feat, joining Luis Arraez in an exclusive club for the franchise.
Following his remarkable 4-for-4 performance, Edwards boasts an impressive batting average of .379 with a .956 OPS. He took over as Miami’s starting shortstop in June, replacing Tim Anderson, who had been struggling with a .214 batting average and .463 OPS. With Anderson’s subsequent designation for assignment in July, Edwards solidified his position as the team’s starting shortstop. He was also appointed as the leadoff hitter after Jazz Chisholm Jr. was traded to the New York Yankees the day before.
Despite being a rookie, Edwards has already made a significant impact. After playing 30 games with Miami last season, he began this year on the injured list due to a foot infection. Following a stint of 26 games with Triple-A Jacksonville, he rejoined the Marlins and continued to shine on the field.
Selected as the San Diego Padres’ first-round pick (No. 38 overall) in 2018 from North Broward Preparatory School in Coconut Creek, Florida, Edwards was later traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019. After playing two seasons in their organization, he was eventually traded to the Marlins in 2022, where he has undoubtedly left his mark.