Marlins' Otto Lopez, Xavier Edwards remain under MLB radar

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The Miami Marlins have a secret.

It's a good one.

Despite garnering limited headlines and social media posts, the combination of shortstop Otto Lopez and second baseman Xavier Edwards continues to develop into one of the MLB's top duos.

While the New York Yankees' Aaron Judge and Ben Rice entered Sunday's matchups with a combined bWAR (3.5), the Marlins' teammates amassed a 3.4 rating.

Marlins' Otto Lopez, Xavier Edwards developing into top MLB duo​

Along with talent and chemistry, Lopez and Edwards are displaying a unique blend of baseball instincts to make plays few expect.

Leading the San Francisco Giants, 9-3, in the bottom of the sixth inning April 25, Casey Schmitt reached on a one-out single. Next batter Jung Hoo Lee executed an infield hit on a ball fielded athletically by a charging Lopez. Schmitt ventured too far off second base and Lopez pivoted and threw a replay to Edwards, who tagged out Schmitt, who slammed his fists on the Oracle Park infield dirt.

"I didn't think I had a chance to get Schmitt at first, so my second thought was to check on X right behind me," Lopez told MLB Network. "The throw was right on the runner.

"It was perfect."

Lopez entered Monday's matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies at loanDepot park as the Marlins' leading hitter, posting a .341 batting average. Edwards ranked second at .336. The duo has combined for nine stolen bases.

Lopez and Edwards delivered an early-season message. Despite trailing the Yankees, 9-6, in the ninth inning and connecting on a routine grounder to second baseman Jazz Chisolm Jr., Lopez hustled to beat the lackadaisical throw to first. He later scored on Edwards' single. The Marlins lost, but the secret should be out.

"The type of personality we have, we're just aggressive any time we get a chance," Lopez said. "We take it."

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