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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| Free agent | |||
| 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 2024 season) |
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| Win–loss record | 16–14 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.54 | ||
| Strikeouts | 328 | ||
| 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 has played for several teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). These teams include the Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals, and San Diego Padres. Carl is currently a free agent, meaning he is not signed to a team.
Contents
Carl Edwards Jr.'s Baseball Journey
Early Career
Carl Edwards Jr. was chosen by the Texas Rangers in the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. He was still in high school at Mid-Carolina High in Prosperity, South Carolina. Carl had planned to play college baseball at Charleston Southern Buccaneers with his friend, Will Bedenbaugh.
However, after his friend Will passed away in a car accident, Carl decided to play professional baseball instead. He spent his first year playing for the Arizona League Rangers and Spokane Indians. He had a great start, with a 1.48 earned run average (ERA) and 85 strikeouts. In 2013, he continued to play well for the Hickory Crawdads.
Joining the Cubs
On July 22, 2013, Carl Edwards Jr. was traded to the Chicago Cubs. This trade also involved other players like Mike Olt and Justin Grimm. After joining the Cubs, he played for their Class A-Advanced team, the Daytona Cubs. He continued to pitch well, and after that season, he was named the MiLB Pitcher of the Year.
Before the 2014 season, Baseball America magazine ranked him as one of the top young players in baseball. He played for the AA Tennessee Smokies in 2014. In 2015, he started with Tennessee and then moved up to the Triple–A Iowa Cubs.
Major League Debut
Carl Edwards Jr. made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on September 7, 2015. He played for the Chicago Cubs against the St. Louis Cardinals. Before being called up to the MLB, he had a strong record in the minor leagues.
World Series Champion!
In 2016, Carl Edwards Jr. spent most of the season playing for the Chicago Cubs. On September 1, he earned his first Major League save. This means he finished a game where his team was winning and helped them keep the lead. He ended the 2016 season with a 3.75 ERA.
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Carl Edwards Jr. made history on October 25, 2016. He and his teammates, Addison Russell, Dexter Fowler, and Jason Heyward, were the first African-Americans to play for the Cubs in a World Series game. He also became the first African-American to pitch for the Cubs in a World Series game.
In Game 7 of the World Series, Carl pitched in the 10th inning. The Cubs went on to win the World Series, which was their first championship in 108 years!
The year 2017 was Carl's first full season in the major leagues. He had a good year, with a 2.98 ERA and 94 strikeouts. He pitched 66 and one-third innings as a relief pitcher.
In 2018, Carl continued to play well for the Cubs. He had a 2.60 ERA and recorded 67 strikeouts. In 2019, he faced some challenges with injuries. He worked hard to get back to his best form.
Playing for Different Teams
After his time with the Cubs, Carl Edwards Jr. played for several other MLB teams. In 2019, he was traded to the San Diego Padres. He then signed with the Seattle Mariners in 2020. In 2021, he joined the Atlanta Braves and later the Toronto Blue Jays. He also had a short time with the Chicago White Sox organization.
In 2022, Carl signed with the Washington Nationals. He added a new pitch, called a change-up, to his skills. He played well for the Nationals in 2022 and 2023. In 2023, he had a 3.69 ERA before an injury ended his season early.
In 2024, Carl returned to the Chicago Cubs for a second time on a minor league contract. He pitched well for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, earning 7 saves. Later in 2024, he signed with the San Diego Padres again. He even started working as a starting pitcher for them.
Life Off the Field
Carl Edwards Jr. is married to Anquinette Smith. They have two children. Their first child was born in August 2015, and their second child was born in July 2018. Carl and Anquinette got married in 2021.
Fun Facts and Nicknames
In the minor leagues, Carl Edwards Jr. was sometimes called "C.J." (which stands for Carl Jr.). His manager with the Cubs, Joe Maddon, also used this nickname.
Carl also earned a cool nickname: "The String Bean Slinger." This name came from his strong arm and his tall, thin build (he is 6 feet 3 inches tall but weighs about 170 pounds). He even had this nickname printed on the back of his special jersey during the annual Players Weekend event!
