Carl Edwards Jr.

Not to be confused with Carl Edwards.
Carl Edwards Jr.

Edwards with the Cubs in 2016
Chicago Cubs – No. 6
Pitcher
Born: (1991-09-03) September 3, 1991
Prosperity, South Carolina
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 7, 2015, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
(through 2016 season)
Win–loss record 0–1
Earned run average 3.76
Strikeouts 56
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Carl Fleming Edwards Jr. (born September 3, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was formerly known as "C.J." in the minor leagues, where he also earned the nickname "The String Bean Slinger" for his skinny physique.[1]

Career

Edwards was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 48th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft out of Mid-Carolina High School in Prosperity, South Carolina.[2] Edwards initially committed to play college baseball for the Charleston Southern Buccaneers, where he would join a high school teammate and friend. However, when that friend died in a car accident, Edwards decided instead to pursue professional baseball.[3] He spent his first professional season with the Arizona League Rangers and Spokane Indians. He finished the year 5–3 with a 1.48 earned run average (ERA) and 85 strikeouts over 67 innings pitched. He started the 2013 season with the Hickory Crawdads, going 8–2 with a 1.83 ERA and 122 strikeouts over  93 1⁄3 innings.

On July 22, 2013, Edwards along with Mike Olt, Justin Grimm, and a player to be named later (Neil Ramirez) were traded to the Chicago Cubs for Matt Garza.[4] He was sent to the Daytona Cubs, where he had a 1.96 ERA and 33 strikeouts over 23 innings. After the season he was named the MiLB Pitcher of the Year.[5]

Prior to the 2014 season, he was ranked by Baseball America as the 28th best prospect in baseball.[6]

On November 20, 2014, Edwards was added to the Cubs 40-man roster, in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.

On September 7, 2015, Edwards made his Major League debut for the Cubs against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.[7]

On September 1, 2016, Edwards recorded his first Major League save against the San Francisco Giants.[8]

Edwards finished the 2016 season with a 3.75 ERA in 35 innings pitched.[9]

On October 25, 2016, Carl Edwards Jr. along with teammates Addison Russell, Dexter Fowler, and Jason Heyward became the first African-Americans to play for the Cubs in a World Series game.[10][lower-alpha 1]

On October 28, 2016, he struck out the side in relief duty in the top of the 6th inning vs. the Cleveland Indians in game 3 of the World Series at Wrigley Field and became the first African-American to pitch for the Cubs in a World Series game.[11]

Notes

  1. ↑ Jackie Robinson's rookie season was 1947 which was two years after the Chicago Cubs appearance in the 1945 World Series. In 1953, Ernie Banks, known as Mr. Cub, became the first African-American on the Cubs roster.

References

  1. ↑ Wittenmyer, Gordon (15 October 2013). "Scout Found C.J. Edwards, 'The String Bean Slinger', Off The Beaten Path". Baseball America. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  2. ↑ Haugh, David (July 24, 2013). "Edwards' rise in Garza trade an unlikely tale". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  3. ↑ Morris, Ron (September 13, 2014). "C.J. Edwards: The legend of the String Bean Slinger". The State. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  4. ↑ Muskat, Carrie (July 22, 2013). "Cubs land Rangers' Olt in package for Garza". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  5. ↑ Dykstra, Sam (October 23, 2013). "Edwards takes different route to MiLBY". MiLB.com. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  6. ↑ "2014 Baseball America Top 100 Prospects: The 25th Edition". Baseball America. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  7. ↑ Gonzales, Mark (September 8, 2015). "Carl Edwards Jr. survives nerves for successful major-league debut". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  8. ↑ Gonzales, Mark (September 1, 2016). "Cubs' Carl Edwards Jr. takes big leap with 1st save". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  9. ↑ "Carl Edwards Register Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  10. ↑ Collier, Jamal (October 25, 2016). "Fowler Cubs' first African-American in Series: Center fielder will be first up in Game 1; Heyward, Edwards, Russell also honored by distinction". mlb.com. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Box Score: Game 3, 2016 World Series". Gameday. mlb.com. October 25, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.

External links

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