Xavier Scruggs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Xavier Scruggs |
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Scruggs batting for the Memphis Redbirds in 2015
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| First baseman | |||
| Born: September 23, 1987 Whittier, California, U.S. |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: September 4, 2014, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| KBO: March 31, 2017, for the NC Dinos | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| MLB: October 2, 2016, for the Miami Marlins | |||
| KBO: October 13, 2018, for the NC Dinos | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .227 | ||
| Home runs | 1 | ||
| Runs batted in | 14 | ||
| KBO statistics | |||
| Batting average | .277 | ||
| Home runs | 61 | ||
| Runs batted in | 208 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Xavier Ladel Scruggs (born September 23, 1987) is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins. He also played in the KBO League for the NC Dinos in South Korea.
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Xavier Scruggs' Baseball Journey
Starting His Career
Xavier Scruggs went to Poway High School in California. The Seattle Mariners picked him in the 2005 Major League Baseball draft. However, he decided not to sign with them. Instead, he chose to play college baseball at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He played for the UNLV Rebels for three years. During his time at UNLV, he had a great batting average of .328. He also hit 34 home runs and brought in 112 runs.
Playing for the St. Louis Cardinals
After his third year at UNLV, the St. Louis Cardinals selected Scruggs in the 2008 draft. This time, he signed with the team. He worked his way through the minor leagues.
Scruggs was called up to the major leagues for the first time on September 4, 2014. He made his official debut that day. His time in the major leagues in 2014 was short. He started the next season playing for the Memphis Redbirds. This team is part of the Cardinals' minor league system. In April 2015, he hit .274 with five home runs. He also had 16 runs batted in during 17 games. Because of his strong performance, he was named the Cardinals' organization's Player of the Month.
The Cardinals called him back up to the major leagues on June 19, 2015. Just four days later, he played against the Miami Marlins. He got three hits and two runs batted in. One of his hits was a double that tied the game. The Cardinals eventually won 4–3. He had another great game on June 27 against the Chicago Cubs. He got three more hits and two runs batted in, helping his team win 8–1.
Time with the Miami Marlins
On November 30, 2015, Scruggs signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins. He was called up from their Triple-A team on August 19, 2016. He played first base for the Marlins. On August 20, he hit his first career home run in the major leagues. It was a two-run shot off pitcher Chad Kuhl. This helped the Marlins win the game 3–1. After the season, on October 24, he was removed from the team's main roster.
Playing in South Korea
Scruggs decided to play baseball internationally. On December 26, 2016, he signed a one-year contract with the NC Dinos. This team plays in the KBO League in South Korea. The contract was worth $1 million. He became a free agent after the 2018 season. During his two years with the NC Dinos, Scruggs hit 61 home runs. He also drove in 208 runs for the team.
Playing in Mexico
On June 17, 2019, Scruggs signed with the Leones de Yucatán. This team plays in the Mexican League. He was released from the team on December 5, 2019. In 57 games, he hit .262 with 11 home runs. He also had 31 runs batted in and one stolen base.
Life After Baseball
After his playing career, Xavier Scruggs continued to work in baseball. In April 2021, he joined the St. Louis Cardinals again. This time, he joined their baseball operations team. His role was as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant.
Since 2021, Xavier Scruggs has also been a baseball analyst for ESPN. He covers Major League Baseball games. Every August, he also covers the Little League World Series. This big event takes place in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. In April 2022, Scruggs became one of the first panelists for the MLB Network show Off Base.
