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Xavier Nady

Xavier Nady
Nady with the Washington Nationals
Outfielder / First baseman
Born: (1978-11-14) November 14, 1978 (age 46)
Salinas, California, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 30, 2000, for the San Diego Padres
Last MLB appearance
May 4, 2014, for the San Diego Padres
MLB statistics
Batting average.268
Home runs104
Runs batted in410
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Xavier Clifford Nady VI[1] (/ɛkˈseɪviər ˈneɪdi/; born November 14, 1978) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and first baseman. Nady played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks, Washington Nationals, San Francisco Giants, and the San Diego Padres.

Early life

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Xavier Clifford Nady VI was born on November 14, 1978, in Salinas, California. Nady was named Northern California Player of the Year in his senior year of high school. The St. Louis Cardinals originally drafted Nady in the fourth round of the 1997 Major League Baseball draft (134th overall), but he did not sign professionally at that time.[2]

College career

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Nady instead attended University of California, Berkeley, where he set the all-time Pac-10 Conference record for career slugging percentage (.729) for the California Golden Bears baseball team.[3] In 2021, Nady was inducted into the California Athletics Hall of Fame.[4]

Professional career

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Draft and San Diego Padres (2000, 2003–2005)

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Nady was drafted in the second round of the 2000 Major League Baseball draft by the San Diego Padres (49th overall). Nady signed a major league contract and became the 18th player to go directly to the major leagues without making his professional debut in the minor leagues since 1965.[5]

Nady only appeared in one major league game before being sent to the minor leagues. He was named Padres Minor League Player of the Year in 2001, also collecting the California League MVP and Rookie of the Year awards that season.[2] Nady underwent Tommy John surgery after the 2001 season and had limited playing time in 2002.[6] In 2003, he again returned to the major league level for part of the season, earning NL Rookie of the Month honors in May.[7] He ultimately spent most of his time in the minor leagues.

In late June 2005, Nady became the first Padre since Greg Vaughn (in 1998) to homer in four consecutive games.

New York Mets (2006)

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The Padres traded him to the New York Mets for Mike Cameron on November 18, 2005.[8] Nady underwent an emergency appendectomy early in the morning on May 30, 2006. As a result, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list, and returned to the lineup on June 18.[9]

Nady with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2007

Pittsburgh Pirates (2006–2008)

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On July 30, 2006, Mets set-up relief pitcher Duaner Sánchez was injured when the cab in which he was a passenger was broadsided. The Mets' pitching corps was already depleted with star pitcher Pedro Martínez on the disabled list. Desperate for pitching, the Mets were forced to give up Nady, their starting right fielder, to the Pirates in exchange for pitchers Óliver Pérez and Roberto Hernández.[10]

In September 2007, Nady was hit in the head with a pitch and later diagnosed with a concussion.[11][12] He was named NL Player of the Week for the week of April 6, 2008.[13]

New York Yankees (2008–2009)

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Nady with the Yankees in 2008

On July 26, 2008, the New York Yankees acquired Nady and pitcher Dámaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates for José Tábata, Ross Ohlendorf, Daniel McCutchen, and Jeff Karstens.[14]

Nady had a career-high six (6) RBIs as the Yankees came back to beat the Los Angeles Angels on August 3, 2008.[15] Nady was named AL Player of the Week for his performance.[16] He finished the 2008 season setting career-highs in home runs (25) and runs batted in (97), and had a .305 batting average.[17]

On January 21, 2009, Nady signed a one-year contract worth $6.65 million with the Yankees, thus avoiding arbitration.[18] On April 14, 2009, Nady suffered a right-elbow injury which ultimately required a second Tommy John surgery on July 8, despite an initial attempt to rehab the injury. The surgery ended his 2009 season.[19] As a result, Nick Swisher took over in Nady's position for the remainder of the 2009 season. Nady spent the season (including the postseason) on the disabled list until the Yankees won the 2009 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. He filed for free agency following the conclusion of the 2009 season.

While Nady played only seven games for the Yankees in 2009, he did receive a World Series ring following the team's Series victory that season.[20]

Chicago Cubs (2010)

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Nady playing first base for the Chicago Cubs in 2010

On January 29, 2010, Nady signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs.[21] On May 16, 2010, Nady hit a game-winning RBI single in the eighth inning against the Pirates, as the Cubs won 4–3.[22] Nady finished the season with a .256 batting average, six home runs and 33 runs batted in.[17] He became a free agent after the end of the season.

Arizona Diamondbacks (2011)

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Nady signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on December 15, 2010.[23] He became a free agent after the end of the season.

Washington Nationals (2012)

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Nady signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals on March 18, 2012.[24] He was called up by the Nationals on April 4. Following a trip to the disabled list midway through the season, Nady was designated for assignment on July 21, 2012[25] and released on July 29, 2012.[26] Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, a rookie during the 2012 season, later named Nady among the veteran teammates from whom he learned early on in his playing career.[27]

San Francisco Giants (2012)

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Nady was signed to a minor league contract by the San Francisco Giants on August 4, 2012, and assigned to their Triple-A affiliate in Fresno, California.[28][29] He made his debut for the Giants on September 1, 2012, and hit a three-run double against the Cubs in his first at-bat.[30] On September 30, Nady hit a game-tying ninth-inning home run against the San Diego Padres in a game that the Giants went on to win in extra innings.[31] He was on the active roster during the 2012 World Series[32] in which the team swept the Detroit Tigers in four games.[33]

Kansas City Royals

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On December 14, 2012, Nady signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals.[34] During Spring training, Nady struggled first with plantar fasciitis and then sustained a partial tear in his right heel.[35] The Royals released him on March 25, 2013,[36] and then re-signed him to a Minor League contract later the same week.[37] He played with their Triple-A team in Omaha.[38] Nady was released on June 29.[39]

Colorado Rockies

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Nady signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies on June 30, 2013.[40]

Second stint with Padres (2014)

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Nady signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres in January 2014.[41] He was designated for assignment on May 5, 2014.[42] On May 11, Nady refused his outright assignment and elected free agency.[43]

Seattle Mariners

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On May 27, 2014, Nady signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners.[44] He exercised an opt-out clause in his contract on June 26, becoming a free agent.[45]

Coaching career

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On June 20, 2015, Nady began his tenure as the hitting coach for the Lake Elsinore Storm, the Single A affiliate of the San Diego Padres.[46] He has since taken a job as a scout and recruiter for agent Scott Boras.[47]

Personal life

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Nady's wife, Meredith, had their first child, a son named Xavier VII, on July 15, 2008.[48][47] His second son was born on September 8, 2011. The Nady family traces its lineage back to France before moving to Iowa in the mid-19th century.[49] The first Xavier Nady can be traced back to the 16th century French hamlet of Auxelles-Bas.[1] His uncle is boxing referee Jay Nady.[50] His cousin is football coach Jeff Nady.

After an intestinal illness prior to spring training in 2007, Nady was tested for Crohn's disease due to family history of the disease.[51] The tests turned out negative and Nady was instead diagnosed with a minor infection of the small intestines.[52]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Shpigel, Ben (March 21, 2006). "Xavier Is a Household Name. At Least It Is in the Nady Household". The New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2006.
  2. ^ a b "Baseball lives: Xavier Nady's journey from Salinas High to Major League Baseball". Monterey Herald. May 2, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  3. ^ "Xavier Nady Bio - The University of California Official Athletic Site". California Golden Bears Athletics. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  4. ^ "Xavier Nady (2021) - California Athletics Hall of Fame". California Golden Bears Athletics. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  5. ^ "Xavier Nady Baseball Stats | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  6. ^ Leader, Lewis Abraham (May 2, 2020). "Baseball lives: Xavier Nady's journey from Salinas High to Major League Baseball". The Monterey County Herald. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  7. ^ "Xavier Nady Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  8. ^ "It's official: Mets trade Cameron to Padres for Nady". ESPN. Associated Press. November 19, 2005. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  9. ^ "Nady out of hospital". The Monterey County Herald. Associated Press. February 23, 2007. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  10. ^ "Sanchez in doubt, so Mets get two arms". ESPN. July 31, 2006. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  11. ^ "Pirates' Nady bruised after beaning". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  12. ^ "Pirates Notebook: Nady's concussion brings more uncertainty". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  13. ^ "Xavier Nady Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  14. ^ Heyman, Jon (July 26, 2008). "Yanks acquire Nady, Marte from Bucs for 4 minor league prospects". Sports Illustrated. CNN. Archived from the original on July 29, 2008. Retrieved July 26, 2008.
  15. ^ "Angels vs. Yankees - Game Recap - August 3, 2008 - ESPN". November 29, 2021. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  16. ^ "Xavier Nady Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  17. ^ a b "Xavier Nady Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  18. ^ Nekoukar, Dave (January 21, 2009). "Yanks avoid arbitration with Xavier Nady, Melky Cabrera". NJ.com. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  19. ^ "New York Yankees OF Xavier Nady to have Tommy John surgery". ESPN. Associated Press. July 1, 2009. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  20. ^ Bronx Baseball Daily (April 21, 2010). "Brian Cashman Gives Xavier Nady World Series Ring Before Game in Flushing". Bleacher Report. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
  21. ^ McCalvy, Adam (January 29, 2010). "Nady, Cubs complete one-year deal". Chicago Cubs. MLB.com. Archived from the original on January 31, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  22. ^ "Nady, Cubs prevent Pirates from getting rare Wrigley sweep". ESPN. Associated Press. May 16, 2010. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  23. ^ "Diamondbacks reportedly to sign Nady, Blanco". ESPN. December 16, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  24. ^ Sheinin, Dave (March 18, 2012). "Nationals sign Xavier Nady to minor-league deal". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  25. ^ Shah, Ronit (July 21, 2012). "Nationals Designate Xavier Nady For Assignment". MLB Daily Dish. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  26. ^ Shah, Ronit (July 29, 2012). "Nationals Release Xavier Nady". MLB Daily Dish. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  27. ^ "Harper tries to keep focus on winning in 2018, not free agency - Nationals Pastime". February 20, 2018. Archived from the original on February 20, 2018. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  28. ^ Chang, Austin (August 4, 2012). "San Francisco Giants Sign Xavier Nady to Minor League Contract: Fan's Reaction". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on August 8, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  29. ^ Baggarly, Andrew (August 5, 2012). "Giants, Nady agree to minor league contract". CSN Bay Area. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  30. ^ "Lincecum, Nady lead Giants past Cubs 5-2". Deseret News. Associated Press. September 1, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  31. ^ Wilson, Bernie (September 30, 2012). "Giants win after Nady"s HR ties it". The Monterey County Herald. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  32. ^ Sutton, Joseph (April 15, 2015). San Francisco Giants: A Fan's Journal 2010, 2012, 2014. Joseph Sutton. ISBN 9780982559888 – via Google Books.
  33. ^ Busfield, Steve (October 29, 2012). "San Francisco Giants win World Series by sweeping the Detroit Tigers". The Guardian. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  34. ^ Pollock, Bill (December 14, 2012). "Royals sign Xavier Nady to minor league contract". Missourinet. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  35. ^ "Nady waiting for opportunities to emerge". Chicago Tribune. April 8, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  36. ^ "Royals Release Nady, Sherrill". MLB Trade Rumors. March 25, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  37. ^ Blontz, Blaine (March 27, 2013). "Royals re-sign Nady, Sherrill". MLB Daily Dish. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  38. ^ Kaegel, Dick (March 28, 2013). "Nady provides versatility, right-handed power bat". Kansas City Royals. MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  39. ^ Todd, Jeff (June 29, 2013). "Royals Release Xavier Nady". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  40. ^ Silva, Drew (June 30, 2013). "Rockies sign Xavier Nady to minor league contract". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  41. ^ Sanders, Jeff (January 7, 2014). "Padres bring back Nady on minors deal". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  42. ^ "Padres recall Kyle Blanks". ESPN. Associated Press. May 6, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  43. ^ Somers, Aaron (May 11, 2014). "Xavier Nady refuses outright assignment, elects free agency". Call to the Pen. FanSided. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  44. ^ "Seattle signs Xavier Nady to minor league deal". Sports Illustrated. CNN. Associated Press. May 28, 2014. Archived from the original on May 29, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  45. ^ Adams, Steve (June 26, 2014). "Xavier Nady Opts Out Of Deal With Mariners". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  46. ^ "Xavier Nady hired as Storm hitting coach | MiLB.com". November 29, 2021. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  47. ^ a b "Baseball lives: Xavier Nady's journey from Salinas High to Major League Baseball". Monterey Herald. May 2, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  48. ^ Perkins, Owen (July 19, 2008). "Nady rejoins team after birth of child". Pittsburgh Pirates. MLB.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  49. ^ Grathoff, Pete (May 16, 2014). "Xavier Nady's lineage goes back to 19th Century France". The Kansas City Star.
  50. ^ Marley, Michael (October 5, 2010). "Pacquiao vs Margarito: Jay Nady is Needed To Referee". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  51. ^ "With family history, Nady to take Crohn's disease test". ESPN. Associated Press. February 24, 2007. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  52. ^ "Xavier Nady: Does Not Have Crohn's Disease". RotoWire. March 4, 2007. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
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