“We have to keep working”: Edrick Felix, the rookie who shines with the Carolina Giants

When taking a look at the batting average leaders of the 2023-24 winter baseball league tournament, the name of a player who is making his debut in the competition stands out.

It’s about the infielder Edrick Felix with the Carolina Giants.

Felix was claimed in the fifth pick of the first round in the last rookie draft of the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League.

And although he did not start as a starter in the lineup at the beginning of the campaign, Felix made the most of the opportunities that his manager Edwards Guzman gave him coming off the bench in the opening game. Seeing the prospect’s rapid contribution, Guzman did not hesitate to place him in the lineup daily.

Felix, 21, is among the leaders in average with .306 (36-11). It occupies sixth place. He also has three RBIs and four runs scored with an on-base percentage of .375.

“Success comes first from the team, the coaches and the players. I say that here in Carolina we do not hesitate. We are always practicing and giving 100%. The focus is there, especially in games. “We help each other and everything is going well.”Felix commented to The new day.

The man from San Juan did not hesitate to confess how proud he feels to wear the Giants uniform in his first year as a professional player on the island.

“I want to help the team in any way; with the bat, the glove,” he said when highlighting the honor of wearing the training shirt with star Roberto Clemente’s number 21.

“It’s an honor to wear number 21 before games with the practice uniform.”

Possible recognition

Already, Felix’s name is beginning to sound like a strong candidate to win the Rookie of the Year award.

Although it is too early to talk about the subject, Felix said it would be a “pride and honor” to win it.

“I have no control over that. My control is to always work hard, especially in the batter’s box, have good discipline and help my team win. If the Rookie of the Year thing happens, it would be a source of pride and an honor, but that hasn’t happened yet. “We have to keep working.”

What he does internalize is taking advantage of the opportunity to shine with the Giants to go with more strength into his second season in the Minors with the White Sox organization.

“I’m super excited to be with a lot of veterans here in Carolina who have talked to me about what’s coming and what I’m going to go through and I’m ready for that. “All the players here have shaken my hand and given me good advice, which I will take with me for next year with the White Sox,” he added.

Felix was claimed in the 14th round at pick 419 in the last Major League rookie draft by the White Sox.

That he was not selected in the first 10 rounds seemed to be surprising, after shining with the bat in Division I college baseball (NCAA) with the University of Florida Gulf Coast.

Felix was one of the nation’s outstanding hitters.

His numbers were solid: he hit .366 with 25 home runs and 83 RBIs in 60 games. Likewise, he recorded a 1.223 OPS and a .774 slugging percentage.

However, for Felix, it was no surprise.

“In the draft, any player can tell you that no one has control. And 14, look, is a very special number, that was the day I was born and that was the number that I always wore with the ball uniforms.”Felix shared. who celebrates his life on January 14.

And here with Carolina, Felix said he will take advantage of every opportunity they give him to play defensively in more than one position. At the collegiate level he played mostly at middle school.

“The White Sox want me to practice the entire infield and show them that I can be an everyday player in any other position and in Carolina they have helped me with that,” Felix said.

“In Carolina they have helped me not only in the third, but also in the second and in the siore. And in any other position they need me, as always, I will give 100%,” she added.

Before joining the Giants, Felix posted good numbers among the Rookie League and Class A with Chicago by averaging .288 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 66 at-bats.