Carl Edwards Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carl Edwards Jr. |
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Edwards with the Washington Nationals in 2023
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| Texas Rangers | |||
| Pitcher | |||
| Born: September 3, 1991 Newberry, South Carolina, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 7, 2015, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| MLB statistics (through April 25, 2025) |
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| Win–loss record | 16–14 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.59 | ||
| Strikeouts | 330 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Carl Fleming Edwards Jr. (born September 3, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher. He plays for the Texas Rangers organization. Carl has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. These include the Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals, San Diego Padres, and Los Angeles Angels. He is best known for winning the World Series with the Chicago Cubs in 2016.
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Baseball Career Highlights
Starting with the Texas Rangers
Carl Edwards Jr. was chosen by the Texas Rangers in the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. This was right after he finished high school in South Carolina. He had planned to play college baseball with a friend, Will Bedenbaugh. Sadly, Will passed away in a car accident. Because of this, Carl decided to play professional baseball instead.
He started his pro career with the Arizona League Rangers. He had a great first year, finishing with a 1.48 earned run average (ERA). This means he allowed very few runs to score against him. He also had 85 strikeouts, which is when a pitcher gets three strikes and the batter is out.
Joining the Chicago Cubs
In 2013, Carl was traded to the Chicago Cubs. He continued to do very well in the minor leagues. He was even named the MiLB Pitcher of the Year. Before the 2014 season, Baseball America magazine said he was one of the top young players to watch.
Making His MLB Debut
Carl Edwards Jr. made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on September 7, 2015. He played for the Cubs against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Winning the World Series in 2016
The year 2016 was very special for Carl. He joined the Chicago Cubs full-time. On September 1, he got his first Major League save. A save is when a pitcher finishes a close game and helps their team win.
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Carl and some of his teammates made history in the 2016 World Series. They were the first African-American players to play for the Cubs in a World Series game. Carl was also the first African-American pitcher for the Cubs in a World Series. He pitched in Game 7, which was a very exciting game. The Cubs won, ending a 108-year wait for a championship!
Full Season Success in 2017
In 2017, Carl played his first full season in the major leagues. He had a strong year, with a 2.98 ERA and 94 strikeouts. He pitched in many important games for the Cubs.
2018 Season Performance
Carl continued to pitch well in 2018. He had a 2.60 ERA and recorded 67 strikeouts.
Dealing with Injuries in 2019
In 2019, Carl faced some challenges with injuries. He worked hard to get back to his best form.
Moving to Other Teams
Carl Edwards Jr. has played for several other MLB teams. In 2019, he was traded to the San Diego Padres. In 2020, he played for the Seattle Mariners. He then joined the Atlanta Braves and the Toronto Blue Jays in 2021.
Playing for the Washington Nationals
In 2022, Carl signed with the Washington Nationals. He added a new type of pitch, called a change-up, to his skills. He pitched very well for the Nationals. In 2023, he continued to play for them, but had to take time off due to a shoulder injury.
Returning to the Cubs and Padres
In 2024, Carl signed a minor league contract to return to the Chicago Cubs. He pitched well in the minor leagues. Later that year, he signed with the San Diego Padres again. He even started some games as a pitcher, which was a new role for him.
Joining the Los Angeles Angels
In March 2025, Carl signed with the Los Angeles Angels. He played in a few games for them before returning to the minor leagues.
Back with the Texas Rangers
In July 2025, Carl signed a minor league contract to return to the Texas Rangers organization.
Personal Life
Carl Edwards Jr. is married to Anquinette Smith. They have two children. Their first child was born in 2015, and their second in 2018. Carl and Anquinette got married in 2021.
Fun Facts and Nicknames
Carl Edwards Jr. has a few nicknames. In the minor leagues, he was sometimes called "C.J." (for Carl Jr.). His former manager, Joe Maddon, also used this name. He also earned the nickname "The String Bean Slinger." This name comes from his strong pitching arm and his tall, thin build (6 feet 3 inches tall, 170 pounds). He even had this nickname on the back of his special jersey during Players Weekend!
