Miami Marlins: New advanced metric shows Xavier Edwards' top-tier base running Skills

MLB's Statcast, an excellent resource for baseball's advanced stats, recently unveiled several new metrics. Miami Marlins breakout star Xavier Edwards found himself surprisingly high on the Baserunning Runs stat, checking in at #11 in MLB.

All-Star Corbin Carroll had a commanding lead with 12 runs last season. Superstar Shohei Ohtani checked in at second with eight, with stars like Elly De La Cruz, Jaren Durran, Crow-Armstrong, Pete, and Jose Ramirez also ranked in the top 10. Meanwhile, Edwards was tied for the seventh-most in baseball with six.

This is an impressive feat for the Marlins' building block, especially considering he did not become a regular part of the major league lineup until July, recording just 265 official at-bats. Edwards has good, but not great, speed, ranking in the 78th percentile in baseball. However, the 25-year-old showed excellent instincts on the basepaths, stealing an impressive 31 bags.

This new Baserunning Runs metic further shows Edwards' savvy as a runner. For context, Carroll's league-leading 12 runs were across 589 at-bats. Ohtani, tied for 2nd, had a staggering 636 at-bats.

If Edwards continues his current pace, the everyday playing time he will receive in 2025 will open the door for him to meet (or even eclipse) Carroll's mark. His speed and proficiency have caused some to compare the new Marlin to multi-time All-Star hitter Luis Castillo. This new advanced metric further bolsters this case.

Edward's potential gives Miami Marlins fans something to be truly excited about. While he will never develop comparable power, the infielder has a real chance to develop into one of baseball's premier base stealers.

Imagine a world where the Marlins have a version of Elly De La Cruz or Trea Turner on the base paths. Edwards' unique skillset gives him the potential to become a fan favorite as he moves the needle in a positive direction in 2025 and beyond!