Edwards shifts to second, as Lopez takes over shortstop duties

MIAMI -- The Marlins are moving shortstop Xavier Edwards to second base, the club announced on Friday.

Edwards, who is recovering from a left mid-back strain and began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday, played seven innings at second on Friday. He will man that position and Otto Lopez will remain at short when Edwards is reinstated from the injured list.

“Just felt the total sum of those guys in the middle, we're definitely better, and [I] think it would be a good move for us,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “And X, go on the other side of the bag [at] second, he certainly has a lot of time over there. It might take a little while to get back, reacclimated to getting over there and up to game speed, but I don't foresee that to take very long, and he's certainly skilled enough to do that. It's a good spot for him.”

Selected as a prep shortstop by the Padres in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft, Edwards played that position regularly until the '21 season, when he switched to second -- and even third -- while at the Double-A level in the Rays' system. Toward the end of '23, during his September callup with the Marlins, Edwards began getting practice reps again at short. Coming back from last year's left foot infection, Edwards did the same.

So when veteran Tim Anderson was designated for assignment by the Marlins on July 2, 2024, Edwards took over as the everyday shortstop for the first time. In 69 games (67 starts), he finished with -8 defensive runs saved (fifth-worst among MLB shortstops with at least 550 frames) and -10 outs above average (second-worst).

Miami gave the 25-year-old Edwards another shot in Spring Training and to start the 2025 season after a winter of working on his arm strength and exchange, but the results were more of the same. Through 41 games, Edwards has -4 DRS (tied for sixth-worst among qualifying MLB shortstops) and -6 OAA (tied for worst). His 76.2 mph arm strength ranks in the 11th percentile.

“I think X is a team guy, and we feel like for X, I think this is just better for our team right now and do think like even for [him] long term, this will be a good fit for [him] as we continue to move forward,” McCullough said. “X is up for thinking this is what's best for us right now. He's good with making that change over there and going to work and trying to get up to speed as quickly as he can back at second base, and [I] feel like it's going to pay dividends and help us win games.”

Including Friday, Lopez has started seven of the last eight games at shortstop in Edwards’ absence. Javier Sanoja has been at short for the other six contests.

“Trying to go there and prove that I work hard, to be [in] a good position right now, and prove that I can be better at shortstop, even [better than] at second,” Lopez said. “It doesn't matter where.”

The 26-year-old Lopez, who has ranked as one of the best defensive second basemen in the Majors since joining the Marlins in April 2024, grew up playing shortstop. He was the primary shortstop for the Blue Jays’ Single-A affiliate in 2019 before moving around the diamond from ‘21-23.

In a limited sample size at short, Lopez has 2 DRS and 0 OAA. His footwork has translated to the new position, as has his arm strength.

“He's been incredible,” infield coach Tyler Smarslok said. “He's as locked in as anybody else in the infield. He's played a lot of short in his career, so he's really gotten used to it. But what I've seen from him is the same stuff I've seen at second. He's just been challenged a little bit more to use his athleticism, and he's showing it off."

Miami's only ranked shortstop prospects in the upper levels of the Minors are middle infielders Jared Serna (ranked No. 15) at Double-A Pensacola and Maximo Acosta (No. 19) at Triple-A Jacksonville. Acosta, 22, is on the 40-man roster, but he has a .576 OPS in 48 games this season. His .954 fielding percentage would be tied with the Reds’ Elly De La Cruz for last among qualifying MLB shortstops.