Carl Edwards Jr. Bio
Carl Fleming Edwards Jr. is an American professional baseball pitcher currently in the New York Mets organization. Born on September 3, 1991, in Prosperity, South Carolina, he has built a journeyman career across Major League Baseball, pitching in relief and starting roles for multiple franchises. He is best remembered for his tenure with the Chicago Cubs, where he contributed to the franchise’s 2016 World Series championship. Known for his skinny frame and powerful arm, Edwards carries the long-standing nickname “The String Bean Slinger.”
Across more than a decade in professional baseball, Edwards has suited up for the Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Angels, and now the New York Mets. He has worked primarily as a reliever while occasionally stretching out as a starter, demonstrating the kind of versatility that has kept him in demand on minor league deals.
Carl Edwards Jr. Career
Early Life and Background
Carl Fleming Edwards Jr. grew up in Prosperity, a small town in South Carolina, where he attended Mid-Carolina High School and developed into a promising right-handed pitcher. The close-knit community and a deep love for baseball shaped his formative years and pushed him toward a professional path.
Edwards had committed to play college baseball at Charleston Southern University, where he planned to join his high school teammate and friend, Will Bedenbaugh, on the Buccaneers roster. When Bedenbaugh died in a car accident, Edwards could not bring himself to play for a program defined by his friend’s absence. That personal loss redirected his career, and he chose to enter the professional ranks instead of attending college.
Path to Professional Baseball
In the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft, the Texas Rangers selected Edwards in the 48th round out of Mid-Carolina High School. He began his professional journey in the Arizona League, advancing quickly through the lower levels of the Rangers’ system. In his first season, he posted a 5–3 record with a 1.48 ERA and 85 strikeouts across 67 innings between the Arizona League Rangers and the Spokane Indians.
The 2013 season marked Edwards’ breakout in the minors. Pitching for the Hickory Crawdads, he went 8–2 with a 1.83 ERA and an eye-popping 122 strikeouts over 93 and one-third innings, drawing national attention as one of the system’s most electric arms. On July 22, 2013, the Rangers traded Edwards, along with Mike Olt, Justin Grimm, and a player to be named later, to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Matt Garza, launching the next phase of his career.
Chicago Cubs Era (2013–2019)
After joining the Cubs organization, Edwards was assigned to the High-A Daytona Cubs, where he posted a 1.96 ERA with 33 strikeouts across 23 innings over six starts and was named the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year. The following season, he pitched for the Double-A Tennessee Smokies, going 1–2 with a 2.44 ERA in ten starts, and Baseball America ranked him the 28th-best prospect in baseball entering 2014.
Edwards made his Major League debut on September 7, 2015, against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. In 2016, he earned a permanent spot in the Cubs’ bullpen, recording his first Major League save on September 1 against the San Francisco Giants. On October 25, 2016, he appeared in the World Series, becoming one of the first African-American players to play for the Cubs in a World Series game, and in Game 3, he became the first African-American pitcher to appear in a World Series contest for the Cubs, striking out the side against the Cleveland Indians. He appeared in the historic Game 7 as well, helping the Cubs capture their first World Series title in 108 years.
In 2017, Edwards enjoyed his first full major league season, going 5–4 with a 2.98 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 66 and one-third relief innings. He struggled in the Division Series against the Washington Nationals, but rebounded in the League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing no runs across two and one-third innings. He followed that with a strong 2018 campaign, posting a 3–2 record, 2.60 ERA, and 67 strikeouts in 52 innings. Injuries hampered him in 2019, and on July 31, 2019, the Cubs traded him to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Brad Wieck.
Journeyman Years (2019–2025)
Edwards’ stint in San Diego was brief and difficult, as he posted a 32.40 ERA across two games before electing free agency in November 2019. He signed a one-year contract with the Seattle Mariners on December 4, 2019, and in 2020 he allowed just one run across five appearances, striking out six before electing free agency again.
In January 2021, Edwards signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves and was briefly selected to the major league roster on May 7, 2021, before being designated for assignment the following day. He signed with the Toronto Blue Jays in May 2021 and was selected to the active roster on May 30, but a left oblique strain landed him on the 60-day injured list in June, and he was released in August 2021. He closed the year with a minor league deal in the Chicago White Sox system.
On February 25, 2022, Edwards signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals, added a changeup to his arsenal, and earned a promotion to the majors on May 10. He returned to the Nationals on a one-year, $2.25 million deal in January 2023, posted a 3.69 ERA in 32 relief appearances, and was later diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right scapula that ended his season. He returned to the Cubs organization in 2024 on a minor league deal and later signed with the San Diego Padres, where he worked primarily as a starter before being designated for assignment in August 2024.
Edwards signed with the Los Angeles Angels organization in March 2025, was briefly added to the active roster, and was designated for assignment in late April. He joined the Tigres de Quintana Roo of the Mexican League in May 2025, going 5–2 with a 3.38 ERA in 14 starts. He returned to the Texas Rangers on a minor league deal in July 2025, was selected to the active roster in September, and made two scoreless appearances before being outrighted in late September and electing free agency in October.
New York Mets Era (2025–Present)
On December 8, 2025, Edwards signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets, returning to a National League organization as he continues his professional career. The deal gives him an opportunity to compete for a role in the Mets’ pitching depth chart heading into the upcoming season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Edwards is recognized for a strong, lively arm capable of missing bats in both relief and starting roles, with a strikeout rate that has long been his calling card. His willingness to add a changeup during his time with the Washington Nationals showcased his adaptability, while his skinny frame and high-energy delivery have made him a recognizable presence on the mound. Managers have valued his veteran poise and his ability to step into high-leverage situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Edwards’ signature moments are tied to the 2016 World Series, where he became a historical figure in Cubs lore and earned a championship ring. His first Major League save came on September 1, 2016, against the San Francisco Giants, and his ascent from a 48th-round draft pick to a World Series contributor remains one of the more unusual career arcs in recent baseball history.
Carl Edwards Jr. Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Carl Fleming Edwards Jr.’s immediate family are limited. He grew up in Prosperity, South Carolina, with roots in a tight community that supported his baseball development from a young age.
Personal Life
Edwards and his partner, Anquinette Smith, welcomed their first child in August 2015 and their second child in July 2018. The couple married in 2021, and Edwards has often spoken about the role family has played in keeping him grounded throughout his professional journey.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was one of transition for Carl Fleming Edwards Jr., as he bounced between organizations and roles. He began the year with the Los Angeles Angels, was designated for assignment in late April after three innings of work, and then moved to the Mexican League, where he thrived as a starter for the Tigres de Quintana Roo, going 5–2 with a 3.38 ERA and 60 strikeouts across 74 and two-thirds innings over 14 starts.
Edwards returned to the Texas Rangers in July 2025, made eight appearances including seven starts for the Triple-A Round Rock Express, and earned a promotion to the active roster in September. In two scoreless big-league outings with the Rangers, he struck out four across three innings before being designated for assignment and electing free agency in October.
His late-season move to a minor league deal with the New York Mets on December 8, 2025, sets the stage for his next chapter. The agreement positions him to compete for a bullpen or long relief role in spring training, and his track record of strikeouts and postseason experience should give him a credible chance to extend his career into the following season.