Xavier Nady

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.

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's Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year awards that season. Nady underwent Tommy John surgery and had limited playing time in 2002. In 2003 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 2005 Nady became the first Padre since Greg Vaughn (in 1998) to homer in four consecutive games.

The Padres traded him to the New York Mets for Mike Cameron on November 18, 2005. 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.

Nady with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2007

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.

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.[2]

Nady had a career-high six (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 had a .305 batting average.

Xavier Nady signed a one-year contract worth $6.65 million with the Yankees, thus 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 2009 season.[3] 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.[4]

Nady playing first base for the Chicago Cubs in 2010

On January 29, 2010, Nady signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs.[5] On May 16, 2010, Nady hit a game-winning RBI single in the 8th inning against the Pirates, as the Cubs won 4–3. Nady finished the season with a .256 batting average, 17 home runs and 85 runs batted in.[6] He became a free agent after the end of the season.

Nady signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on December 15, 2010.[7] He became a free agent after the end of the season.

Nady signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals on March 18, 2012.[8] 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 [9] and released on July 29, 2012.[10] 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.[11]

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. He made his debut for the San Francisco Giants on September 1, 2012, and hit a three-run double against the Cubs in his first at-bat.[12][13] 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.[14] He was on the active roster during the 2012 World Series[15] in which the team swept the Detroit Tigers in four games.[16]

On December 14, 2012, Nady signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals.[17] During Spring training, Nady struggled first with plantar fasciitis and then sustained a partial tear in his right heel. The Royals released him on March 25, 2013, and then re-signed him to a Minor League contract later the same week. He played with their Triple-A team in Omaha.[18] He was released on June 29.[19]

Nady signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies on June 30, 2013.[20]

Nady signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres in January 2014.[21] He was designated for assignment on May 5, 2014.[22] On May 11, Nady refused his outright assignment and elected free agency.

On May 27, 2014, Nady signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners.[23] He exercised an opt-out clause in his contract on June 26, becoming a free agent.[24]