Off-the-charts speed was the carrying tool when the Padres selected Xavier Edwards 38th overall last June. Of course, there’s quite a bit more helping the 19-year-old, switch-hitting infielder climb the leaderboards in the Midwest League.
“His plate discipline is probably a lot more advanced that a lot of young hitters in the league,” low Single-A Fort Wayne manager Anthony Contreras said after Edwards extended his hitting streak to 10 games in a 10-6 loss at Lake County. “He can manipulate the barrel with ease. He can bunt. He can take what pitchers are giving him and shoot it all over the field.