Evan Longoria

Evan Longoria
Longoria with the San Francisco Giants in 2018
Third baseman
Born: (1985-10-07) October 7, 1985 (age 38)
Downey, California, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 12, 2008, for the Tampa Bay Rays
Last MLB appearance
October 1, 2023, for the Arizona Diamondbacks
MLB statistics
Batting average.264
Hits1,930
Home runs342
Runs batted in1,159
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
Baseball World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2007 Tianmu Team

Evan Michael Longoria[1][2] (born October 7, 1985), nicknamed "Longo", is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays from 2008 through 2017, the San Francisco Giants from 2018 through 2022, and the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023. Longoria has appeared in two World Series. His first appearance was in 2008 as a member of the Rays, and his second appearance was in 2023 as a member of the Diamondbacks. The 15-year gap between Longoria's two World Series appearances is the longest for a position player in MLB history.

Longoria played for the Long Beach State University baseball team, was the CSN Bay Area 2005 Cape Cod League MVP, and was named the 2006 Big West Conference Co-Player of the Year. He was drafted by the Rays in the first round as the third overall pick in the 2006 MLB draft. After two 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.[3] He has made the All-Star team three times, being selected from 2008 to 2010. He had one of the biggest hits in Rays' history when he hit a 12th-inning walk-off home run in the last game of the 2011 season, snapping a tie with the Boston Red Sox in the race for the American League wild card spot, and sending his team into the postseason.

He is also known for his acrobatic defense, having won three Gold Glove Awards at third base, in 2009, 2010, and 2017. Longoria owns many Rays franchise records, including the career records for games played, runs, doubles, home runs, RBIs, walks, and Wins Above Replacement, and is thus often considered the best player in the franchise's short history.[4]

  1. ^ Duk (September 3, 2009). "The legend of Evan Longoria grows with unreal playoff debut". Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
  2. ^ "Rays, Longoria reach deal – 9 years, $44-million". St. Petersburg Times. April 18, 2008. Archived from the original on April 20, 2008. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
  3. ^ "Tampa Bay Rays' Longoria wins AL Rookie of the Year, Geovany Soto wins NL award". The Associated Press. November 10, 2008. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  4. ^ "Tampa Bay Rays Top 50 Career Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.