Lucius “The Swiper” Fox Is An Island Boy Just Trying To Make It In Major League Baseball | So Far, So Gucci

Lucius “The Swiper” Fox became the ninth Bahamian-born player to reach the Majors after making his debut last weekend. The Island Boy is ready to bring a little flair to the DMV. 

On Sunday, Lucius Fox joined Miami Marlins second baseman Jazz “The Bahamian Blur” Chisholm Jr. as the only two current Bahamian-born players in the Majors. No, not the fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the superhero Batman. This Lucius Fox is another MLBbro who plays the game with electricity and swag. 

Last season we were introduced to the sweet “jazz music” and home plate eurosteps Chisholm brought to South Beach. If Sunday is any preview of what’s to come, the people in the nation’s capital will be receiving a nightly treat seeing “The Swiper” steal the show.

Fox’s Sunday Funday got started early. He introduced himself to Nationals fans with a webgem during the second inning when he dove to his left and fired a one-hop throw from his knees to rob Pete Alonso of a hit.

Later in the game, Fox collected his first Major League RBI in pure, old school MLBbro fashion by successfully executing a suicide squeeze to tie the game in the 8th inning, scoring former Gold Glove winner and two-time All-Star Dee Strange Gordon, putting everyone in the Nats dugout in a dancing mood.

The Nationals would win 4-2.  After his showing Sunday, Fox is making a case to be the team’s permanent shortstop for 2022.

Fox’s road to the Majors has been a long one.  Born in Nassau, Bahamas, he moved to the United States at the age of 12 for school for two years before moving back to the Bahamas – in order to be considered an international free agent in 2015.  He got a $6 million signing bonus from the San Francisco Giants, where he began his minor league career.

Fox has bounced around the Majors. He’s spent time in the Giants, Rays, Royals, and Orioles organizations before being claimed off waivers by the Nationals in November of 2021.

Fox did have a quick cup of coffee with the Royals – although I’m not sure he even had a chance to add any creamer.  He was sent back down to the Minors the next day after not getting a chance to enter the game. In five Minor League seasons, Fox has a batting average of .244 with 16 home runs, 18 triples and 142 stolen bases.  He’s had four seasons with at least 25 stolen bases – two of those reaching 30 – with a career high 39 steals in 2019.

Fox is part of a Nationals roster that has a few MLBbros serving as key contributors.  In addition to Strange-Gordon, first baseman Josh Bell hit 27 home runs last year and former Dodgers top pitching prospect Josiah Gray, acquired by the team last year via trade, is looking to become the team’s Ace.