Xavier Nady
Encyclopedia
Xavier Clifford Nady VI (icon; born November 14, 1978) is a Major League Baseball
outfielder
and first baseman
, who is a free agent.
originally drafted Nady in the 4th round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft
(134th overall) after he was named Northern California Player of the Year in his senior year of high school, but he did not sign professionally at that time. Nady 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.
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 league
s since .
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 , also collecting the California League
's Most Valuable Player
and Rookie of the Year awards that season. Nady underwent Tommy John surgery
and had limited playing time in . In , he again returned to the major league level for part of the season, but spent most of his time in the minor leagues.
In late June , Nady became the first Padre since Greg Vaughn
(in ) to homer
in four consecutive games.
for Mike Cameron
on November 18, 2005. Nady underwent an emergency appendectomy early in the morning on May 30, 2006; he was placed on the 15-day disabled list
, and returned to the lineup on June 18.
was injured when the cab in which he was a passenger was broadsided. The Mets' pitching corps was already depleted with star pitcher Pedro Martinez
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 Hernandez.
Dámaso Marté
from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jose Tabata
, Ross Ohlendorf
, Daniel McCutchen
, and Jeff Karstens.
Nady had a career-high 6 RBIs as the Yankees came back to beat the Los Angeles Angels on August 3, 2008. He finished the 2008 season setting career-highs in home runs (25) and runs batted in (97) and a .305 batting average.
Nady signed a one-year deal worth $6.65 million with the Yankees avoiding arbitration. 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 season. Following the conclusion of the 2009 season, Nady filed for free agency.
. On May 16, 2010, Nady hit a game-winning RBI single in the 8th inning against the Pirates, as the Cubs won 4–3.
on December 15, 2010.
After an intestinal illness prior to spring training
in 2007, Nady was tested for Crohn's disease
due to family history of the disease. The tests turned out negative and Nady was instead diagnosed with a minor infection of the small intestines.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
and first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
, who is a free agent.
Amateur career
The St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
originally drafted Nady in the 4th round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft
1997 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1997 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1997...
(134th overall) after he was named Northern California Player of the Year in his senior year of high school, but he did not sign professionally at that time. Nady attended University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, where he set the all-time Pac-10 Conference record for career slugging percentage (.729) for the California Golden Bears baseball
California Golden Bears baseball
The California Golden Bears baseball team represents the University of California in NCAA Division I college baseball. Along with most other California athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the Pacific-12 Conference...
team.
San Diego Padres
Nady was drafted in the second round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft2000 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Compensation picks:- Background :The Florida Marlins made Adrian Gonzalez of Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, CA the first overall selection in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft...
by the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
(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 league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
s since .
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 , also collecting the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
's Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
and Rookie of the Year awards that season. Nady underwent Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
and had limited playing time in . In , he again returned to the major league level for part of the season, but spent most of his time in the minor leagues.
In late June , Nady became the first Padre since Greg Vaughn
Greg Vaughn
Gregory Lamont Vaughn is a former Major League Baseball left fielder and right-handed batter who played for the Milwaukee Brewers , San Diego Padres , Cincinnati Reds , Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Colorado Rockies . He was born in Sacramento, California, where he attended Kennedy High School...
(in ) to homer
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
in four consecutive games.
New York Mets
The Padres traded him to the New York MetsNew York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
for Mike Cameron
Mike Cameron
Michael Terrance Cameron is an American professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He has previously played for the Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, and Florida Marlins.Cameron has won 3...
on November 18, 2005. Nady underwent an emergency appendectomy early in the morning on May 30, 2006; he was placed on the 15-day disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
, and returned to the lineup on June 18.
Pittsburgh Pirates
On July 30, 2006, Mets set-up relief pitcher Duaner SanchezDuaner Sánchez
Duaner Sánchez is a Dominican-American professional baseball player currently playing for the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League. He is a right-handed relief pitcher who is currently a free agent in Major League Baseball...
was injured when the cab in which he was a passenger was broadsided. The Mets' pitching corps was already depleted with star pitcher Pedro Martinez
Pedro Martínez
Pedro Jaime Martínez is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He is an eight-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner, and 2004 World Series champion...
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
Oliver Pérez
Óliver Pérez Martínez is a left-handed pitcher currently in the Washington Nationals organization.-San Diego Padres:...
and Roberto Hernandez.
New York Yankees
On July 26, 2008, the New York Yankees acquired Nady and pitcherPitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Dámaso Marté
Dámaso Marté
Dámaso Marté Sabinon is a Dominican Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Seattle Mariners , Pittsburgh Pirates , and Chicago White Sox .-Seattle Mariners:...
from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jose Tabata
Jose Tabata
José Nicolas Tábata is a professional baseball outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was an international signee of the New York Yankees and, by 2008, became the Yankees' No. 2 prospect...
, Ross Ohlendorf
Ross Ohlendorf
Curtis Ross Ohlendorf is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is known for his hard-biting sinker. He can hit 97 mph with a two-seam sinking fastball, and he's working to improve his developing changeup, slider, and breaking ball.-High School and College...
, Daniel McCutchen
Daniel McCutchen
Daniel Thomas McCutchen is a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is of no relation to fellow Pirates player Andrew McCutchen.-Early life:...
, and Jeff Karstens.
Nady had a career-high 6 RBIs as the Yankees came back to beat the Los Angeles Angels on August 3, 2008. He finished the 2008 season setting career-highs in home runs (25) and runs batted in (97) and a .305 batting average.
Nady signed a one-year deal worth $6.65 million with the Yankees avoiding arbitration. On April 14, 2009, Nady suffered a right-elbow injury which ultimately required a second Tommy John
Tommy John
Thomas Edward John Jr. is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball whose 288 career victories rank as the seventh highest total among left-handers in major league history...
surgery on July 8, despite an initial attempt to rehab the injury. The surgery ended his season. Following the conclusion of the 2009 season, Nady filed for free agency.
Chicago Cubs
On January 29, 2010, Nady signed a 1 year contract with the Chicago CubsChicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. On May 16, 2010, Nady hit a game-winning RBI single in the 8th inning against the Pirates, as the Cubs won 4–3.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Nady agreed to sign with the Arizona DiamondbacksArizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
on December 15, 2010.
Personal life
Nady's wife Meredith had their first child, Xavier Henry Nady VII, on July 15, 2008.After an intestinal illness prior to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in 2007, Nady was tested for Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease, also known as regional enteritis, is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus, causing a wide variety of symptoms...
due to family history of the disease. The tests turned out negative and Nady was instead diagnosed with a minor infection of the small intestines.