Evan Longoria
Evan Michael Longoria (born October 7, 1985), nicknamed "Longo", is a Major League Baseball third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays. Formerly, Longoria was a star infielder for the Long Beach State University baseball team, the 2005 Cape Cod League MVP, and the 2006 Big West Co-Player of the Year.
Longoria was drafted by the Rays in the first round as the third pick overall in the 2006 MLB Draft. After two full seasons in the minors, he made his major league debut for the Rays in 2008, and was named to the American League team for the 2008 MLB All Star Game. Longoria was also named the 2008 American League Rookie of the Year on November 10. Longoria has also made the All-Star team three times, being selected from 2008 to 2010. Longoria had one of the biggest hits in Rays history when he hit a pinch-hit home run in extra innings of the last game of the 2011 season, snapping a tie with the Red Sox in the race for the American League wildcard spot and sending his team into the postseason.
Longoria is considered by many to be among the best active third basemen in baseball, winning the Silver Slugger Award in 2009. He is also known for his acrobatic defense, winning two Gold Gloves at third base in 2009 and 2010. After signing a ten-year, 100 million-dollar contract extension through 2022, he has been named by many as the Rays "face of the franchise" and owns many of the franchise's records, including the team record for most career home runs, doubles, and RBIs. Longoria is Major League Baseball's active iron man leader, having played in 242 consecutive games through the end of the 2014 season.
Longoria has fielded almost every game of his career at third base. He has played at shortstop once.
- ^ Duk (September 3, 2009). "The legend of Evan Longoria grows with unreal playoff debut". Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
- ^ "Rays, Longoria reach deal - 9 years, $44-million | Tampa Bay Rays, Tropicana Field, Evan Longoria: The Heater". St. Petersburg Times. April 18, 2008. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
- ^ The Associated Press (November 10, 2008). "Tampa Bay Rays' Longoria wins AL Rookie of the Year, Geovany Soto wins NL award". Retrieved May 4, 2014.
- ^ "Evan Longoria fielding stats". espn.com. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
- ^ http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/longoev01-field.shtml
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