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""Xavier Scruggs""

Xavier Ladel Scruggs, born September 23, 1987 in Poway, California (24 years old), is a MiLB infielder in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

Early Life
Xavier is the son of Emitte and Yvonne Scruggs and the older brother to Dion.

Xavier started playing baseball while he was six years old. Luckily for him, his parents were as invested in his baseball career as he was. "I remember times when my father would take my brother and me to the batting cages. No matter how frustrated we became when we missed the ball, he always remained under control and continued to motivate us..." he writes in his blog. "I can remember my mother taking us to the local little league field and throwing us batting practice. I don't know too many mothers that can even throw a baseball, yet alone strikes". In fact, Xavier's parents were 'old, college friends' with St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Shortstop Ozzie Smith. . Growing up, Scrugg's favorite player was Gary Sheffield. Emitte Scruggs served as Xavier's little league coach, and was coaching his son when Xavier pitched a perfect game. His younger brother was also on the team.

Xavier attended Poway High School in Poway, California. During his senior year of high school in 2005, the Poway High School Titans baseball team won the Palomar League Championship. That same year, Xavier was named Poway's Male Athlete of the Year. For his athleticism during his last year of high school, Xavier was awarded first team All-CIF and MVP honors. In June 2005, Xavier Scruggs was drafted in the 50th round by the Seattle Mariners, 1,477 overall. Although, he did not sign with the team, choosing rather to go to college and major in communications. He went on to attend school at University of Nevada-Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In the summer of 2006, Scruggs played baseball in the Alaska Baseball League.

In March 2008, Scruggs was named Mountain West Conference Player of the Week and CollegeBaseballInsider.com West Region Player of the Week.

In May 2008, Scruggs was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year while attending UNLV.

Then, in June 2008, Scruggs was chosen in the 19th round by the St. Louis Cardinals.

Professional Career
Scruggs joined the St. Louis Cardinals after the draft, and in 2008 hit .219 for the Batavia Muckdogs in sixty-one games. The Muckdogs went on to win the championship for the New York-Penn League that year.

In August 2009, Scruggs was named Midwest League Player of the Week.

Scruggs was selected 'The Cardinal Nation June Player of the Month' in June 2011. That next year, while playing for the Springfield Cardinals, he was awarded again, while hitting .315 after a offensively struggling April and May. .

During the 2011 off-season, Xavier Scruggs played winter ball in Cartagena, Colombia for the Tigres de Cartagena.

In January 2012, Scruggs was one of the six early minor leaguers invited to Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida for spring training with the St. Louis Cardinals.