Married Mariliz...Attended Escuela Asunción Rodriguez de Sala in Puerto Rico … also attended Miami-Dade Community College...Was converted to a pitcher in 2005 … is one of seven players in major-league history with the first name Xavier.
2017
Was limited to nine appearances with Tampa Bay due to a left forearm strain … was placed on the disabled list on 4/18 and transferred to the 60-day disabled list on 5/18 … missed the remainder of the season.Was sent on a rehab assignment to Class AA Montgomery from 9/9-21 but did not pitch … was reinstated from the 60-day disabled list on 9/21.
2016
Made 54 apps, but none after Aug 29 at BOS as he was sidelined by neck stiffness…prior to the injury he led Rays relievers in apps. Has made 115 apps in less than two seasons with the Rays…from April 28, 2015-the date of his Rays debut-through his final game of 2016, only one AL lefty made more apps: NYY/DET Justin Wilson (119). Limited left-handed batters to a .197 avg. (15-for-76) with only 2 XBH-both doubles on April 21 vs. BOS (David Ortiz, Travis Shaw)…after that, faced 80 lefty batters without yield-ing an extra-base hit through the end of the season. Had a stretch of 18 apps from July 19-Aug 8 where he pitched to a 7.50 ERA (12-IP, 10-ER)…otherwise had a 2.15 ERA (29.1-IP, 7-ER). Was charged with a team-high 5 blown saves, the last coming on Aug 2 vs. KC, when he yielded a go-ahead, 2-run homer to Salvador Pérez. Finished his season with 8 consecutive scoreless apps, beginning Aug 16 vs. SD.
2015
Despite not joining the Rays until their 21st game of the season, he finished 4th on the staff (and first among lefties) with 61 appearances...he also led the staff in appearances from the time he joined the Rays through the rest of the season...during that span, only three AL lefties appeared in more games: DET Blaine Hardy (65), NYY Justin Wilson (65) and CWS Zach Duke (62)…Was designated for assignment by both the Nationals and Dodgers in April before the Rays acquired him from the Dodgers for cash considerations on April 27…As a Ray, allowed only 4 of 30 inherited runners to score (13.3 pct.), tied with OAK Fernando Rodriguez for best ratio in the AL and 3rd best in club history behind Jake McGee (3 of 30 in 2014) and J.P. Howell (4 of 35 in 2008)...his 20 holds were 3rd among AL lefty relievers…His 2.09 ERA ranked 3rd all-time by a Rays left-handed reliever (min. 50 apps) behind Jake McGee (1.89 in 2014, 1.95 in 2012)...lefties batted .196 off him...opponents hit only .118 (2-for-17) with RISP and 2 out…Of his 61 appearances with the Rays, 36 were less than an inning and 13 were just one batter faced...averaged 11.1 pitches per outing, fewest among AL relievers (min. 50 apps)...it was the 3rd-lowest mark among relievers in club history behind Randy Choate (8.3 in 2010) and Trever Miller (10.5 in 2008)…His first 12 apps with the Rays were scoreless, one shy of Joaquin Benoit's club record (2010) to begin a Rays career…Earned his first career win on June 20 at CLE, in his 102nd career appearance...according to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the most apps before a win since TEX Brian Shouse in 2004 (112th app)….Credited with a 3-2 victory Aug 30 vs. KC, the Rays only win of the season over the eventual World Champions…In August, earned a hold and win vs. NYM and a save vs. ATL during the Rays 4-game win streak that brought them to 1.5 games out of the AL Wild Card race…For one month (July 19-Aug 19) had a club-record streak of 15 apps without a run or walk.
2014
Opened the season with Triple-A Syracuse before making his first of four trips to Washington in mid-April...Posted Minor League career bests in strikeouts per nine innings (13.0), batting average against (.163) and WHIP (0.86)...In the second half of the Triple-A season, posted a 1.59 ERA (3 ER/17.0 IP) while striking out 26 against just three walks in 15 games...Was called up for good when rosters expanded on Sept. 1...With the bases loaded, one out and the game tied at 3-3, struck out LAD's Adrian Gonzalez in the bottom of the 10th inning of a 14-inning marathon 8-5 victory over the Dodgers on Sept. 3.
2013
Began '13 with the Astros, was claimed off waivers by Washington on April 23 and ultimately enjoyed 5 stints with the Nationals...capped the 2013 campaign with 4.1 scoreless innings spanning 8 appearances from Sept. 11-29...pitched in 39 games and went 2-0 with 3 holds, 4 saves and a 1.39 ERA for Syracuse of the Triple-A International League...in 19 appearances for Santurce of the Puerto Rican Winter League, pocketed 4 saves and a 2.49 ERA (struck out 36 in 21.2 innings)...was member of Puerto Rico's World Baseball Classic entry...in 4.1 relief innings spanning 7 appearances, posted one save (March 8 vs. Spain) and a 2.08 ERA.
2012
Rookie southpaw appeared in 44 games during two stints with Houston...ranked tied for sixth in the
NL in appearances among rookie relievers...did not allow a run in 22 of his 23 games at Minute Maid Park
in 2012...allowed seven hits in 13.0 innings, while posting one save and a .156 (7x45) opponent's batting
average at the venue...held left-handed hitters to a .213 (13x61) batting average... began the season in the
bullpen at Triple A OKC before getting his contract purchased on May 27...optioned on June 29...recalled
on July 25 and finished the season with the Astros...tossed a career-high 3.0 innings on June 13 at SF...
picked up his first ML save on June 18 vs. KC...ended the game by recording a bases-loaded popout by Mike
Moustakas (was his only batter faced)... went 2-0 with a 2.28 ERA (7ER/27.2IP) in 22 relief appearances at
Triple A Oklahoma City...was OKC's Pitcher of the Month for May, where he posted a 0.63 ERA (1ER/14.1IP)
and 14 strikeouts in 11 relief appearances...pitched in three games for Cangrejeros de Santurce in the Puerto
Rican Winter League...posted a 1-0 record with eight strikeouts and no runs allowed in 3.2 innings...gave up
just two base hits.
2011
Appeared in only three games for Houston as a September call-up, the first three games of his MLB career...began the year at Double A Corpus Christi and finished the minor league season at Triple A Oklahoma City...had his contract purchased by Houston on Sept. 11 and made his MLB debut on Sept. 16 at CHC (0ER/0.1IP)...is one of 11 Astros players, seven pitchers, to make their MLB debut this season...had two scoreless appearances of 0.1 of an inning to begin his career before allowing five runs in 1.0 inning on Sept. 25 vs. COL...went 7-9 with a 4.38 ERA (67ER/137.2IP) in 35 combined games, 22 starts, between Triple A and Double A Corpus Christi this season...he was a Texas League All-Star and finished tied for seventh in the TL in strikeouts
(110)...was named TL Pitcher of the Month for June...on June 22 vs. Frisco, fanned the first nine batters he faced en route to a record-setting, 14-strikeout performance...the 14 K's were the most in Hooks franchise history...he had a perfect game through 5.2 innings before allowing a single and ended up allowing just one hit in 6.2 shutout innings, but had no decision...outrighted off the club's 40-man roster on Oct. 5...pitched for Carolina in the Puerto Rican Winter League following the season and went 2-2 with two saves and a 1.77 ERA (4ER/20.1IP) in 13 reiief appearances.
2010
Entered the season in Colorado's organization before being released following Spring Training...did not play during the regular season...pitched for Carolina in the Puerto Rican Winter League and went 1-2 with a 2.32 ERA (11ER/42.2IP) in 12 games (seven starts)...signed by Houston to a minor league contract on Dec. 22.
2009
After spending his first four professional seasons as a starter, worked exclusively out of the bullpen while splitting time between Double A Tulsa and Class A Modesto...combined to go 4-4 with a 4.66 ERA (33ER/63.2IP) in 44 games.
2008
Made 19 starts while spending his entire season with Tulsa...his 4.12 ERA (102.2IP/47ER) was the lowest of the six Drillers to make 16 starts or more...made just one start in August (8/31) because of a DL stint from July 23-Aug. 30.
2007
Made 23 starts for Modesto going 6-8 with a 5.09
ERA (66ER/116.2IP)...was Colorado Rockies' organizational Pitcher-of-the-Month for July after going 4-0 in five starts with a 2.90 ERA (10ER/31IP), with 23 strikeouts.
2006
Of his 27 starts, 13 were quality outings...allowed two runs or less in 15 of 27 games and three runs or less in 21 contests...struck out a season-high eight batters on April 30 at Columbus.
2005
Spent first pro season with Casper...earned first professional win on Aug. 21 vs. Helena (1ER/6.2IP).