Evan Longoria

Evan Michael Longoria (born October 7, 1985) is a Major League Baseball third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays. Formerly, Longoria was a star infielder for the Long Beach State University baseball team, the 2005 Cape Cod League MVP, and the 2006 Big West Co-Player of the Year. 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 on November 10.[3] He was also an All-American Wrestling Champion at Long Beach State University.

High-school baseball career

Born in Downey, California, Longoria graduated from St. John Bosco High School. He was a two-year letterman in baseball and as a senior was a first team All-Serra League selection. Longoria did not receive any scholarship offers to play college baseball. USC was the only program to consider him, but eventually backed out of recruiting him. At 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds, many baseball recruiters felt Longoria was too slim by Division I baseball standards. As a result, he attended Rio Hondo Community College during his freshman season before LBSU offered him a scholarship.

College baseball career

After high school, Longoria attended Rio Hondo Community College, where he played shortstop. In his freshman season, Longoria earned first-team All-State honors, and was offered a scholarship by Long Beach State University. He transferred to Long Beach for his sophomore year and hit .320, earning All-Conference honors. Because Long Beach State already had an established shortstop, Troy Tulowitzki (who now plays with the Colorado Rockies), Longoria played third base.

Following a successful MVP summer in the Cape Cod League with the Chatham A's where he played second base,In 2006, Longoria shared the Big West Conference Player of the Year honors (with Justin Turner) during his junior year at Long Beach State. When he first started attending Long Beach State University, he majored in kinesiology. However, he switched to the department of Criminal Justice because it was somewhat less time-consuming and, therefore, would not interfere with the baseball schedule as much.

In just two years, Longoria transformed his thin stature into a 6-foot-2 and 210-pounds by the end of his LBSU tenure.

Professional baseball career


Longoria was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays with the third overall pick in the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft. Longoria was called the "best pure hitter" among college players in the 2006 draft class by Baseball America.He was the highest draft selection in school history — by Tampa Bay, which gave him a $3 million signing bonus.

Personal life

In the past Longoria has used "I'm Broken" by Pantera and currently is using "Down and Out" by Tantric as his at-bat music.


On March 8, 2011 his classic 1967 black and white Camaro RS, valued at $75,000 and a Buick GSX, valued at $25,000, were reported stolen from an Arizona lot. Longoria lives in California, but was having work done on the car in Arizona.

On March 28, 2011 Longoria, David Price and Reid Brignac's rental property in Port Charlotte, Fla. was broken into, while away at the nearby Charlotte Sports Park stadium for a game. According to the St. Petersburg Times, police estimated $56,000 in lost property from the robbery. Among the loot was Longoria's AK-47 rifle.