The U.S. version of The Traitors features a celebrity cast, but a new spinoff, The Traitors: New Blood, is giving civilians the chance to play this fall. NBC recently announced the cast for the fall 2026 series, and one player has been in the public eye before.
Xavier Scruggs is a former professional athlete who works in the sports industry, and he’s hoping to take home the final pot on The Traitors: New Blood. Scroll down for more about his career history and life today.
Who is Xavier Scruggs?
Xavier was a first baseman in the MLB. He played college baseball at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2008 draft after his junior year.
After playing for the Cardinals’ minor league team for several years, he made his MLB debut in 2014. His stint was short-lived, but he returned to play with the Cardinals’ major league team again in 2015 before signing a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins that November. He was called up in August 2016 to play on the team’s major league roster.
Four months later, Xavier signed with the NC Dinos of the KBO League in South Korea. He played with the team for two years before becoming a free agent in 2018. He played for the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League in 2019.
After his pro baseball career came to an end, Xavier became the Cardinals’ diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant as part of the baseball operations team in 2021. He held the position for one year.
What is Xavier Scruggs doing now?
Since 2021, Xavier has been an MLB analyst for ESPN. He previously worked as an analyst for the MLB Network from 2022 to 2026, as well. He cohosts the weekday morning show The Leadoff Spot on SiriusXM, as well.
Xavier is the founder and CEO of Xtraordinary Athletes, “a brand putting an end to dated stereotypes of athletes, highlighting how athletes with influence create success inside and outside of their sport.” Per his LinkedIn, the platform helps athletes “rebrand themselves, build their digital presence, and navigate their life after sports.”
Is Xavier Scruggs married?
Yes, Xavier is married to his wife, Jessica Scruggs. They started dating in 2011 and tied the knot in December 2016.
Jessica is a strategic account executive at SOCi.ai, an AI-powered marketing firm, according to LinkedIn. She worked at the company from 2020 to 2025 before briefly leaving to work at Wellspring Worldwide. Jessica returned to SOCi.ai in April 2026.
Does Xavier Scruggs have kids?
Yes, Xavier and Rachel are parents to three children. They have two sons, Zeke and Xander, and a daughter, Zuri.
The Traitors: New Blood, Series Premiere, Thursday, September 17, 8/7c, NBC