Evan Longoria

Guide Note:Evan Longoria is a Major League Baseball player for the Tampa Bay Rays. Longoria grew up in California attending St. John Bosco High School where he was a four year letterman in baseball. Initially attending Rio Hondo Community College he was offered a scholarship by California State University, Long Beach Long Beach State following his freshman year. His sophomore year he batted .320 and was named to the All-Conference team. During the summer of 2005 he was named MVP of the Cape Cod League after leading the league in home runs, runs batted in, slugging percentage, extra-base hits and third in hits. Following the 2006 season he was named Big West Conference player of the year. Spent most of his collegiate career playing third base but did play shortstop replacing an injuried Troy Tulowitzski; now of the Colorado Rockies. After college, Longoria was drafted third selection overall by the Tampa Bay Rays. He came out of college with high praise named best pure hitter among the 2006 draft class by Baseball America and as the Rays top infield prospect, (second best prospect overall) and the teams best power hitter. Longoria spent his first full season in professional baseball playing in 62 games for 3 different teams (the Hudson Valley Renegades, the Visalia Oaks and the Montgomery Biscuits) hitting .318 with 14 doubles, 15 home runs and 58 runs batted. For the entire year in 2006, he batted .332 with 32 home runs and 107 RBI in 125 games combined as a professional and at California State University, Long Beach Long Beach State. Longoria started the 2007 season playing for the Biscuits before being promoted to the Durham Bulls appearing in a combined 171 games hitting 33 home runs with 133 runs batted in with a batting average of .298. His excellent season earned him an appearance in the All-Star Futures Game and batted third for the U.S. team. In November of 2007 he helped Team USA win their first IBAF World Cup since 1974. Longoria made his Major League Baseball debut on April 12, 2008 against the Baltimore Orioles replacing an injured Willy Aybar. He proceeded to hit his first Major League home run April 15 against the New York Yankees. On April 18 he was signed to a 6 year contract with the Rays worth $17.5 million.

Fast Facts:

1. Born: October 7, 1985
2. Height: 6' 2"
3. Weight: 210 lbs.
4. College: Long Beach State
5. Position: Third base
6. Debut: April 12, 2008
7. Bats: Right
8. Throws: Right