Married Jaime Edmondson…Evan and Jaime have two kids: daughter Elle Leona and son Nash Harrison...they also have Tatum, a 120-pound, Boerboel Mastiff rescue born in South Africa. His wife surprised him on his 31st birthday with a guided five-day trip to Cuba shortly after travel restrictions were lifted...their sightseeing included two days outside of Havana, a national park, ziplining, a country-style meal and a stop at Cojímar, the fishing village that inspired The Old Man and the Sea...he did see some lasting effects of the club's historic trip to Havana last March: a cook at one of the paladares (home restaurants) they visited was a Rays fan and retrieved a Longoria T-shirt to prove it. Ducky's, the boutique sports lounge concept he opened, is entering its fifth year...in April 2016, Evan and his partners opened a second Ducky's at Tampa International Airport...Ducky's also will continue their presence at Tropicana Field...Ducky's features duckpin (mini) bowling lanes and plenty of TVs...Evan, whose main passion outside baseball is food and cooking, was heavily involved in creating a healthy menu with the help of a few chef friends in Vegas and NY. Evan plays the drums and can often be heard practicing before games at Tropicana Field...one of his most prized possessions is a drum head signed by the members of the band Rush. Went from being undrafted in high school, to Rio Hondo Junior College to becoming the highestdrafted player ever out of Long Beach State University (third overall in 2006). In his two-year career at Long Beach, batted .336 with 16 HR and 73 RBI...played primarily 3B, but as a sophomore in 2005, he filled in at SS for the injured Troy Tulowitzki. Named the Big West Conference's 2006 co-Player of the Year, third team All-America by Collegiate Baseball and a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, given to the top player in college baseball after batting .353 (71-for-201) with 11 HR and 43 RBI in his junior year for Long Beach...led the conference with a .603 SLG and .468 OBP. Played his freshman season at Rio Hondo Junior College (Calif.), where he batted .430 with 8 HR and 64 RBI to earn All-Foothill Conference and first team All-State honors Named the Cape Cod League MVP in 2005 after leading the wood-bat league with 8 HR, 35 RBI, 16 XBH and a .500 SLG...Baseball America named him a first-team summer All-America selection...played with the Chatham A's on a team that featured five of the first 39 picks in the 2006 June Draft.
2017
Played in 156 games, all starts (142-3B, 14-DH), his fewest games played since 2012 (74)... leads the Majors with 798 games played over the last five seasons...Broke the Rays club records for runs (780, topping Carl Crawford's 765) and walks (569, topping Ben Zobrist's 542)...was already the Rays' all-time leader in home runs, RBI, doubles, extra-base hits, slugging pct., games played and total bases...Hit 20 HR, his fifth straight season with at least 20 and ninth in his 10 first seasons in the Majors...Longoria joined Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews as the only third basemen in Major League history (min. half of games at 3B each year) to hit at least 20 HR in nine of their first 10 seasons in baseball...Mathews did it in each of his first 14 seasons, from 1952-65, with the Braves...Also became the second AL third baseman ever to record nine 20-HR seasons at any point in his career, joining Graig Nettles (10)... Longoria's nine seasons with 20 HR are more than twice the total of anyone else in club history (Carlos Peña and Aubrey Huff, four)...Led the Rays with 36 2B and 86 RBI...is one of two players in baseball to lead their team in RBI in each of the past five seasons, along with CHC Anthony Rizzo...Ranked second among AL third basemen with 11 Defensive Runs Saved, according to FanGraphs, his best mark since 2013 (12)...in Baseball America's annual Best Tools survey, was rated the No. 3 defensive third baseman in the AL, behind BAL Manny Machado and TEX Adrián Beltré...from July 5-Aug 28, played a career-best 47 consecutive errorless games (prev. 46, April 27-June 18, 2015). Tied HOU Josh Reddick for the Major League lead with 12 sacrifice flies...his 76 SF since his rookie season of 2008 are 12 more than any other player in baseball (Albert Pujols, 64)...only three players in major league history have recorded as many over their first 10 seasons: Ruben Sierra (91), Frank Thomas (82) and Jeff Bagwell (78)...Made his ninth consecutive Opening Day start, all at 3B, the longest active streak among 3B in the Majors...on Opening Day vs. NYY, hit his fourth career Opening Day home run, extending his franchise record...had the first RBI (1st inning, sac fly) and home run (2nd inning, 2-run) of Major League Baseball's regular season...On May 19 vs. NYY tied his career high with four hits (seventh time)...On Aug. 1 at HOU, became the second Ray to hit for the cycle, following Melvin Upton Jr. on Oct 2, 2009 vs. NYY...also passed Carl Crawford for most runs scored in club history... his homer was the front end of back-to-back shots with Logan Morrison in the 1st, his triple was his first since Sept. 17, 2016 at BAL and his 9th-inning double completed the feat after it was overturned via instant replay...according to the Elias, it was the first time under the current replay system (2014-present) that a cycle included any hit that was involved in any type of umpire review or manager challenge...On Sept. 6 vs. MIN, hit his first homer since Aug. 1 at HOU, snapping a career-long 123 AB homer-less drought (prev. 90 AB, April 6-May 6, 2015)...Named the Rays nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, given to the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team...it was the second time in his career he's been nominated (2014).
2016
Turned in one of the best offensive seasons in Rays history, establishing career highs with 173 hits, 36 HR, 81 XBH and 330 total bases… set club records for a right-handed hitter in home runs, extra-base hits and total bases… the 36 HR ranked 3rd in club history to Carlos Peña in 2007 (46) and 2009 (39)…his 81 XBH ranked 3rd in the AL and 2nd in club history to Aubrey Huff (84) in 2003…the 330 total bases ranked 8th in the AL and 2nd in club history to Huff (353) in 2003…his 41 2B tied for 6th in the AL and tied for 5th in club history…led the Rays with 98 RBI...Honored by the Tampa Bay Chapter of the BBWAA with the Don Zimmer Award (as the team's most valuable player) as well as the Paul C. Smith Champion Award (given to the player who best exemplifies the spirit of true professionalism on and off the field)…it was Longoria's second time winning each award (Zimmer in 2013; Smith in 2014)...Is the Rays all-time leader in service time (8 years, 170 days) and games (1,279), after passing Carl Crawford (8 years, 72 days; 1,235 games) in 2016…also broke Crawford's club record for total bases (2,217) and finished the year at 2,370…was already the Rays career leader in home runs (241), RBI (806), doubles (302), extra-base hits (560) and slugging pct. (.490)...Enters 2017 within reach of the club records in hits (1,311; Crawford 1,480), runs (709; Crawford 765) and walks (523; Ben Zobrist 542)...Is now one of only seven players to lead a franchise in games, doubles, home runs, extra-base hits and RBI, joining Hank Aaron (Braves), George Brett (Royals), Cal Ripken (Orioles), Stan Musial (Cardinals), Luis Gonzalez (D-backs) and Todd Helton (Rockies). Ê Played in 160 games, all starts (152-3B, 8-DH)… marked his fourth straight season of at least 160 games, a feat achieved by only three other active players: Prince Fielder (five, 2009-13 with Brewers/Tigers), Adrián González (four, 2007-10 with Padres) and Ichiro Suzuki (five, 2004-08 with Mariners)…became only the third in baseball history to play 160-plus games in four consecutive seasons while playing a majority of games at third base each year, joining Hall of Famers CHC Ron Santo (1962-65) and BAL Brooks Robinson (1961-64). Ê Has four of the seven seasons of 160-plus games in franchise history (Delmon Young, 162 in 2007; Aubrey Huff, 162 in 2003; Carlos Peña 160 in 2012)…Evan missed a total of 117 games between 2011-12, but has missed only 7 from 2013-16...All 36 HR came while playing third base, 3rd in the majors to COL Nolan Arenado (41) and CWS Todd Frazier (39)…since his rookie season of 2008, no player in the majors has hit more doubles (291), home runs (227), extra-base hits (535) and RBI (760) while playing third base than Longoria…Adrian Beltre ranks 2nd in all four categories over that span, with 283 2B, 204 HR, 498 XBH and 722 RBI...No player in baseball matched his combination of hits (173), doubles (41) and home runs (36) in 2016…in major league history, only three other third basemen (min. half of games at 3B) have reached these totals in a single season: TOR Josh Donaldson in 2015, COL Nolan Arenado in 2015 and ATL Chipper Jones in 1999…Donaldson and Jones were both named their league's MVP...Became one of three third baseman in major league history to hit 20 HR in at least eight of his first nine seasons, joining Eddie Mathews (9) and Scott Rolen (8)…is one of three AL third basemen with eight 20-HR seasons at any point in their career, joining Graig Nettles (10) and Adrian Beltre (8)...Recorded his fourth career 30-HR season (also 2009, 2011, 2013), breaking a tie with Carlos Peña for most in club history. Ê Entering 2017, only three active players have more home runs with their current team than Longoria (241): DET Miguel Cabrera (308), MIL Ryan Braun (285) and TOR José Bautista (265)…free agent Ryan Howard has 382 HR with the Phillies...Half of his home runs (18) came in the 6th inning or later, a number topped by only TOR Edwin Encarnación (23), CWS Todd Frazier (20) and KC Kendrys Morales (19). Ê Became just the second third baseman all-time with at least 80 XBH in a season while making fewer than 10 errors, joining COL Vinny Castilla in 2004 (81-XBH, 6-E). Ê Joined OAK Carney Lansford (1987-88) as the only third baseman in major league history with back-to-back seasons of 10 errors or fewer...Ranked 5th in the majors with a .975 fielding pct. at third base, one point shy of his 2015 career high…over the last four seasons, his .9725 fielding pct. leads all major league third basemen, ahead of Juan Uribe's .9721 mark...On April 3 vs. TOR, made his eighth straight Opening Day start, tying Carl Crawford for most in franchise history…became the Rays all-time hits leader on Opening Day (11), passing Fred McGriff (9). Ê Compiled an 11-game hitting streak from May 28-June 8, batting .419 (18-for-43) with 6 HR and 15 RBI over that stretch…on May 28 vs. NYY, homered into the Ducky's Deck in leftcenter field for the first time of his career...From June 2-5 at MIN, became the first player in club history to homer in each game of a 4-game series and the first AL player to do that since BAL Adam Jones from May 23-26, 2013 at TOR…was the first Ray to homer in 4 straight games since Carlos Peña homered in a clubrecord 6 straight games from June 6-12, 2010… Longoria hit 5 HR in the series, with a multihomer game in the finale, setting a club record for a series of any length…hit 7 HR in only 7 games against the Twins, most ever by a Ray against a non-division opponent...Named AL Player of the Week for May 30- June 5, his seventh career weekly honor… ranked among AL leaders during that span in total bases (31, 1st), SLG (1.107, 1st), hits (13, tied for 1st), HR (5, tied for 1st), avg. (.464, 2nd), doubles (3, tied for 3rd), RBI (9, 4th) and OBP (.516, 4th)...Hit 9 HR in June, tying José Canseco (1999) for the most in franchise history for the month… they were his most in a calendar month since August 2011, his monthly record (10)...Hit 2 HR on July 17 vs. BAL, and 2 3B the next day at COL, becoming the first player with a multi-homer and multi-triple game in consecutive games since COL Larry Walker on May 21- 22, 1996, according to the Elias Sports Bureau… it was the first multi-triple game of his career...His 3rd-inning homer on July 19 at COL off Tyler Chatwood traveled 462 feet according to StatCast, the longest by a Ray in 2016. Ê On July 27 at LAD, hit the Rays first home run ever at Dodger Stadium, a go-ahead, 2-run homer off Brandon McCarthy…it was the 24th different ballpark in which he's homered...Finished August with 25 RBI, tied for 5th in the AL and two shy of the AL co-leaders (HOU José Altuve, BOS Mookie Betts, MIN Brian Dozier)… marked the 2nd-highest monthly total of his career (31, May 2009)…he and Brad Miller (26) became the first teammates in Rays history with 25 RBI apiece in the same month...Enters 2017 as the active leader in career home runs vs. Baltimore (35), and 2nd among actives vs. New York (32) and Boston (30), trailing only José Bautista (33 vs. NYY, 41 vs. BOS)…60 of his 62 career HR vs. the Yankees and Red Sox have come as a third baseman, which ranks 2nd in major league history behind BAL Brooks Robinson (71)…Robinson did it in 664 games across 23 seasons; Longoria has done it in 301 games over nine seasons..Is 15-for-29 (.517) with 7 HR, 11 RBI and 10 runs in the Rays final games of the regular season (8 games)…according to the Elias Sports Bureau, his 7 HR in regular-season finales are most all-time, topping STL Stan Musial (6)… he hit 3 HR in the 2012 finale and 2 in 2011, including the game-winner to clinch a postseason berth for the Rays.
2015
Played in 160 games, tied for 3rd most in the majors, and leads the majors with 482 games played over the past three seasons...he has three of the six seasons of 160-plus games in franchise history (Delmon Young, 162 in 2007; Aubrey Huff, 162 in 2003; Carlos Peña 160 in 2012)...Evan missed a total of 117 games between 2011-12, but has missed only 5 from 2013-15…Led the team with 21 HR, 73 RBI, 35 2B, 604 AB, 74 runs and 57 extra-base hits...the longest-tenured Ray is the club's all-time leader with 205 HR, 708 RBI, 261 2B, 479 XBH and .485 SLG...only eight other players all-time lead their clubs in doubles, homers, RBI and extra-base hits, including only one other third baseman: George Brett (Royals)… Upped his batting avg. by 17 points from 2014 (.253 to .270) and his OPS by 40 (.724 to .764)…Reached several career milestones in 2015...on April 11 at MIA, doubled for his 425th extra-base hit, breaking Carl Crawford's club record...on April 16 at TOR hit his 230th double, passing Ben Zobrist's club record...recorded his 1,000th hit on May 5 at BOS, a single off Rick Porcello, the third in club history to reach the mark, joining Crawford (1,480) and Zobrist (1,016)...played his 1,000th game on May 21 vs. OAK, again joining Crawford (1,235) and Zobrist (1,064)...on Sep 2 at BAL, hit his 200th career home run, a 2-run shot off Kevin Gausman, the first in club history to reach the mark…Hit his 20th home run on Sep 24 at BOS, becoming one of four third basemen in major league history to hit at least 20 HR in seven of their first eight seasons...joined Eddie Mathews, Scott Rolen and Chipper Jones...tied Eric Chavez for most 20-HR seasons by a third baseman in AL history before turning 30...no other player in Rays history has had more than four 20-HR seasons (Carlos Peña and Aubrey Huff)…Is the first third baseman in major league history to record 200 HR and 250 doubles in his first eight seasons (min. 50 pct. of games at 3B)...he's the 20th player all-time to reach those totals in their first eight seasons, joining a group that includes Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds…Is one of three active players who are their current team's franchise leader in home runs, along with MIL Ryan Braun (255) and MIA Giancarlo Stanton (181)...entering 2016, only eight other players had hit more homers for their current teams: BOS David Ortiz (445), PHI Ryan Howard (357), NYY Alex Rodriguez (342), DET Miguel Cabrera (270), Braun (255), TOR Jose Bautista (243), NYM David Wright (235) and CIN Jay Bruce (208)…Since entering the league in 2008, he leads the majors with 191 HR and 663 RBI as a third baseman (totals only while playing 3B)...since then, he's hit 15.8 pct. of the team's home runs (205 of 1,335)…Named a finalist for the Rawlings American League Gold Glove Award for third base for the second time in the last three seasons...has won two Gold Gloves (2009, 2010), while no other player in Rays history has won more than one…Led AL third basemen with a career-high .976 fielding pct., which broke the franchise record for 3B held previously by Akinori Iwamura (.975 in 2007)...it was his first time leading the league...committed only 9 errors in 377 chances...from July 24 through season's end, recorded a .987 mark with only 2 errors in 55 games...had a career-best 43-game errorless streak from April 27-June 18…Over the past three seasons he leads all major league third basemen (min. 300 games) in fielding with a .972 mark...since entering the league in 2008, has played in 1,051 games-2nd most among major league third sackers during that span behind Adrian Beltre (1,069)…On May 7 vs. TEX, ended streaks of 198 straight starts and 270 games played, both the longest active in baseball at the time...scratched from the starting lineup (flu-like symptoms), the first game he didn't start since Sep 22, 2013 vs. BAL, and the first game in which he did not appear since July 1, 2013 at HOU…On April 6 vs. BAL, hit his third career Opening Day homer (off Chris Tillman) to set a club record, passing Ben Zobrist and Gerald Williams...it was his seventh straight Opening Day start at 3B, second most Opening Day starts in Rays history to Carl Crawford (eight)...it was his fourth Opening Day start batting cleanup (2009, 2013-15)…Had a pair of 2-homer games, May 6 at BOS and Sep 2 at BAL, the club-record 14th and 15th multi-homer games of his career...May 6 was his first since Sep 25, 2013 at NYY, and snapped a career-long 26-game homerless drought…On June 27 vs. BOS, his solo homer off Matt Barnes was calculated by MLB StatCast at 451 ft. ...ESPN Stats & Info had it at 453 ft., longest of his career…Hit .342/.392/.568 (53-for-155) against LHP, ranking 5th in the AL in avg. and 8th in SLG...hit .245/.306/.390 (110-for-449) vs. RHP…Has hit 54 career home runs against the Yankees (29) and Red Sox (25), 3rd among active players after Alex Rodriguez (85) and Jose Bautista (66)...27 of his 29 homers vs. the Yankees have come as a third baseman, 2nd most all-time to Brooks Robinson (34)...his 41 RBI at new Yankee Stadium are most ever by a visiting player, and his 14 HR there rank 2nd all-time to Jose Bautista (17)...since his 2008 rookie season, he leads all players with 85 RBI vs. NYY, and his 29 HR rank 2nd to Bautista (31)…Enters 2016 with a 14-game hitting streak at Fenway Park, longest in Rays history, and 2nd-longest active streak by a visitor behind NYY Carlos Beltran (15)…Is 14-for-24 (.583) with 7 HR, 11 RBI and 9 runs scored in the Rays final games of the regular season (7 games played)...according to the Elias Sports Bureau, his 7 HR in regular-season finales are most all-time, topping STL Stan Musial (6)...he hit 3 HR in the 2012 finale and 2 in 2011, including the game-winner to clinch a postseason berth for the Rays.
2014
Started all 162 games, one of three players in baseball to start every game along with ATL Freddie Freeman and KC Alcides Escobar (162)...tied Delmon Young (2007) and Aubrey Huff (2003) for the club single-season record...According to the Elias Sports Bureau, is the active major league leader at 169 consecutive starts...has played in 242 straight games, the second-longest active streak behind Hunter Pence (383)...has missed only 3 games in the last two seasons (June 29-July 1, 2013, plantar fasciitis) after missing 117 games the two seasons prior (2011-12)...Led the team with 22 HR and 91 RBI...reached 20 HR for the sixth time in seven years, the first AL 3B to do that and fourth 3B all-time, joining Eddie Mathews (7), Scott Rolen (6) and Chipper Jones (6)...reached 90 RBI for the fourth time in seven years...Is the franchise's all-time leader in HR (184), RBI (635) and SLG (.494)...enters 2015 just 3 doubles shy of Ben Zobrist's club record (229) and 2 extra-base hits shy of Carl Crawford's mark (424)...ranks 3rd in runs, hits, walks and at-bats, and 4th in games played...broke Carlos Peña's home run record on April 18 vs. NYY with his 164th, and broke Crawford's RBI record on July 22 at STL with his 593rd...only one other franchise leader in baseball is currently with that team: MIA Giancarlo Stanton is tied with Dan Uggla (154)...Since 2008, he leads the majors with 173 HR and 598 RBI as a third baseman...his 635 RBI overall rank 10th in the majors...since 2008, he's hit 15.8 pct. of the team's home runs (184 of 1,168)...Recorded 47 RBI in 65 games after the All-Star break, tied for 7th in the majors and 5th in the AL, and passing his total (44) in 97 games before the break...Had 38 two-out RBI, tied with BOS David Ortiz for 3rd in the AL behind DET Miguel Cabrera (42) and Victor Martinez (39)...tied for 4th in the majors with 12 two-out homers...over the past four years (2011-14) ranks 2nd in the majors with 50 two-out HR, after Miguel Cabrera (61)...Of his 22 HR, only the first one (April 3 vs. TOR) had at least 2 runners on base...10 of the 22 came in August and September...His .724 OPS was a career low and 146 points below his career .870 mark entering the year...Ranked among AL leaders with 700 plate apps (6th; 3rd in club history), 624 AB (6th), 9 sacrifice flies (tied for 3rd), 9 HBP (tied for 10th) and 11 IBB (tied for 7th)...Made his sixth straight Opening Day start at 3B and third as the cleanup hitter (2009, 2013-14)...Is 12-for-22 (.545) with 7 HR, 11 RBI and 9 runs scored in the Rays final games of the regular season (6 games played)...according to the Elias Sports Bureau, his 7 HR in regular-season finales are most all-time, topping STL Stan Musial (6)...he hit 3 HR in the 2012 finale and 2 in 2011, including the game-winner to clinch a postseason berth for the Rays.
2013
Named the team MVP by the Tampa Bay chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America... Finished sixth in the BBWAA voting for AL MVP, matching his own 2010 finish for the highest placement in club history…it was the fifth year he received points and third time he finished in the top 10... Played in a career-high and team-high 160 games…had played in only 207 games the previous two seasons combined due to injury... Also led the Rays in runs (91), doubles (39), homers (32), extra-base hits (74), RBI (88) and slugging pct. (.498)... His 32 home runs were the 2nd most in his career…31 came as a a third baseman, 3rd most in the majors behind DET Miguel Cabrera (44) and PIT Pedro Alvarez (36)…his 162 career home runs trail the Rays all-time leader, Carlos Peña by one... His 74 extra-base hits were 3rd in the AL behind BAL Chris Davis (96) and LAA Mike Trout (75)…was his third season of 70-plus extrabase hits…only three other Rays have done it (Ben Zobrist, Aubrey Huff and Carlos Peña) and none have more than one... Had 22 home runs and a .306 avg. vs. the AL East, the only player in 2013 with at least 20 HR and a .300 avg. vs. the East... Was a finalist for the AL Gold Glove at 3B…finished with only 11 errors in 147 games…only one major league third baseman played in 140 or more games and made fewer errors: CIN Todd Frazier (147-G, 10-E)…Longoria was leading all AL 3B in fielding until he committed his first multi-error game of the season (2 errors) on Sep 27 at TOR in the 160th game of the season…his career-high .972 fielding pct. was 2nd in the AL behind BAL Manny Machado (.973) and 2nd best in club history behind Akinori Iwamura's .975 in 2007…had a career-best 42-game errorless streak from May 21-July 21.... On July 27, he made his only error in 45 career games at Yankee Stadium…has made only 10 errors in 138 games combined at Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park and Camden Yards, the same number he has made in 46 games at Toronto's Rogers Centre... Hit 9 of his 32 HR and had 14 extra-base hits vs. the Yankees-matching New York's 9 HR as a team vs. the Rays…according to the Elias Sports Bureau, he became only the third player to hit 9 HR or more vs. the Yankees in a season in the expansion era (1961 to date) joining CLE Fred Whitfield in 1965 (10) and TOR Jose Cruz Jr. in 2001 (9)…over the last 65 seasons the only other player to register as many as 14 extra- base hits against the Yankees in a season was TOR Vernon Wells in 2003... Had 2 multi-homer games in 2013, both at Yankee Stadium, and now has 13 overall, surpassing Carlos Peña (12) for the club's all-time lead…he is one of 10 visiting players all-time to have 2 multi-homer games in one season at Yankee Stadium (new or old)…only two other active players have done it: BAL Mark Reynolds in 2012 and BOS David Ortiz in 2003... Was one of only six AL players with 30 doubles and 30 HR, along with TEX Adrian Beltre, BAL Chris Davis, BAL Adam Jones, BOS David Ortiz and LAA Mark Trumbo... Although he spent a combined total of 143 games on the DL in 2008, 2011 and 2012, he is one of 10 active players to average at least 25 HR and 90 RBI over his first six seasons... Has averaged 5.47 AB per RBI during his career, 12th-best ratio among active players... Went 3-for-4 with 1 HR, 1 2B, 1 BB and 2 RBI in the Rays 5-2 win in the Game 163 tiebreaker on Sep 30 at TEX…improved to 11-for-19 (.579) with 7 HR, 10 RBI and 9 runs scored in the Rays final games of the regular season (5 games played)…according to the Elias Sports Bureau, Longoria's 7 HR in regular-season finales are most all-time…his 2-run homer in Game 163 broke a tie with STL Stan Musial (6)…Longoria had 3 HR in the 2012 finale and 2 HR in 2011, including the game-winner to clinch a postseason berth for the Rays... In Game 163 he also became just the fifth 3B to record 200 doubles through his first six seasons…joined David Wright, Wade Boggs, Pinky Whitney and Bobby Bonilla…also became just the third Ray to reach 200 doubles, joining Carl Crawford (215) and B.J. Upton (202)... His 373 career extra-base hits are third most since 1900 by a third baseman through his first six seasons, trailing only Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews (402) and David Wright (375)…his 162 HR are 5th most among third basemen through their first six seasons... With his 30th home run on Sep 25 at NYY off David Huff, became just the second Ray to post three 30-HR seasons, joining Carlos Peña…also became the 12th active player to have three 30-HR seasons before his 28th birthday and just the eighth 3B all-time to do it, first since Troy Glaus in 2002…the others: Eddie Mathews, Mike Schmidt, Ron Santo, Chipper Jones, Bob Horner and Matt Williams... Had a career-high 16-game hitting streak from May 6-22…batted .397 (25-for-63, 6-BB, 9-2B, 3-HR, 14-RBI) during the streak…matched the 4th-longest streak in club history…during that streak he became the first player in Rays history to record a hit and a strikeout in 9 consecutive games... The streak took his average to a season-high .335 on May 22…he batted .242 (106-for-438) in 114 games the rest of the season... Reached base safely in 45 of the Rays first 46 games of the season…became one of only 12 AL players since 1916 to reach in 45 (or more) of his team's first 46 games... The Rays went 21-5 in July but he batted .194, the 2nd-worst month of his career…has had three sub-.200 months, all coming in July: also .189 in July 2009 and .198 in July 2011... In his eight seasons in the Rays organization, has never played for a losing team and has reached the postseason six times: four with the Rays, one with Triple-A Durham and one with Double-A Montgomery…overall his teams are a combined 164 games over .500 (677-513, .569)... On Aug 10 at LAD, pulled the hidden ball trick on veteran Juan Uribe…it was one of two times it was successful in 2013…also Rockies 1B Todd Helton on STL Matt Carpenter on Sep 19…both he and Helton shared the Gibby Award for Oddity of the Year, presented by MLB.com... POSTSEASON: Is the only Ray to play in all 30 of the Rays postseason games…hit a gametying 3-run homer off BOS Clay Buchholz in the Rays 5-4 win in Game 3 of the ALDS…it came on Oct 7, his 28th birthday…according to SABR's David Vincent, he became the second player in MLB history to hit a postseason homer on his birthday…joined KC Willie Mays Aikens, who hit 2 HR on his 26th birthday in Game 1 of the 1980 World Series at PHI... It was his franchise-high ninth postseason home run, fourth game-tying or go-ahead homer…with 1 postseason home run every 12.78 AB, Longoria has the 4th-best ratio among active players with at least 100 AB, trailing only Nelson Cruz (9.00), Carlos Beltran (11.00) and Jayson Werth (12.43).
2012
Last Nov. 26, the three-time AL All-Star, tw-timeRawlings AL Gold Glove winner and 2008 AL Rookie of the Year signed a contract extension that could keep him a Ray through the 2023 season...this new contract incorporates the salariesfor 2013 through 2016 from his original contract and extends six more years through 2022, plus a club option for 2023...Is one of seven major league players signed through 2020 joining CIN Joey Votto (2023), LAA Albert Pujols (2021), COL Troy Tulowitzki (2020), MIL Ryan Braun (2020), CHC Jorge Soler (2020) and DET Prince Fielder (2020)...Missed 85 games due to a partially torn left hamstring, which he sustained on April 30 vs. SEA...placed on the DL the following day andwas not activated until Aug 7.Ê Underwent a minor procedure on his left hamstring on Nov 20 and is expected to be fully recovered for spring training...The Rays went 41-44 in his absence, but went 47-27 (.635) with Evan in the lineup...in the AL, only OAK Yoenis Cespedes had a better record in games he started (82-46, .641)...Despite his missed time hit .289/.369/.527 (79-for-273) with 17 HR and 55 RBI in only 74 games...his numbers project to 37 HR and 120 RBI over 162 games played...during the course of his career, his numbers projectout to a 162-game season translate to 33 HR, 116 RBI, 41 2B and 97 runs...Although he has spent a combined 143 games on the DL in 2008, 2011 and 2012, he is one of 11 active players to average at least 25 HR and 90 RBI over his first five seasons...Despite his time on the DL, his 456 RBI and 299 extra-base hits both rank 5th all-time among third basemen in their first five seasons.Started 49 games at 3B and 25 games at DH...had played every inning at 3B prior to the injuryon April 30...after being reinstated from theDL on Aug. 7, Longoria started 51 of the team'sremaining 54 games (26 at third base, 25 atdesignated hitter)...started the team's final 14games at 3B, beginning Sept. 19...The Rays scored nearly a run more per game when he was active (4.79 R/G) than when he was on the DL (3.86 R/G)...Averaged one RBI per 4.96 AB and one HR per 16.06 AB (273-AB, 17-HR, 55-RBI) which would have ranked fifth and ninth in the majors, respectively, but he was nearly 200 plate appearances shy of qualifying...during his time on the DL, Rays third and fourth hitters hit a combined .227 (146-for-643) and averaged 1 RBI every 11.7 AB (643-AB, 55-RBI)...The Rays used 8 different third basemen during his time on the DL: Sean Rodriguez, Jeff Keppinger, Will Rhymes, Brooks Conrad, Drew Sutton, Ryan Roberts, Chris Gimenez and Elliot Johnson...overall, the Rays used 10 third basemen over the course of the season (and Reid Brignac)-most of any team since 2003 when the Reds and Devil Rays both used 10...Was hitting .329/.433/.561 (27-for-82) with four HR, 19 RBI and seven 2B in 23 games at the time of his injury...from June 11, 2011 until he was injured, he led the majors with 105 RBI and led the AL with 31 HR in 121 games...Batted .272 (52-for-191) with 13 HR and36 RBI in 51 games (all starts, 26-3B, 25-DH) after being activated from the DL on Aug. 7...In the Rays season finale Oct. 3 vs. BAL hit threehome runs to tie the club record and his careerhigh (also Sep 18, 2008 vs. MIN)...also B.J. Upton (Sep 9, 2012 vs. TEX) and Jonny Gomes (July 30, 2005 vs. KC)...improved to 8-for-15 (.533) with six HR, nine RBI and seven runs scored in four career Game 162s...according to the Elias Sports Bureau, his six HR tie Stan Musial for most all-time in the final game of the season...Became one of four players to hit three HR in his team's final game of the season: CWS Gus Zernial (1950), PHI Dick Allen (1968) and CWS Dan Johnson (2012).Five of his eight HR in September and October gave the Rays the lead, including a solo shot in the ninth inning on Sep 27 at CWS off Brett Myers for a 3-2 win...Batted .358 (24-for-67) with RISP, which would have ranked fourth in the AL if he had enough atbats to qualify...in his final 70 PA with RISP, went 21-for-56 (.375) with five 2B, five HR, 10 BB,three SF and 33 RBI...Turned 27 after the season (Oct. 7) and already ranks second on the Rays all-time list in home runs (130) behind Carlos Peña (163) and third in RBI (456) behind Carl Crawford (592) and Peña (468)...ranks fourth with 161 doubles...Has averaged one RBI every 5.18 AB in his career, seventh best in the majors during that span (2008-12) behind Ryan Howard, Miguel Cabrera, Josh Hamilton, Albert Pujols, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez...Has 11 career multi-homer games, tied with Carlos Peña for the club record...in addition to his three HR on Oct. 3 vs. BAL, hit two HR on Aug. 29 at TEX...on that day he became the 12th player since 1918 to record two HR and two GIDP in a game...the last was ARI Luis Gonzalez on May 19, 2004, and the last in the AL was OAK Mark McGwire on Sept. 22, 1996 at SEA...Played in 10 games over two rehab assignments for Triple-A Durham, all at DH...began a rehab assignment and played two games (June 16and June 18) but suffered a setback on June 18 and did not return to his rehab assignmentuntil July 26...Made a career-high three errors on April 17 at TOR (two fielding, one throwing), tying the club record (seventh time, last Sean Rodriguez on May 30, 2011 vs. TEX)...Hit a solo home run on Opening Day (April 6) vs. NYY CC Sabathia, his second career Opening Day homer...has five career homers off Sabathia, his most vs. one pitcher...In spring training, did not play until March 11 after being hit by a pitch on the right hand 10 days earlier in an intrasquad game...In his seven seasons in the Rays organization, has never played for a losing team and has reached the postseason five times: three with the Rays, one with Durham and one with Double-A Montgomery...overall his teams are a combined 142 games over .500 (585-443, .569).
2011
Despite missing 26 games within the first month of the season, led the Rays in home runs (31), RBI (99) and walks with a careerhigh 80 including a major-league-best 27 in September...in the second game of the season (April 2 at BAL) strained his left oblique and was removed from the game just 14 innings into the season...placed on the 15-day DL the following day...activated on May 3...did not record his first HR and RBI until May 7 at BAL, the Rays 33rd game...Finished 10th in the AL MVP voting, the 4th consecutive year he received votes and 2nd consecutive year he finished in the top 10 (6th in 2010)...Led the majors with 86 RBI from June 11 through season's end (98 games)...his 27 HR during that span, tied for the AL lead and tied for 2nd most in the majors...hit 20 HR after the All-Star break (72 games), one shy of BOS Jacoby Ellsbury and ATL Dan Uggla for the ML lead...hit 13 HR in his final 41 games while the Rays went 26-15...Only four other players in the last 10 years had no home runs in April yet finished with 30 or more home runs: BAL J.J. Hardy (30) in 2011, NYY Alex Rodriguez (30) in 2009, CHC Alfonso Soriano (33) in 2007 and MIL Ryan Braun (34) in 2007...the last player to hit more than 30 home runs and go deeper into the season without a home run was Braun as a rookie in 2007, who didn't reach the majors until May 27 in the Brewers 48th game...On Sep 28 vs. NYY, the final day of the regular season, hit a walk-off home run off Scott Proctor in the 12th inning to clinch the AL Wild Card...the Rays had trailed 7-0 in the 8th inning before Longoria's HR won it, 8-7...it was his second home run of the game...according to Elias, Longoria was only the 6th player in major league history to hit a walk-off home run to clinch a postseason berth and just the second player to do it in his team's final game of the regular season...the other was NYG Bobby Thomson with his "Shot Heard 'Round the World" against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1951...was the 4th walk-off home run of his career, a new club record...The day before-Sep 27 vs. the Yankees-he started a 5-4-3 triple play, the third triple play in club history and the first 'round the horn...it came in the 6th inning with the bases loaded and the Rays trailing, 3-2...they won it 5-3, their 90th win of the season...During the final 24-game run-in which the Rays made up 9 games in the AL Wild Card race in September-he reached base 49 times, 2nd most in the majors during that span behind DET Miguel Cabrera (54)...Over the last two years he has 119 RBI in 143 road games, 2nd-most road RBI in the majors over that span behind Adrian Gonzalez (121 in 160 games)...Apart from his stay on the DL, started 132 of the team's 136 games (129-3B, 3-DH)...missed 4 straight starts June 5-8 with a stomach flu...The Rays went 72-59 with Longoria in the starting lineup...in the 72 wins, he batted .308/.415/.637, going 83-for-271 with 24 HR, 18 doubles and 76 RBI...in the 59 losses hit .162/.275/.310, going 34-for-210 with 7 HR, 8 2B and 23 RBI...With 113 HR and 401 RBI for his 4-year career, became the first third baseman and 13th player since 1900 to accumulate 100 HR and 400 RBI in his first 4 seasons in the majors...there are 6 Hall of Famers on the list (Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Ralph Kiner, Chuck Klein, Orlando Cepeda and Earl Averill)...only 5 players-no third basemen-have matched his totals for doubles (147), home runs (113) and RBI (401) through their first four seasons: Albert Pujols, Mark Teixeira, Ryan Braun, Ted Williams and Chuck Klein...Has amassed 268 extra-base hits in his first 4 seasons, 2nd most ever by a third baseman behind Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews' 273...his 401 RBI and 268 extra-base hits lead all major league third basemen over the past 4 seasons.ÊÊ In six seasons in the Rays organization, has never played for a losing team and has reached the postseason 5 times: three with the Rays, one with Triple-A Durham and one with Double-A Montgomery...overall his teams are a combined 124 games over .500 (495-371, .572)...Since making his ML debut on April 12, 2008, he leads all major league third basemen in games (551), total chances (1,539), assists (1,037) and has participated in 53 more double plays than any other third sacker...also leads all third baseman in RBI and extra-base hits during that span...the Rays had used 34 different starters there before his arrival...Averaged an RBI every 4.88 at-bats, 5th best in the majors behind TEX Adrian Beltre (4.64), MIL Prince Fielder (4.74), LAD Matt Kemp (4.78) and PHI Ryan Howard (4.80)...averaged an RBI every 4.22 at bats on the road, tops in the majors...had seven 4-RBI games, tied for 2nd most in the majors...had 18 RBI in interleague play, tied for the major league lead with MIN Danny Valencia...tied the club record for most interleague RBI in a season held by Fred McGriff (2001) and Gerald Williams (2000)...Hit his 100th career home run on Aug 12 off NYY CC Sabathia to pass Fred McGriff (99) for sole possession of 4th place on the Rays alltime HR list...has 4 career HR off Sabathia, his most against any opposing pitcher...only one active player, CHC Alfonso Soriano (6), has more home runs off Sabathia...Batted leadoff in 3 straight games from May 28-30 for the first time of his career...went 5-for-11 with a HR, 2B, 4 BB and 3 R...went 2-for-4 with a HR on May 28 vs. CLE, becoming the first player in Rays history to homer in his first career game batting leadoff...was batting .133 (6-for-45) in his previous 12 games before May 28...On June 12 at BAL hit the first inside-the-park of his career off Jeremy Accardo in the Rays 9-6 win...was the 9th in club history and one of 2 the Rays hit in 2011...also Ben Zobrist onSep 25 vs. TOR...Went 4-for-6 with 2 HR and 5 RBI on June 26 at HOU...went 8-for-14 with 3 HR, 3 2B and 10 RBI in that series...On July 25 at OAK, drew a career-high and franchise record-tying 4 BB...the previous day he fanned 4 times at KC...according to Stats Inc., it was just the 4th time since 1946 a player followed a 4-plus strikeout game with a 4-plus walk game...POSTSEASON: Longoria and B.J. Upton are the only Rays to play in all 25 of the team's postseason games...his 8 postseason home runs are 4th most all-time by a player before his 26th birthday (see chart)...only 8 active players played in as many postseason games before the age of 26: Andruw Jones (56), Derek Jeter (45), Chipper Jones (39), Albert Pujols (37), Elvis Andrus (33), Edgar Renteria (29), Yadier Molina (28) and Dustin Pedroia (25)...In the 2011 ALDS, went 3-for-8 in Games 1 and 2 at Texas and 0-for-7 with 5 strikeouts in Games 3 and 4 at home...in Game 2 hit a 3-run home run off Koji Uehara in the 7th inning to trim the Rays deficit to 7-6 in the eventual 8-6 loss.
2010
At age 24, became the first third baseman (ALor NL) to make the All-Star Team in each of hisfirst three seasons ... is one of only three activeplayers to do it joining BOS Jonathan Papelbonand SEA Ichiro Suzuki. ... Has averaged 40 doubles, 27 HR and 101 RBIin his first three seasons ... only two other playersin major league history have averaged atleast 40 doubles, 25 HR and 100 RBI in theirfirst three seasons: BOS Ted Williams and STLAlbert Pujols. ... Became the fifth player all-time with at least20 HR and 30 doubles in each of his first threemajor league seasons, joining STL AlbertPujols (first 10 seasons), NYY Joe DiMaggio(four), BOS Ted Williams (four) and SF OrlandoCepeda (three). ... Won his second consecutive Rawlings GoldGlove ... only two major league third basemenhave won two Gold Gloves at a younger agesince the awards began in 1957: BAL BrooksRobinson (1960-61) and OAK Eric Chavez(2001-02) ... chas won two of the Rays four GoldGloves (also Carlos Pena in 2008 and CarlCrawford in 2010). ... In the last 20 years, only five other players (onlyone other infielder) have won two Gold Glovesat a younger age, regardless of their position:3B Eric Chavez (OAK, 2001-02); OF AndruwJones (ATL, 1998-99); OF Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA,1990-91); 2B Roberto Alomar (TOR, 1991-92);and C Ivan Rodriguez (TEX, 1992-93). ... Finished sixth in the AL MVP voting, the highestfinish of any Ray in club history ... Ben Zobrist(8th, 2009) and Carl Crawford (7th, 2010)are the only other Rays to finish in the top 10. ... Led the team with 104 RBI, 9th in AL ... with 302career RBI is one of only five active players toaverage 100 RBI in each of his first three seasonsin the majors joining STL Albert Pujols,MIL Ryan Braun, NYY Hideki Matsui and TEXMark Teixeira ... was the fourth player in Rayshistory to reach 100 RBI in two straight seasonsjoining Fred McGriff (1999-2000), CarlosPena (2007-08-09) and Aubrey Huff (2003-04). ... Tied for 6th in the AL with 73 extra-base hitsche and NYM David Wright are the only thirdbasemen in ML history to have two 100-RBI,70-extra-base hit seasons in their first threeseasons ... his 210 extra-base hits are 6th mostin the majors over the past three years behindSTL Albert Pujols (256), MIL Ryan Braun (231),DET Miguel Cabrera (227), NYY Mark Teixeira(228) and PHI Ryan Howard (223). ... Played in 151 of the first 152 games beforemissing the final 10 games with a left quadricepstrain suffered on a defensive play Sep23 at NYY ... prior to that, had played in 102straight games, and 233 of the Rays last 234games dating back to 2009, with the lone exceptionMay 23 at HOU (day off). ... Has started 118 (2008), 150 (2009) and 151(2010) games at 3B in his Rays career ... theRays had used 34 different starters there beforehis arrival in 2008 ... finished 4th amongmajor league third basemen in 2010 with 417total chances. ... In 2009-10 combined, he led all major leaguethird basemen in total chances (844), assists(578), double plays (89) and innings (2,633). ... Tied for 2nd in the majors with 46 doubles,three shy of leader BOS Adrian Beltre (49)and one shy of Aubrey Hufffs club record (47in 2003) ... became the first Ray with a pair of40-double seasons (also 44 in 2009) ... his 121doubles through his first three seasons havebeen topped by only five players in majorleague history (see chart) ... since World WarII, only two others have collected as manydoubles in their first three seasons: STL AlbertPujols (138) and NYY Hideki Matsui (121). ... On July 4 at MIN hit his 100th career doublein his 359th game ... since 1920, the only thirdbaseman to reach 100 doubles faster is WASRyan Zimmerman (338 games). ... Was moved to the cleanup spot on Aug 9 andremained there over his final 41 games, batting.321 (49-for-153) with 7 HR, 34 RBI, .366 OBPand .575 SLG. ... Stole a career-high 15 bases in 20 attempts ... was successful on his first 16 career attemptsbefore BAL Brian Matusz caught him leaningon April 8, 2010 ... his career success rate of86.1 percent is 8th best among active playerswith 25 or more steals. ... Made his second Opening Day roster ... onApril 6 vs. BAL became the first Ray to startOpening Day at third base two consecutiveseasons since Wade Boggs in the franchise'sfirst two years (1998-99). ... On Opening Day hit the 3rd-longest HR inTropicana Field history, a 473-ft. solo shot offBAL Kevin Millwood ... it landed in the first rowof the tbt* Party Deck in LF, the second homerever to land in that section on the fly ... the firstwas Vinny Castilla on April 4, 2001 vs. BOS, a478-ft. blast that remains the longest ever hitin the building. ... Reached base safely (via hit, walk or HBP) in32 straight games from May 10.June 15, the2nd-longest streak in club history behind BenGrieve's 36-game streak in 2001 ... tied NYYMark Teixeira for the 2nd-longest on-basestreak in the AL in 2010, behind TEX JoshHamilton (42) ... the streak began the day afterDallas Braden's perfect game in Oakland. ... On Aug 8 at TOR, singled off Brandon Morrowwith 2 outs in the 9th inning to end his no-hitbid ... became the third Ray to break up a nohitterin the 9th inning, first with 2 outs ... wasthe 10th player in the last 20 years to do it with2 outs in the 9th. ... Named AL Player of the Week for Aug 16-22,after hitting .393 (11-for-26) with 3 HR, 12 RBI,4 2B and 1 3B with a .929 SLG ... was the fifthweekly honor of his career, most in club history. ... Has 141 RBI against the AL East in his career(since 2008), 2nd most in baseball during thatspan after Alex Rodriguez (144). ... In August was honored as the Rays recipientof the 2010 Heart and Hustle Award as chosenby MLB Alumni ... the award honors one activeplayer per team who demonstrates a passionfor the game of baseball and best embodiesthe values, spirit and tradition of the game. ... Was named to the Sporting News AL All-StarTeam after the season.
2009
...Played his first full season in the majors andestablished career highs in almost every offensivecategory....Totaled 33 homers, 44 doubles and 113 RBI...only 3 others in major league history reachedthose numbers in one season before theage of 24...joined STL Albert Pujols (2001,'03), SEA Alex Rodriguez (1996) and CLE HalTrosky (1934, '36)....Is 1 of 7 players in major league history to reachthe 30-HR/40-2B/100-RBI/100-R milestonesin one season before age 24 (see chart)...is theonly player in Rays history (any age) to reachthose numbers in one season....Ranked among AL leaders with 113 RBI (4th),44 2B (7th), 33 HR (T-8th), 77 extra-base hits(4th), 307 TB (T-7th) and 10 IBB (T-5th)....Earned the Rawlings AL Gold Glove Awardfor third base...since the Gold Glove was firstawarded in 1957, only three third basemenhave won it a younger age: BAL Brooks Robinson(age 23 in 1960), PHI Scott Rolen (age 23 in1998) and OAK Eric Chavez (age 23 in 2001)...was the youngest to win a Gold Glove at anyposition since ATL Jeff Francoeur (age 23 in2007) and the youngest in the AL since Chavezin 2001...he was the second Ray ever to earn aGold Glove, joining 1B Carlos Peña (2008).Was one of 5 major league ... third basemen tostart 150 or more games...became the first inclub history to start more than 120 games ina season at 3B...the Rays had used 34 differentstarters there before his arrival in 2008...his .970 fielding pct. was 2nd among AL thirdbaseman behind BAL Melvin Mora (.971)...his43 double plays led all ML third basemen andhis 302 assists were 2nd in the AL....Earned the AL Silver Slugger Award for thirdbase, becoming the second Ray to receivethe honor...first baseman Carlos Peña won itin 2007...was the youngest in either league towin a Silver Slugger in 2009....Is the 2nd AL third baseman in the last 12 yearsto win the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger in thesame season (Chavez in '02)...is the youngest3B to win both awards in either league sincethe Silver Slugger Award began in 1980...only3 players have won both awards in the sameseason at a younger age: TEX Ivan Rodriguezat 22 in 1994; SEA Ken Griffey Jr. at 21 in 1991;and SD Benito Santiago at 23 in 1988....Led the team with 157 games played, andstarted 153 games (150-3B, 3-DH)....Ranked among Rays all-time single-seasonleaders in doubles (2nd), RBI (3rd), home runs(5th), runs (100) and extra-base hits (2nd)....Became the 5th different player in Rays historyto hit 30 HR in a season (Peña-3x, FredMcGriff, Aubrey Huff, Jose Canseco) and 5thdifferent Ray with a 100-RBI season (Peña-3x,Huff-2x, McGriff-2x, Jorge Cantu)...he andPeña became the first Rays teammates to collect100 RBI, let alone to reach 30/100....His 60 home runs over his first two majorleague seasons rank 8th in major league history(see chart)...the top 7 players consist of 4Hall of Famers and 3 active players....Reached 100 career RBI on April 27...came inhis 135th game, the 3rd-quickest active playerbehind Ryan Braun (118) and Albert Pujols(131)....He and Peña combined for 72 home runs,most of any two teammates in the AL....Was involved in 4 of the team's 5 back-tobackhomers-twice with Peña and twice withCrawford...he and Peña have gone back-tobacktogether 4 times, a club record...he andCrawford did it May 7 at NYY off MarianoRivera, the only time Rivera has ever allowedback-to-back homers...he and Peña did it May1 vs. BOS off Justin Masterson, as Longoria'sgrand slam was followed by Peña's homer....Missed a total of 6 starts at third base fromMay 31-June 7 due to tightness in his lefthamstring...in 52 games prior to that, he hit.332 with 13 homers and led the majors with55 RBI and 33 extra-base hits...in his next 71games (May 31-Aug 29) he hit .219 with 11 HRand 33 RBI...then, in his final 34 games fromAug 30, he hit .333 with 9 HR and 25 RBI....Became the only AL player since 1954 to totalat least 10 HR, 20 2B, and 50 RBI through histeam's first 50 games....Was named AL Player of the Month for April,becoming the first Rookie of the Year fromeither league to earn Player (or pitcher) of theMonth honors in April of the following year...hit .369 with 6 HR, 24 RBI, 11 2B and a .714SLG...led AL in 2B, extra-base hits and totalbases and tied for 1st in slugging and RBI...set club record for April in batting avg. and tiedclub RBI mark....Was named AL Player of the Week three times(April 5-12, April 27-May 3, Aug 31-Sep 6),most of any player in the majors.Had a stretch of 10 games ... (April 30-May 9) inwhich he totaled 24 RBI....Hit 2 HR on Aug 4 vs. BOS, including a 13thinningwalk-off against Takashi Saito, the 2ndgame-ending HR in his career (May 9, 2008 vs.LAA)...also struck out 4 times, becoming onlyplayer since 1954 to record 2 HR and 4 SO inthe same game....Had a career-high 12-game hit streak Aug 29-Sep 8 (.417; 20-for-48, 6-2B, 5-HR, 15-RBI)...this included streaks of 8 straight games withan RBI, tying a club record, and 8 straightgames with an extra-base hit, setting a clubrecord...all streaks ended on Sep 9 at NYY....Stole 9 bases in 9 attempts, improving to aperfect 16-for-16 in his career...only 2 AL playersstole more bases without being caught in2009: NYY Johnny Damon (12) and MIN AlexiCasilla (11)...no player since 1954 has more careersteals without being caught than Longo....Hit .347 (25-for-72) against Boston with 8 HR,27 RBI and 9 2B...in ML history, only 4 playershave hit more HR vs. Boston in one season:NYY Mickey Mantle (11 in 1954 and 9 in 1958),DET Al Kaline (10 in 1959), WAS Frank Howard(9 in 1969) and MIN Harmon Killebrew (9 in1964)...27 RBI ranked 5th all time vs. Boston,and 2 behind Kaline's record of 29 in 1959....Led the AL with 27 GIDP on the year, a newclub record (Cantu had 24 in 2005)...had 27 ofthe Rays 104 GIDP this year (26 percent)...his140 strikeouts ranked 10th in the AL....Made his first Opening Day roster, and at 23years old was the youngest Rays player on it...was the 6th starting third baseman in 6 yearsfor the Rays on Opening Day, following (from2004-08) Damian Rolls, Alex Gonzalez, AubreyHuff, Akinori Iwamura and Willy Aybar....ALL-STAR GAME: Was elected by the fans asthe starting AL third baseman, joining designatedhitter Jose Canseco (1999) as the secondRay to be elected as a starter (neither oneplayed due to injury)...finished with the 3rdmostvotes among AL players behind NYYDerek Jeter and MIN Joe Mauer....Was unable to play due to an infection onthe ring finger of his right hand...23-year-oldwould have been the youngest player in 11years to start for the AL (SEA Alex Rodriguezwas 22 in 1998)....Unseated NYY Alex Rodriguez as the leadingAL third base vote-getter, after A-Rod hadbeen voted in by fans for all five years (2004-08) since he converted from shortstop....Was his second All-Star selection...joined3-time All-Star Carl Crawford as the only Raysposition players to be selected to more thanone All-Star Game.
2008
After six games in the majors, signed a contractApril 18 worth a guaranteed $17.5 millionover 6 years and potentially $44 million over9 years...it is the longest contract in club history,both in guaranteed and potential years...he will donate up to $725,000 to the RaysBaseball Foundation over the life of the deal...part of his donation went toward the renovationof the Azalea Park Little League field in St.Petersburg.Named 2008 AL Rookie of the Year by theBaseball Writers Association of America...receivedall 28 first place votes...was the 7th ALrookie to win the award unanimously and firstsince Nomar Garciaparra in 1997...the others:Derek Jeter (1996) Tim Salmon (1993), SandyAlomar, Jr. (1990), Mark McGwire (1987) andCarlton Fisk (1972)...became first Ray to win anational BBWAA award.Received The Sporting News Rookie of theYear and was named to the Topps Rookie All-Star Team.Despite missing 30 games with a fracturedright wrist, he led all major league rookies with27 home runs , 85 RBI, a .531 slugging pct., 60extra-base hits and 238 total bases...ranked2nd among AL rookies with 31 doubles, 3rd inwalks with 46 and 4th in runs with 67.His 27 home runs were the most by anAL rookie in 11 years, when BOS NomarGarciaparra hit 30 in 1997...ranked 4th all-timeamong rookie third basemen in homers behindAl Rosen (37, 1950, CLE), Ryan Braun (34,2007, MIL) and Jim Ray Hart (31, 1964, SF).Added six home runs in the postseason to set aML record for a rookie in a single postseason.His team-high .531 slugging pct. ranked 8th inthe AL...matched Lou Gehrig's SLG as a rookiein 1925...it was the 3rd highest by any rookie3B in ML history, behind Ryan Braun's .634 in2007 and Al Rosen's .543 in 1950...Braun, STLAlbert Pujols (.610 in 2001) and BOS NomarGarciaparra (.534) are the only active playersto post a higher SLG as a rookie.Was selected from Durham (AAA) on April 12and joined the Rays in their 11th game...playedin all 104 games (103 starts), hitting mostly 5thand cleanup, until he was hit by a pitch fromcloser J.J. Putz on Aug 10 at SEA and suffereda fractured right wrist...was placed on the DLAug 11, retroactive to Aug 8, and activated onSep 6, but did not return to the lineup until Sep13 at NYY.His .963 fielding pct. has been topped by onlyone other AL rookie third baseman in the lastfour decades: Akinori Iwamura (.975) with theRays in 2007...also played one game at shortstopfor the first time in his professional careerJune 29 vs. CHC after Jason Bartlett was alate scratch.Was named the team's Outstanding Rookieby the Tampa Bay Chapter of the BBWAA...set Rays rookie records in HR, extra-base hitsand slugging while placing 2nd in RBI (DelmonYoung 93 in 2007) and 3rd in doubles...movedpast Jonny Gomes (21 in 2005) with his 22ndHR to set the HR record on Aug 5 vs. CLE.Led the Rays in slugging pct. and extra-basehits...ranked 2nd in HR and RBI behind CarlosPeña...led club in HR, RBI at the time ofhis injury...set Rays club records for a thirdbaseman in HR, RBI, 2B, SLG (while actuallyplaying the position)...his .531 SLG placed 5thall-time in Rays history.Ranked 8th in the AL with 16.59 AB/HR...thatwas the best AB/HR ratio by a rookie sinceSTL Albert Pujols in 2001, and ranked 8th alltimeamong AL rookies.Named AL Rookie of the Month in June afterhitting .300 with 11-2B, 8-HR, 19-RBI and a.650 slugging pct. for the month...became the3rd Ray to win the award, first since DamonHollins in May 2005.Hit 3 home runs Sep 18 vs. MIN, becoming the2nd Ray ever to hit 3 in one game (also JonnyGomes, July 30, 2005 vs. KC)...was the firstrookie 3B to hit 3 HR in a game since Sep 27,1952, when BOS-NL Eddie Mathews did itagainst the Dodgers in Brooklyn...it was his3rd multi-HR game of the season, one shyof the club record (Carlos Peña, 2007; JorgeCantu, 2005)...hit 2 HR on two other occasions(May 24 vs. BAL, June 9 at LAA), makinghim the first Rays rookie to post three multi-HR games.Slugged 2 game-winning home runs: May9 vs. LAA, hit a walk-off 2-run shot off JustinSpeier to win it, 2-0, and make a winner ofJames Shields, who threw a one-hitter...May19 at OAK, hit a 2-run shot off Chad Gaudinin the 13th inning to make it 7-5; Rays held onto win it 7-6.Belted a walk-off double to score Carlos Peñain the 9th inning on May 25 vs. BAL...the nightbefore he tallied a Rays rookie record 6 RBI inan 11-4 vs. BAL...hit 2 HR in the first 2 innings,his first career multi-HR game...added a sacfly in the 6th inning for his 6th RBI, becomingthe 3rd Rays player to drive in 6 or more runs ina game (Carlos Peña, 2 times; Paul Sorrento).On June 9 at LAA belted two home runs, infront of 100 family and friends...his first homerin that game was the first in a string of backto-back-to-back homers, followed by WillyAybar and Dioner Navarro, the first time anyRays trio had done that...finished that seriesat LAA (June 9-11) 6-for-9 with 4-2B, 2-HR,3-RBI, 5-R and 3-BB.Homered in 3 straight games June 19-21...the first one was his first career grand slam ina 10-pitch at-bat off Roy Halladay, snappingLongo's 0-for-15 skid.Was named AL Player of the Week for June23-29 after hitting .433 (13-30) in 6 games with3-HR, 10-RBI and 5-2B...included were threeconsecutive games of at least three hits anda home run, the first rookie to do that sinceJohnny Frederick of the Brooklyn Dodgers in1929...homered and singled in the Rays 10-run 5th inning in a 15-3 win June 25 at FLA.Made his major league debut April 12 vs. BAL,starting at 3B and batting 6th...went 1-for-3with a BB and RBI, his first hit and RBI comingon his 6th-inning ground ball single to left offDaniel Cabrera.Hit his first career home run off NYY BrianBruney on April 14 at home to tie the game,7-7, and drew a curtain call as the back endof back-to-back homers with B.J. Upton...itwas his third major league game...homeredoff BOS Josh Beckett on April 27 (solo) to givethe Rays a 2-0 lead en route to the team's firsteversweep of Boston.On June 6 at TEX, slugged a 442-foot homerun that landed in the club level in LF, joiningOAK Mark McGwire (1997) as the only visitingplayers to reach the middle deck at RangersBallpark.
POSTSEASON EXPERIENCESlugged 6 home runs in the 2008 postseasonto set a major league record for a rookie in asingle postseason (prev. 4, FLA Miguel Cabrerain 2003)...was the youngest player in majorleague history to hit 6 or more homers in a singlepostseason...turned 23 on Oct 7, betweenthe ALDS and ALCS...4 of his 6 homers camein the ALCS vs. Boston, tying the all-time LCSrecord for any player.Only 4 players have hit more HR in a singlepostseason: SF Barry Bonds (8 in 2002), HOUCarlos Beltran (8 in 2004), ANA Troy Glaus (7in 2002) and TB B.J. Upton (7 in 2008).Homered on his first two swings of the postseasonboth coming in Game 1 of the ALDS atTropicana Field...became the second player inMLB history to homer in his first two postseasonat-bats, joining MIN Gary Gaetti in 1987(David Vincent, SABR)...incidentally, Gaettiwas Evan's former hitting coach at Triple-ADurham.At age 22, became the 3rd-youngest playerto homer twice in a postseason game, behindATL Andruw Jones in 1996 (19) and NYY TonyKubek in 1957 (20).Combined with B.J. Upton to hit 13 home runsin the postseason, 2nd-most of any pair ofteammates in major league history (SF BarryBonds and Rich Aurilia hit 14 in 2002)...8 of the13 came in the ALCS, most by any duo in a singleseries in postseason play...he and Uptonwere also the first teammates under 25 to havemulti-homer games in one postseason.His four ALCS home runs came in four consecutivegames (Games 2-5), tying an LCS record...went back-to-back with Carlos Peña inGames 4 and 5, the first time teammates haddone it twice in a postseason series.Totaled 13 RBI in the postseason...8 of themcame in the ALCS, tying CIN Pat Duncan(1919) for most RBI by a rookie in a single postseasonseries...9 of his 12 postseason hitswent for extra bases.
ALL-STAR GAMEWas named to the AL All-Star Team after winningthe "Final Vote" fan ballot with a record9 million votes...became the youngest Raysposition player ever to make the club...wasthe 3rd rookie 3B ever to make the AL squad,joining KC Kevin Seitzer (1987) and MIN RichRollins (1962)...was the first rookie 3B in 20years (CIN Chris Sabo, 1988) in either leagueto make it...Sabo was also the only other primary3B in history to have made the All-StarGame in his first major league season (withouta previous "cup of coffee").Went 1-for-4 with a ground-rule RBI double ashe entered the game as a pinch-hitter in theDH spot...plated CLE Grady Sizemore, tyingthe game at three and forcing extra innings, asthe AL went on to win 4-3 in 15...became thefirst rookie to collect an RBI in the MidsummerClassic since NYY Tom Tresh in 1962 (doubleoff STL Bob Gibson).Became the 6th rookie to participate in theHome Run Derby since it began in 1985,and the first Ray...other rookies were CALWally Joyner and OAK Jose Canseco (1986),OAK Mark McGwire (1987), LAD Mike Piazza(1993) and BOS Nomar Garciaparra (1997)...at 22 years, 283 days old, Longo became theyoungest participant since SEA Ken Griffey,Jr. in 1992 (22 years, 234 days) and the 3rdyoungestparticipant ever (also OAK JoseCanseco, 22 in 1986)...hit 3 home runs in thecontest, and did not advance past the firstround.Reached the All-Star break with 16-HR, 53-RBI, 23-2B, making him 1 of 4 major leaguerookies in the last 50 years and 1 of 6 alltimeto reach 15-HR, 20-2B, 50-RBI beforethe break...others were CHC Geovany Soto(2008), CAL Devon White (1987), BOS FredLynn (1975), CLE Hal Trosky (1934) and CWSZeke Bonura (1933).
2007
Played in a total of 171 games combined with AA Montgomery (105), AAA Durham regular season (31) and postseason (8), Arizona Fall League (12) and Team USA (15)...batted .298 (188-630) with 42 doubles, 33 home runs and 115 RBI...Had a combined .402 (231-575) on-base pct. at Durham and Montgomery and batted.323 (43-133) with runners in scoring position...Selected for the All-Star Futures Game and batted third for the U.S. team...singledoff the Marlins' Rick VandenHurk in his only at-bat...In November, along with fellow Rays prospect Justin Ruggiano, helped Team USA win their first IBAF World Cup since 1974 as the U.S. ended Cuba's 33-year dominance with a 6-3 win over the Cubans in the gold medal game in Taiwan...Longoria batted .289 (11-38) with 3 doubles, a triple, home run and 5 RBI in the tournament...had two hits and another HR taken off the books in a win over Panama when it was discovered Panama used an ineligible player and the game had to be forfeited...Named AA Southern League MVP despite a promotion to AAA Durham on August 1...at the time of his promotion was tied for the league lead in home runs (21), a Montgomery single-season record...ended up tied for 3rd in the SL...led the league in slugging (.518), was 4th in on-base pct. (.403) and tied for 5th in batting (.307)...despite missing the last month was 4th in runs scored (78) and 5th in RBI (76)...In his last at-bat at Montgomery before joining Durham, he hit a 10th-inning grand slam in the Biscuits' 9-3 win over Birmingham(White Sox) on July 30...Batted .361 (56-155) in his last 41 games at Montgomery before the promotion to AAA Bulls...Started 31 of Durham's last 38 games after joining the club, all but three at 3B...was Durham's 2nd-leading hitter in the postseasonwith a .375 (12-32) mark and led the team with 12 hits and six extra-base hits...in two years has batted .361 (22-61) in 15 postseason games with 5 home runs and 12 RBI...Had 4 home runs in just 44 at-bats for Scottsdale in the Arizona Fall League before joining Team USA in late October...Made only 5 errors in his last 79 games: 3 in his last 51 games at Montgomery and 2 in his 28 games at Durham.
2006
Selected by the Rays with the third overall pick in the draft on June 6, 2006 and signed to a contract within 20 minutes of his selection...entered draft day ranked as the top position player (#4 overall prospect)and best pure college hitter in the draft by
Baseball America...Made three stops in his first professional season spending time at Hudson Valley (SS-A), Visalia (A) and Montgomery (AA)...combined at all stops to bat .315 with 14 doubles, 18 home runs and 58 RBI in 62 games...ranked 4th among Rays farmhandsin homers...Made his pro debut with Hudson Valley hitting safely in 7 of his 8 games there for a .424 average (14-for-33)...in his first game, June 20 against Aberdeen (Orioles), he delivered a sacrifice fly on the first professionalpitch he faced...Promoted to Visalia on June 29 where he recorded his first multi-homer game June 6 at Bakersfield (Rangers)...Joined Montgomery on Aug. 4 helping the Biscuits down the stretch and through their Southern League Championship run...hit safely in 10 of his first 12 games with the Biscuits including his 2nd multi-homer game on Aug. 13 at Mobile (Padres)...Appeared in all seven Montgomery playoff games as the starting third baseman batting .345 with 3 home runs, 6 RBI and team-high 8 runs scored...belted a 2-run, 2-out, walk-off home run in the 9th inning Sep. 9 to give the Biscuits a 2-0 win and clinch the first-round series sweep over Jacksonville (Dodgers)...Tabbed by
Baseball America as the Rays top infield prospect (#2 overall) and the club's best power hitter...For the entire year, he batted .332 with 32 home runs and 107 RBI in 125 games combined as a pro and at Long Beach State...Named the Big West Conference's co-Player of the Year, third team All-America by
Collegiate Baseball and a finalist for the 2006 Golden Spikes Award given to the top player in college baseball after batting .353 (71-201) with a team-high 11 home runs and 43 RBI in his junior year for Long Beach State University...led the conference in slugging (.603) and on-base percentage (.468)...In his two-year career at Long Beach State, Longoria batted .336 with 16 home runs and 73 RBI...played primarily third base, but as a sophomore in 2005, he filled in at shortstop for the injured Troy Tulowitzki,the Rockies' first round selection in 2005 (7th overall).
