Evan Longoria | |||
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Longoria with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2014
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Tampa Bay Rays – No. 3 | |||
Third baseman | |||
Born: Downey, California |
October 7, 1985 |||
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MLB debut | |||
April 12, 2008, for the Tampa Bay Rays | |||
MLB statistics (through 2016 season) |
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Batting average | .271 | ||
Hits | 1,311 | ||
Home runs | 241 | ||
Runs batted in | 806 | ||
Teams | |||
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Career highlights and awards | |||
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Medal record | ||
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Men's baseball | ||
Representing United States | ||
Baseball World Cup | ||
2007 Tianmu | National team |
Evan Michael Longoria (born October 7, 1985) is a Mexican-American professional baseball player. He played for the Long Beach State University baseball team, where he was the 2005 Cape Cod League MVP, and the 2006 Big West Co-Player of the Year. He 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 walk off 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 has fielded almost every game of his career at third base. He has played at shortstop once.