Guide Note

Evan Longoria is a Major League Baseball player for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Fast Facts

1. Born: October 7, 1985¹
2. Birthplace: Downey, California¹
3. Height: 6' 2"¹
4. Weight: 210 lbs.¹
5. College: Long Beach State¹
6. Position: Third base¹
7. Debut: April 12, 2008¹
8. Bats: Right¹
9. Throws: Right¹

Initially Longoria started out at Rio Hondo Community College. He was offered a scholarship by California State University (Long Beach State) after being awarded the first team All-State honors during his freshman year at Rio Hondo Community College. Longoria's batted .320 and was given the honor of All-Conference team in his sophomore year at Long Beach State. During the summer of 2005 he was named MVP of the Cape Cod League.¹

Longoria was drafted third pick in the 2006 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Longoria spent his first full season in professional baseball playing in 62 games for three 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. 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. 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.¹

On October 1, 2008, in his first playoff appearance in the Majors, Longoria recorded two home runs, an RBI single and a walk in four plate appearances. His production helped to bring the first playoff victory ever for the Tampa Bay Rays franchise.²

1. First team All-State honors at Rio Hondo Community College
2. Scholarship to Long Beach State
3. All-Conference honors at Long Beach State
4. MVP with the Chatham A's
5. Big West Player of the Year at Long Beach State
6. Best pure hitter among college players by Baseball America