Longoria misses practice to attend daughter's birth

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Whenever Evan Longoria is missing, the natural inclination is to think that something physical has gone wrong with the All-Star third baseman. That wasn't the case Wednesday.

Longoria left Port Charlotte to be with his girlfriend Jaime Edmondson on Wednesday for the birth of their daughter. According to Rays spokesman Rick Vaughn, the delivery was being induced. No further details were given.

After missing 85 games last season due to a partially torn left hamstring, Longoria had minor offseason surgery on Nov. 21 to correct the problem. He has appeared healthy all spring.

The due date for Longoria's and Edmondson's baby had been April 1, which presented an interesting hypothetical situation since the Rays are scheduled to open the season on April 2 against the Orioles at Tropicana Field -- a situation that might have been interrupted had the baby arrived a day later than expected.

Earlier this spring, Longoria was asked if the couple planned to name their daughter Eva. Longoria chuckled at the query and replied: "No, no, not Eva."