X completes the cycle despite Miami dropping finale

[Louis Addeo-Weiss]

Xavier Edwards' cycle serves as the main storyline from Sunday's Marlins game, the team's last before the MLB trade deadline arrives.

In the aftermath of trades that shipped Luis Arraez and Jazz Chisholm Jr. elsewhere, Xavier Edwards has an opportunity to cement his place as a building block of the Miami Marlins' future. He took another step toward doing so during Sunday's getaway contest versus the Milwaukee Brewers. The speedy shortstop legged out a ninth-inning ground ball to his positional counterpart, Willy Adames, to complete the second cycle in franchise history in Miami's 6-2 loss.

Arraez broke the Marlins' 30-year cycle-less streak against Philadelphia on April 11 last season. Edwards now joins him in that ultra-exclusive club.

Acknowledging his lack of raw power, Edwards said postgame that it's the first time he has ever cycled during his baseball career at any level of competition.

"It's pretty awesome," noted Skip Schumaker, who was Arraez's skipper in 2023 and working for the Padres when the club drafted Edwards with the 38th pick in the 2018 draft. "To be a part of one again is something I'll always remember."

 

How it Happened 

Starting things off in not-so-Edwards fashion, the slap-hitting, Coconut Creek native took the first pitch he saw from Milwaukee's Tobias Myers over the right field wall for his first career home run.

Following a third-inning walk, Edwards, batting in the top of the fifth and now facing reliever Jakob Junis, checked the double off his list. 

Two innings later, the rookie would add another first to his résumé, this time a leadoff triple that would shortly turn into the Marlins' second run of the day in the top of the seventh. 

His final adversary was Milwaukee closer Devin Williams, making his long-awaited season debut. The infield single also secured the first four-hit game of Edwards' major league career.

"It means a lot. I don't think it has set in yet...I had been thinking about that for the past two innings or so," said Edwards, who was seen running sprints in the dugout ahead of that final plate appearance. 

 

Pitching Hurts Fish

Following a nine-hit outing in his last start against Baltimore on July 23, the wheels seemed to further fall off for Kyle Tyler. 

Though he matched a season-high with five strikeouts, Jake Bauers' eighth home run of the season in the bottom of the first would give Milwaukee a lead they would never relinquish. Failing to cross the five-inning mark for a second consecutive outing, Tyler allowed seven hits and four runs in his four innings of work. 

 

Things would not get easier for Miami. In the bottom of the fifth, recently recalled Emmanuel Ramirez, would allow a Jackson Chourio home run and Bauers triple on successive pitches. Ramirez would ultimately settle down to pitch three innings. 

Now, 39-67, Miami are currently on pace for 59 wins. 

 

Of Note

- Ahead of authoring the second cycle in franchise history, Xavier Edwards became the first player in Marlins history to hit a home run, triple, double, and draw a walk in the same game. 

- All seven Miami hits came from the top three spots of the lineup, with everybody else combining to go 0-for-21 against Brewers pitching.

- Recently claimed Forrest Wall made his team debut Sunday, striking out on three pitches in the top of the ninth.

 

Looking Ahead

While the schedule defines it as such, Monday has the potential to be anything but an "off day" for the Marlins with the looming trade deadline. When Miami resumes play, all eyes will be on Tanner Scott, Josh Bell and which other familiar faces are absent.

The Marlins play visitors to the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday in the latest edition of the Citrus Series. Edward Cabrera (1-3, 7.04 ERA) will look to get the walks under control as he starts the series opener. Jeffrey Springs will return to the big leagues following Tommy John surgery, which cost him most of 2023 and the majority of 2024. 

First pitch from Tropicana Field is slated for 6:50 EST. 

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[Slacker Mills]

Edwards has been brilliant for the Marlins. Bendix was in the front office that traded him to the Marlins. I'd love to hear his explanation as to why the Rays did that.

[Stanley J Makowski]

We traded a fine player in Arraez. Edwards is giving every indication that he is a better one. Not only has his hitting been fine in all areas during his development, but he is also a fine defensive player, and can and has shown that he can run like the wind! Right now, he has the best OBP of anyone in the ML when considering his number of ABs.

I have no trouble with Bendix' trades to date and would love to hear other opinions.

We can already say, "Wait till next year". Our pitching should be a revelation. 

I hope Bell goes to a contender.

I still want to repeat my long-held opinion that the pitching rubber must be moved back 3-5 inches. The 60 ft 6 inch criteria was established in 1886. How tall was the average pitcher then? How long was his stride? How long was his arm for that matter. Wouldn't most of you agree that the current distance in more like 55 feet or so and it leads to too many wiffs, and therefore inaction. Fix it over time if necessary so that adjustments by the pitchers themselves can be made.

[Ely Sussman]

12 hours ago, Slacker Mills said:

Edwards has been brilliant for the Marlins. Bendix was in the front office that traded him to the Marlins. I'd love to hear his explanation as to why the Rays did that.

Unfortunately for the Rays, they were banking on Wander Franco to man shortstop for the rest of the decade. Couldn't foresee what mess he was creating for himself off the field.

[Ely Sussman]

9 hours ago, Stanley J Makowski said:

We traded a fine player in Arraez. Edwards is giving every indication that he is a better one. Not only has his hitting been fine in all areas during his development, but he is also a fine defensive player, and can and has shown that he can run like the wind! Right now, he has the best OBP of anyone in the ML when considering his number of ABs.

I have no trouble with Bendix' trades to date and would love to hear other opinions.

This month could not possibly be going better for Edwards. Extremely impressive and a key development for the franchise.

It's been deflating to watch the team get so bad, so quickly, but I agree that Bendix is getting reasonable value for his trades. My main objection remains the timing of the Arraez trade, rushing to get it done even while the health status of the top prospect coming back (Dillon Head) was in question. From afar, seems like he allowed the Padres to pressure him into it.

[Ely Sussman]

For any huge X fans...FOCO is working on a bobblehead honoring his cycle. Supply is limited.

Available for pre-order here: https://foco.vegb.net/Kjnq7n