Few gamers have been as impactful to the Tampa Bay Rays franchise as Evan Longoria. Few Rays gamers are nonetheless as fondly remembered.
Longoria did not play final season and mentioned final summer time that his enjoying days had been doubtless behind him. Nonetheless, he hadn’t formally retired from the game till now. The Rays introduced on Monday that Longoria would return to the group to signal a one-day contract, permitting him to formally retire as a member of the Rays.
MLB.com’s Adam Berry stories that the workforce will maintain a pregame ceremony on June 7 to honor Longoria.
Chosen third total within the 2006 draft out of Lengthy Seaside State, Longoria progressed rapidly by means of the Rays’ minor league system. Lower than two years later, he was making his debut within the Rays lineup.
Enamored along with his potential, the Rays signed Longoria to a six-year, $17.5M contract extension simply days into his profession. The deal, which included a number of membership choices, was a trend-setter within the main leagues. No participant with as little profession service time had even been assured a deal like this earlier than.
Longoria confirmed rapidly why the funding was worthwhile. He’d hit .272/.343/.531 with 27 house runs that first season, incomes a spot on the All-Star roster and profitable the American League Rookie of the 12 months Award. It was the primary of 4 consecutive seasons through which he’d obtain MVP consideration.
Over his ten years in Tampa Bay, Longoria would hit .270/.341/.483 (125 OPS+). Longoria is the franchise’s all-time chief in WAR (51.7), video games performed (1,435), house runs (261), RBI (892), runs (780), extra-base hits (618), and walks (569).
He’d win a trio of Gold Glove Awards and a Silver Slugger. He additionally helped deliver the membership to the postseason 4 occasions, together with their lone World Collection look in 2008.
Longoria’s 12-inning house run on the ultimate day of the 2011 season (above) is without doubt one of the greatest moments in franchise historical past and one immortalized with a statue outdoors of Tropicana Discipline.
As Berry notes, the Rays haven’t issued Longoria’s No. 3 to any participant since he left the group. It can certainly be retired in time, and he will even take his place within the workforce’s Corridor of Fame.
