JUPITER, Fla. – Alex Gonzalez and Luis Castillo. Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla. Adeiny Hechavarría and Dee Strange-Gordon.
Can Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards become the next memorable Marlins middle-infield duo?
“We're young, athletic,” Edwards said. “We enjoy playing together, so that's always a big thing. Obviously, we're young in our careers, but me and Otto have played a lot of innings up the middle together already. I feel like most of my Major League innings up the middle have been with Otto on the other side of the bag, either the second-base or the shortstop side.
“With time comes wisdom, and we’re learning things about each other. I think the sky's the limit for sure, and I'm excited to get out there and turn double plays.”
Double-play tandems share a bond, but Lopez and Edwards’ friendship was years in the making and didn't bloom until a travel misadventure for their spouses.
Lopez and Edwards faced each other in the Blue Jays and Padres systems, respectively, before playing together with the 2024 Marlins. When Miami recalled Lopez, who was claimed off waivers from San Francisco on April 4, 2024, 11 days later from Triple-A Jacksonville, he found a familiar face in the clubhouse.
“When I got here and we got together, it kind of clicked,” Lopez said.
Then came a getaway day that August, when a storm rolled through that grounded commercial flights out of New York. Lopez's future wife, Marle, their newborn daughter Amelia and Edwards' future wife Emily stayed with Marle’s aunt in the Bronx that night. They hired a car service for the following day before flying out of Philadelphia to Miami.
"That was really where their friendship took off, and I think ours is kind of a byproduct of that," Edwards said.
To begin the 2025 season, the Marlins decided to move Edwards from second base to shortstop. When Edwards landed on the injured list with a left mid back strain, however, the advanced metrics didn’t favor his defense. While Edwards rehabbed, Lopez took over shortstop duties and remained there. Edwards returned and moved back to second base, a move that paid off for both players.
Edwards wound up being named a National League Gold Glove finalist, ranking second behind winner Nico Hoerner in defensive runs saved (12) and outs above average (nine) among NL second basemen (min. 800 innings). Lopez tied for fourth in defensive runs saved (seven) and 10th in outs above average (four) among qualifying NL shortstops.
“To get to that point, make that switch in the middle of the season, was a little bit unexpected, but we got along, and we seem fine with each other,” Lopez said. “Everything we do is for the team to win. So when we work together, it's kind of like, you helped me with what you were doing, I helped you with what I was doing. It's very good.”
With more reps, the duo has strengthened its bond. Lopez and Edwards know where the other will be based on their range, positioning and typical throws. This offseason, they kept in touch and even celebrated a special occasion together.
When Lopez married Marle in January in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Edwards and Emily were there for the three-day celebration in Juan Dolio. Toward the end of the night when Marle jumped into the water, Lopez and Edwards followed her and the wedding party into the Caribbean Sea.
One month later, the pair reported to big league camp as a stable presence for the Marlins. Lopez (3.5 bWAR) and Edwards (3.2) proved impactful as a middle infield in 2025, with Lopez even becoming the first Marlins shortstop since Ramirez (2010, min. 111 games) to slug at least 15 homers. Edwards tied for 11th in the NL for average (.283).
“I'll put it out there: I believe both are capable of winning a Gold Glove,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “When the switch was made last year, and just how well [Edwards] performed, and the range he has, and his ability to make plays on the move, it suited him very well. … Him just being able to solely focus on that now, [I] think he could win a Gold Glove, and Otto [is] in the same boat.
“How seamlessly he transitioned back over to shortstop, the playmaking ability. He has the routine, but the ability to go in the hole and make plays with his arm and the athletic play. So it's a good place to start for any team, being very strong up the middle defensively, and we have two guys that are at the tops of their position, and I believe they'll both be in the mix there for a Gold Glove this year.”