Evan Longoria News: Pro Sports Daily

Tampa Bay Rays' Evan Longoria could certainly qualify as baseball's most valuable asset

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March 10

St. Petersburg Times

columnist John Romano

"Give me Albert Pujols for an at-bat. Seriously, if a game is on the line, who else would you want? And give me Roy Halladay for a September start. There might be other choices, but why quibble with success? On the other hand, give me Evan Longoria for the foreseeable future. Because, in terms of age, ability, position, appeal and contract, there is not a greater asset in Major League Baseball today than Tampa Bay's third baseman. If he were an investment, he would be a sure bet at the ground floor. If he were a car, he would be the best value on the lot. If he were real estate? "He could be Derek Jeter's new home on Davis Islands. That's what he could be," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. ..."

Yogi Berra says Tampa Bay Rays' Evan Longoria reminds him a bit of Joe DiMaggio

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March 6

St. Petersburg Times

"Evan Longoria gets asked to sign baseballs all the time. But not usually by a Yankees legend and Hall of Famer. Before Friday's game, Yogi Berra came over to ask Longoria to sign two balls for him. And if that wasn't enough high praise, Berra then told Rays manager Joe Maddon that Longoria "reminds him of Joe DiMaggio a bit." Berra, 84, said he likes what he sees of Longoria on the field ("He's pretty good"), and how he carries himself. "He's a nice kid," Berra said. "He's good-looking. He dresses up nice. The girls go for him, too.""

Evan Longoria calls 2010 Tampa Bay Rays their best team yet

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February 24

St. Petersburg Times

"Things are going so well for 3B Evan Longoria, even his vacations turn to gold. Longoria, 24, coming off his second straight All-Star season, was on a trip to Rio de Janeiro in November and didn't know he won a Gold Glove until a friend e-mailed him. Though Longoria loved Rio's beaches, "I'll take a Gold Glove any day," he said. It also sounds as though Longoria would take this year's Rays over any other club in the big leagues, saying it's the "best team we've probably put on the field." • There's the rotation: "They might not be the marquee names of major-league baseball, but stuff-wise and mentally, the way they go about their work, they're the best there is in the game," Longoria said. ..."

Rays' Longoria: We'll bounce back in 2010

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February 24

Tampa Tribune

"Evan Longoria believes the Rays took a "huge" step forward by adding closer Rafael Soriano and he thinks they have the best starting rotation "anybody can put together" and that they'll benefit offensively from rebound years by B.J. Upton and Pat Burrell. Gushing with spring optimism in his first group media chat Tuesday, the All-Star and Gold Glove third baseman sounded like he expects the Rays to return to the playoff mix this season. "We probably said this last year coming into the spring, but this year, definitely, with the names and stars we have, it's the best team we've put on the field," Longoria said on the eve of the club's first full-squad workout today. Longoria said the ..."

Evan Longoria concerned about effect of Tropicana Field turf on hamstrings

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February 22

St. Petersburg Times

"Evan Longoria's sole goal for this season is to play all 162 games, and he worked extensively this winter on strengthening his hamstrings to increase his chances. But there's one factor he can't control: the wear and tear of the turf at Tropicana Field. Longoria joined LF Carl Crawford in identifying the turf (which sits on a concrete base) as an issue in staying healthy. "The turf on your lower back and hamstrings is really tough," Longoria said upon reporting to camp. "So that was my biggest focus this offseason. I did a lot of pushing and pulling stuff, training the hamstring. I did a lot of resisted running to kind of build that up. "It's definitely different. We go on the road and ..."

Longoria tapped for video game cover

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November 25

MLB.com

"Evan Longoria has had a busy and rewarding offseason, with a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger to his credit. On Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Rays' All-Star third baseman received another honor when he was named the cover athlete and spokesman for the popular video game Major League Baseball 2K10. 2K Sports, the company that produces the game that tabbed Longoria as the current face of its Major League Baseball 2K franchise, is conducting online voting at its Web site to allow gamers and fans to select the game's ultimate cover art from a gallery of different designs featuring Longoria. "It's been a milestone year for me, from winning a Gold Glove and the Silver Slugger Award, to now being ..."

Rays' Longoria wins Gold Glove at third base

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November 11

Tampa Tribune

"Evan Longoria became the Tampa Bay Rays' second consecutive corner infielder to win a Gold Glove when he was announced as the American League selection at third base on Tuesday. Carlos Pena won the AL Gold Glove at first base in 2008. He was the first Rays player in team history to earn the award. Longoria, who turned 24 after the season ended, is the youngest to win an AL Gold Glove at any position since Oakland Athletics third baseman Eric Chavez (age 23) in 2001. Since the Gold Glove was first awarded in 1957, only three third basemen have won it at a younger age: Brooks Robinson (age 23 in 1960) of the Baltimore Orioles, Scott Rolen (age 23 in 1998) of the Philadelphia Phillies and ..."

Evan Longoria wins first Gold Glove Award

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November 11

St. Petersburg Times

"Rays manager Joe Maddon challenged his team in spring training, saying it had plenty of players who were capable of earning a Gold Glove, and offering a lofty goal of winning nine. The Rays didn't complete that feat, but they did have a Gold Glove Award winner for the second straight year as Evan Longoria won the award Tuesday as the American League's best-fielding third baseman. Longoria, 24, is the youngest to win an AL Gold Glove at any position since A's third baseman Eric Chavez (age 23) in 2001 and the second player in club history to earn the award (first baseman Carlos Peña won in 2008). "It's the one award that I've wanted to win since I started pro ball," Longoria said in a ..."

Jeter and Teixeira Receive Gold Glove Awards

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November 11

New York Times

"Derek Jeter, whose defense has been criticized in recent years through statistical analyses, won a Gold Glove award for his defense, joining Yankees teammate Mark Teixeira on the list of American League recipients released Tuesday. No other team had multiple winners. At 35, Jeter became the second-oldest shortstop to win the award; Luis Aparicio won it at 36 in 1970. Jeter has won four Gold Gloves, collecting the others from 2004 to 2006. "I've always taken a great deal of pride in my defense, and being honored with a Gold Glove is an accomplishment I will never overlook," Jeter said in a statement."

Ichiro, Hunter win ninth Gold Gloves

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November 10

MLB.com

"The American League Gold Glove winners, unveiled on Tuesday, showcase the cream of the league's defensive excellence, the ooh-and-aah squad. The dive-and-spin, dirty-uniform parade began with Mark Teixeira, who earned his third Gold Glove -- but first since 2006 -- for an often-overlooked aspect of his game that was every bit as vital to the Yankees' drive to a World Series title as his 39 home runs and 122 RBIs. Teixeira made only four errors in 1,275 chances, to say nothing of the errors by other infielders he prevented with his wide-ranging scoops of errant throws. The Tigers' Placido Polanco earned the award at second base after it had been "borrowed" last year by Boston's Dustin ..."

Maddon says Evan Longoria, in his second season, is playing at his best

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September 25

St. Petersburg Times

"Though 3B Evan Longoria has accomplished a lot in his young career - from being chosen AL rookie of the year to playing in two All-Star Games and the World Series - the fact that he has continued to improve may be most impressive. He has followed his dazzling debut season with an even better one, and though the Rays will not play in the postseason, he's saving his best for last, including hitting .362 with seven homers and 20 RBIs in his past 25 games. "He might be playing his best baseball, from my perspective," manager Joe Maddon said. "Of course, I'm saying everything - defense, baserunning, hitting, not expanding his strike zone, hitting for power, driving in runs. Everything he's ..."

Evan Longoria does it again

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August 5

Boston Herald

"Appearances are not deceiving: Evan Longoria does enjoy tremendous success against the Red Sox. That lesson got drummed in for the umpteenth time last night, as the Tampa Bay Rays third baseman once again came through after the Sox elected to challenge him in the 13th inning. The result was a two-run walkoff home run, his second long ball of a long night that ended with the Sox on the wrong end of a 4-2 decision. Longoria is so good, and so young (23), that it sometimes is hard to believe it hasn't even been two full seasons of him paining opposing pitching. Not to suggest that the Red Sox should stop pitching to him altogether, but there is a pattern of devastating destruction from ..."

Rays, Evan Longoria opt for caution as third baseman misses All-Star Game with infected finger By Marc Topkin , Times Staff Writer

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July 15

St. Petersburg Times

"Though 3B Evan Longoria was disappointed, the decision to skip the All-Star Game, made in consultation with manager Joe Maddon, was best for both of their teams. The AL All-Star team was kept at full strength with Los Angeles' Chone Figgins added, and the Rays expect to have Longoria fully over his right ring finger infection when they resume play Friday in Kansas City. "Obviously, me and Joe went back and forth on what to do," Longoria said. "Being here and being with the American League club, it would be a disservice to them to go out there and try to play and win a game when I'm not up to full health. … I was okay with it. I think we need a good team here. Obviously, priority one is ..."

Injured finger sidelines Longoria

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July 14

MLB.com

"An infection of his right ring finger has forced Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria out of his All-Star Game start tonight, and he will be replaced in the starting lineup by Michael Young of the Rangers. The Angels' Chone Figgins, meanwhile, has taken Longoria's place on the roster, becoming the 30th first-time All-Star on hand for the 80th Midsummer Classic, in St. Louis' Busch Stadium. Young, who had been voted onto the AL squad by the players, went into the break hitting .308, with 11 home runs and 37 RBIs. This is Young's sixth consecutive All-Star Game, but he will be starting for the first time. Figgins leads the AL with 68 runs and is tied for the lead with seven triples, while hitting .310."

Longoria out of All-Star Game, Figgins named replacement

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July 14

Tampa Tribune

"Rays third baseman Evan Longoria has been scratched from tonight's All-Star game because of an infection in his right ring finger. He had the finger drained Monday, is taking antibiotics and "didn't feel like he could go," Rays spokesman Rick Vaughn said. The 2008 American League Rookie of the Year was supposed to start and bat seventh in American League manager Joe Maddon's lineup. He has been replaced on the AL roster by the Angels' Chone Figgins, a graduate of Brandon High School, and in the starting lineup by the Rangers' Michael Young. Vaughn said Longoria is expected back in the Rays' lineup Friday when the Tampa Bay opens a weekend series at Kansas City. He may address the media ..."

Longoria says hamstring not serious; hopes to play Thursday

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June 25

St. Petersburg Times

"Neither the Rays nor Evan Longoria feel that the "twinge" he felt in his previously injured left hamstring was anything serious, with the All-Star third baseman saying he hopes to be back in the lineup Thursday. Longoria was replaced in the top of the eighth by Willy Aybar after feeling a "twinge" while legging out a double in the sixth. He said he wanted to go back in the field in the seventh to see if it would get worse, and it didn't, and he was encouraged that he felt fine afterwards. "I felt an opportunity to kind of conserve it,' Longoria said. "I didn't feel the same shooting sharp pain that I did the last time, and that's a good thing." Manager Joe Maddon said doesn't know if ..."

Rays' Longoria showing what Rockies missed

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June 17

Denver Post

"The question was loaded. The answer was not. As Tampa Bay slugger Evan Longoria arrived at Coors Field for the first time Tuesday, he was asked if he thought about being a Rockie. "No," Longoria said with a grin. "I am happy with where I ended up." The Rockies nearly selected the former Long Beach State star with the second overall pick in the 2006 draft. With the logjam at third base with Garrett Atkins and Ian Stewart and unsure Longoria could play second base, the Rockies selected pitcher Greg Reynolds. Reynolds struggled mightily as a rookie last season, after being rushed, because of injuries and the ineffectiveness of the fifth starters. After an encouraging spring, he landed on the ..."

Longoria could return on Saturday

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June 6

MLB.com

"Evan Longoria is optimistic about returning to the Rays' lineup on Saturday afternoon against the Yankees. "I would love to be [in the lineup]," Longoria said. "I don't know what [the team's] feeling is, I haven't talked to [manager Joe Maddon] yet, but like I said, if it was the seventh game of the World Series, I'd be playing today. But we're not even midway yet. [I'm] just going to give it time and see how it feels tomorrow." Longoria felt his left hamstring tighten up while running out a groundout during Tuesday night's game against the Royals. He did not play on Wednesday or Thursday and was not penciled into the lineup on Friday night prior to the game being called due to rain. ..."

Rays optimistic about Longoria's hamstring

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June 4

Tampa Tribune

"Rays third baseman Evan Longoria probably won't play tonight after leaving Tuesday's game with a hamstring injury, but the Rays don't expect him to be sidelined for long. Longoria underwent an MRI exam on his left hamstring today and Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said it didn't reveal any significant damage. Longoria may miss a few games, but it doesn't appear he is in line to join the recent parade of Rays to the disabled list. "The report was good," Friedman said. "It's the proverbial day-to-day, but we're very optimistic that we're going to avoid a DL situation. He's a little sore today, so I don't foresee him playing tonight. That said, I'm confident that we will get ..."

Longoria will keep to regular routine

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June 4

Tampa Tribune

"Evan Longoria says he won't alter his pregame preparation any more when he's the DH. He said being the DH Sunday and Tuesday - Manager Joe Maddon wanted to rest Longoria's sore throwing arm - took him out of his routine and might have caused the hamstring strain that kept him out of the lineup Wednesday night. An MRI ruled out anything serious. Longoria is expected back within a day or so. The leading AL All-Star vote-getter said when he has been the DH, he has skipped a 15-minute warm-up on the field with strength and conditioning coordinator Kevin Barr in which he runs sprints and does calisthenics, and Barr stretches him. "I don't know why I don't just stick to the same routine whether ..."

Longoria likely won't need to go on disabled list

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June 4

St. Petersburg Times

"Evan Longoria was encouraged his injured left hamstring felt much better Wednesday, and with some good MRI exam results, he's day to day with a possible return Friday against the Yankees. Longoria, the majors' RBI leader, was out of the lineup Wednesday but went through some baseball activities (light jogging and throwing) in the afternoon and said he felt okay, just a little sore. Executive VP Andrew Friedman said the Rays are "very optimistic" Longoria will avoid a disabled list stint and confident they'll have him back "relatively soon." "We just may save him until New York, give him two full days and move him onto the regular turf, see how that works, but he's fine," manager Joe Maddon ..."

Tampa Bay Rays' Evan Longoria day to day with hamstring tightness

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June 3

St. Petersburg Times

"While 3B Evan Longoria believes the left hamstring injury sustained Tuesday is minor, and that he's just "day to day," the Rays say they won't know how serious it is until he has an MRI exam today. Longoria, the major-league RBI leader, grabbed his left leg after grounding out in the sixth. Already serving as DH for the second straight game because of a sore arm, Longoria said he tested his leg by riding a stationary bike and "felt fine" but had trouble loosening it up. The team called it "tightness." "It was more of a precautionary thing," Longoria said. "I didn't feel a pop, didn't feel a pull. … Hopefully it's just a day-to-day thing." But manager Joe Maddon appeared more concerned, ..."

Longoria leaves game with hamstring injury

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June 3

Tampa Tribune

"Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria left Tuesday night's game against Kansas City because of tightness in his left hamstring. In the seventh inning, Gabe Gross pinch hit for Longoria, who was the designated hitter because of a sore throwing arm."

Rays' Longoria riding high

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June 2

Tampa Tribune

"Here's a sobering thought: At his current pace, Rays third baseman Evan Longoria would finish this season with 168 RBIs. "We have big expectations for Evan,'' Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "But I think his run production is kind of on the high end right now.'' Kind of. Going into tonight's game against the Kansas City Royals, beginning a three-game series at Tropicana Field, Longoria leads the majors in RBIs with 55, while hitting 13 home runs and batting .327. "Obviously, you don't come into a season thinking you're going to be doing this well at this point,'' Longoria said. "You do prepare yourself for success and I prepared myself the best I could. With the routine I have, whether the ..."

Longoria a close second overall in AL All-Star voting

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May 28

Tampa Tribune

"Major League Baseball released the first round of vote totals from American League All-Star balloting today, and it seems Evan Longoria is more popular than ever. With 664,060 votes, the Rays' third baseman is barely second to Derek Jeter (664,630) as the leading vote-getter among all AL players. Longoria, of course, made the All-Star Game last year as a rookie when the fans voted him in as the final player on the AL roster. Longoria has a large lead over the second-ranked AL third baseman, Michael Young of the Rangers, who has 296,025 votes. Only two other Rays are listed among the leaders at their positions, with Carl Crawford ranking sixth among outfielders (260,325) and Jason Bartlett ..."

Longoria among leading vote-getters for AL All-Star team

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May 28

St. Petersburg Times

"Evan Longoria had to wait until the last minute to make the All-Star team last season, getting the last reserve spot due to a "Final Vote" online fan balloting. This time, it looks as if there won't be as much drama for the reigning rookie of the year. Longoria is leading all AL third basemen in All-Star votes - by nearly 400,000 - and is in a closely contested race with Yankees SS Derek Jeter to be the AL's top overall vote-getter. Longoria, 23, who entered Wednesday leading the league in RBIs, is 570 votes behind Jeter - a nine-time All-Star - and his 664,060 votes give him a huge lead over Rangers 3B Michael Young (296,025) and the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez (245,414). "That's ..."

Major League Baseball says umpires shouldn't have let Evan Longoria play after Tampa Bay Rays goofed on lineup card

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May 24

St. Petersburg Times

"Turns out Rays manager Joe Maddon and his staff weren't the only ones to make a mistake in last Sunday's lineup mixup game with Cleveland. The umpires were wrong in allowing Evan Longoria to remain eligible to play, MLB umpiring vice president Mike Port told the St. Petersburg Times on Saturday after a review of the rulings. The Rays goofed first, submitting a lineup card that had both Ben Zobrist and Longoria playing third; Longoria was to be the DH. Cleveland manager Eric Wedge pointed it out after Zobrist played the field in the top of the first, and the umpires, after extensive huddling, ruled that the Rays lost the DH. That meant RHP Andy Sonnanstine would have to hit third, but they ..."

Nothing routine about Longo's success

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May 17

Tampa Tribune

"If you catch Evan Longoria staring toward left field during a game, don't read too much into it. He isn't daydreaming, nor is he bored. The third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays is focusing. And chances are, something good is about to happen. "In every stadium I go to, because I know it's going to be there, I'll look at the top of the left-field foul pole," he said. "Whenever something gets out of control - if I make an error, if there are runners in scoring position in a crucial situation and I feel the game is speeding up on me a little bit - I'll take a couple of seconds to get out and put all my energy on that focal point. Then I don't have to worry about anything else. It kind of ..."

Hot-corner stars shining brightly

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May 10

MLB.com

"The streak is dead, long live the streak. Even if Zack Greinke can't win 'em all, Ryan Zimmerman doesn't ever miss 'em all. As the pitching streak of the 2009 season went down, the hitting streak of the season kept chugging along with a dramatic late homer from Zimmerman, the Nationals' third baseman. But even he's not on the biggest roll in baseball. He's not even the hottest third baseman. Both honors belong to the Rays' Evan Longoria.While Zimmerman's 27-game streak is hard to top, Longoria's homer and five RBIs in Tampa Bay's romp at Fenway Park continued his torrid May pace, lifting his season RBI total to 44, including 20 in May and we're only nine days into it. Twenty-one of ..."

Beat goes on for Sox nemesis Longoria

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May 10

MLB.com

"Evan Longoria just keeps hitting. On Saturday, the Rays' third baseman was the triggerman in a 14-5 win over the Red Sox. All Longoria did was hit his 11th homer of the year, and his fifth against the Red Sox this season. He also drove in five runs -- giving him 21 against Boston thus far. Longoria is just the third player in the last 38 years to drive in as many as 21 runs against the Red Sox in one season, joining the Blue Jays' Vernon Wells in 2006 (22) and the Mariners' Ken Griffey Jr. in 1996 (24). And Longoria still has nine games left against Boston. "I feel good," Longoria said. "My swing is right where I want it to be. And I mean, the guys behind me hitting, it helps a lot with ..."

Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria is a rising star in the major leagues

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May 10

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel knew the name and couldn't ignore the numbers, but he had not seen much of Tampa Bay phenom Evan Longoria before facing him in last fall's World Series. Back then he was looking out for Longoria. Now, Manuel finds himself looking for him. "He hits it, nice and easy like that, and it's like the ball doesn't want to come down," Manuel said this past week when his Phillies visited Busch Stadium. "Now that I've seen him, I watch for him. I check his box scores. I look up when he's on ESPN. He's a special player, a special, special player. … He's what they talk about. He's exactly what they talk about." Not yet 162 games into his major-league ..."

Longoria was the grand marshal of this one

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May 2

Boston Globe

"The Rays limped into Thursday night's game mired in last place, unable to win a series in three weeks or verify that last season's magic was something more than a fluke. The one thing they had missed as they dropped in the standings, manager Joe Maddon said, was clutch hits. In the last two games against the Red Sox, the Rays have loaded the bases in each game in need of the kind of game-altering hit they had lacked. In both instances, Evan Longoria came to the plate. "It's a very difficult moment," Maddon said. "And then, boom, all of a sudden, there it is for us. You always want to see Longo up in those moments." The Rays surged through the first two games of this series, including last ..."

Longoria, Rays slam Sox

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May 2

Tampa Tribune

"As the Rays came to bat in the bottom of the fifth inning Friday night, it looked like it was going to be another one of those frustrating nights that has kept them from getting on a roll this season. The pitching from Andy Sonnanstine hadn't been great, but he had kept the Red Sox sufficiently in check that even a modest offensive output would have been enough to put the Rays on top. To that point, they had come up empty. Justin Masterson was "pretty much dominating," according to Evan Longoria, and nursing a two-run lead past the game's halfway point. Then, the Rays had about as efficient an inning as a team could ask for. Every man in the order came to bat in the bottom of the fifth, ..."

Longoria to miss next two Tampa Bay Rays games

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April 15

St. Petersburg Times

"Slugging 3B Evan Longoria is expected to miss the Rays next two games. Longoria was headed to California Wednesday morning for what a team official described as a family matter. He is expected to return for Friday's game against the White Sox. Longoria leads the majors with five homers and has a .441 average and hits in each of the first eight games, a career-best streak."

Longo May Join Team USA

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March 17

Tampa Tribune

"Evan Longoria might get his chance to play in the World Baseball Classic after all. Left off Team USA's final roster in deference to the more established third basemen Chipper Jones and David Wright, Longoria would seem a good bet to replace the injured Jones if the U.S. advances to the final round of the event. "I talked to U.S. manager Davey Johnson right before the thing started and he said if they needed somebody I would be the first in line," Longoria said Monday. "If it happens, it happens - I'll be ready to go. I'd be happy to go." The U.S. can't replace Jones, who has a strained muscle in his side, during the current round. But if the U.S. wins tonight in Miami to move on to next ..."

Longoria leaves first workout early

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February 18

MLB.com

"Evan Longoria left the field during Wednesday's first full-squad workout after feeling some discomfort from having his wisdom teeth extracted on Friday. The Rays wanted to exercise caution against any possible infection. "The wisdom tooth extraction -- I've been there," said Rays manager Joe Maddon. "Anybody that's ever done that, it stinks. And it hurts. And he was in pain this morning. So it was the aftermath of that."

Short wait for Longoria to become a star

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November 11

Orange County Register

columnist Mark Whicker

"You might think you're in a hurry. Evan Longoria plays baseball like an asteroid is coming. In 2006, he was Long Beach State's third baseman. Tampa Bay picked him third in the first round of the baseball draft. He went through the minor leagues - just 205 games - like he was washing his hands. In April of this year, well before he had faced every major league team, the Rays signed him to a six-year contract that could stretch through 2016 if they pick up all their options. Soon Longoria was batting fourth for an American League East contender. Soon that contender was a champion, and Longoria was hitting six home runs with 11 RBIs in the first rounds of the playoffs. On Monday, he became ..."

Longoria Unanimous Choice As AL Top Rookie

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November 10

Tampa Tribune

"Rays third baseman Evan Longoria was a unanimous choice today as the American League Rookie of the Year. Longoria, 23, becomes the first Tampa Bay player so honored in the 11-year history of the franchise. Voting was done by two members of the Baseball Writers Association of America in each league city. They listed three choices per ballot. Longoria was listed first on all 28 ballots. He was also the only player listed on every ballot. Longoria was Tampa Bay's first-round choice and the third overall pick in the 2006 first-year player draft. He began this past season in the minors, but was promoted to the Rays in the second week. He went on to hit .272 in 122 games and 448 ..."

Longoria, Soto are Rookies of the Year

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November 10

MLB.com

"Evan Longoria, the third baseman whose powerful bat keyed the Rays' remarkable turnaround season, and Cubs catcher Geovany Soto were named winners of their respective leagues' 2008 Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Awards. Longoria, the unanimous American League selection of Baseball Writers Association of America voters, was honored for the 27 homers and 85 RBIs that followed his delayed addition to the Rays' lineup on April 12. Soto was nearly as popular in the NL, after minding the critical defensive position for the Central division champs while putting up 23 homers and 86 RBIs."

Tampa Bay Rays' Evan Longoria, Joe Maddon up for rookie, manager awards

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November 10

St. Petersburg Times

"In a Rays season filled with firsts, this week will likely provide another signature moment for the franchise. When the Baseball Writers Association of America announce the winners of two of its most prestigious awards - AL rookie of the year (today) and AL manager of the year (Wednesday) - Rays third baseman Evan Longoria and manager Joe Maddon are expected by many to be on the receiving end. Though one team has picked up two of baseball's four major awards (Cy Young and MVP are the others) in six of the past seven seasons, these two honors would be especially significant for the Rays for a few reasons: They would be their first such awards in their 11-year history; and the hardware would ..."

Pena, Longoria missing in action

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October 27

Orange County Register

"The clubhouse guy was writing on the greaseboard, giving the Tampa Bay Rays the schedule for the postgame buses that would take them back to their rooms and shield them from home runs and umpires and Phillies. The He also wrote: "Recommended Attire Tomorrow: Express Yourself." That could be Manager Joe Maddon's final stab at giving his Rays a comfort zone in 2008. He has let them wear designer T-shirts on the road, he has joined them in Mohawk haircuts. Now, heading into a World Series Game 5 that could throw this ebullient ride into a bridge abutment, Maddon wants them to be themselves. He hopes it doesn't mean that Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria, the Rays' 3-4 hitters, will show up ..."

Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena come up short for Tampa Bay Rays

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October 27

New York Daily News

"Carlos Pena led the Rays with 31 homers and 102 RBI during the regular season, despite missing 20 games with a broken left index finger. Evan Longoria represented Tampa Bay in the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium and is the favorite for AL Rookie of the Year honors after belting 27 homers in 448 at-bats. Now the Nos. 3 and 4 hitters for the Rays are a combined 0-for-29 with 15 strikeouts in the World Series. And with Sunday night's 10-2 loss to the Phillies in Game 4, they're facing elimination Monday when Scott Kazmir opposes Philadelphia ace Cole Hamels. Pena went 0-for-3 with a walk Sunday night and Longoria was hitless in four at-bats, with three strikeouts. Still, the Rays are ..."

At 23, Carrying Himself and the Rays Very Well

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October 22

New York Times

"Evan Longoria approached Don Zimmer at Tropicana Field on Tuesday, put his hand on Zimmer's shoulder and asked for some wisdom. With the Tampa Bay Rays one day away from playing in their first World Series, Longoria, their cool third baseman, wanted Zimmer, the team's special adviser, to impart some advice culled from his 60 years in professional baseball. Zimmer knew that Longiria's request was actually a bit of trap. He knew Longoria was already prepared for the next and the greatest challenge of his rookie season. So Zimmer treated the request playfully. He used spicy language in ordering Longoria to simply go play third. It worked. Longoria laughed and dashed to his position. As ..."

Rays have gotten used to Longoria's heroics

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October 3

Chicago Sun-Times

"Perhaps more impressive than rookie Evan Longoria's postseason debut Thursday in Tampa Bay's 6-4 victory over the White Sox -- two home runs, three run-scoring hits in all and a walk -- was the reaction to his performance in the home clubhouse afterward. No one was stunned by the third baseman's stunning display. ''Honestly, I wasn't surprised,'' manager Joe Maddon said. ''He's always in the moment. He's always got that way about him. He's not going to be overwhelmed by the situation, and that speaks beyond his skill level.'' ''He's been doing that all year,'' outfielder Carl Crawford said, ''so I didn't expect anything else.'' ''Amazing,'' former Cub Cliff Floyd gushed. ''It's not that ..."

Longoria activated, likely won't start for a few days

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September 7

St. Petersburg Times

"3B Evan Longoria rejoined the active roster for Saturday's game but is targeting Friday for his more important return to the lineup. Longoria may be used for late-inning defense or pinch-running for the next few days as he continues his recovery from his fractured right wrist. "I've been wanting to be activated the last five days just to be in there and prepare myself mentally," Longoria said. "I don't think it has any bearing on the time frame. I think we're still going to probably shoot for the first game in New York." Longoria, out since being hit by a pitch Aug. 7, crossed a significant threshold Saturday when he swung a regular bat with "just very, very minimal pain," but he has ..."

Longoria to DL with wrist fracture

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August 12

Tampa Tribune

"The Rays have placed Evan Longoria on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured right wrist and recalled outfielder Justin Ruggiano from Durham. Longoria was hit by a pitch Thursday night in Seattle and did not play in the final three games of the Mariners series. Longoria and the Rays said at the time that X-rays taken following the game showed no fracture. In fact, Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said today, the interpretation was that Longoria had been playing with an old fracture and there was no new damage. Longoria said as recently as Sunday afternoon that he was feeling better and hoped to play in Tuesday's game at Oakland. Instead, he returned to Tampa on a red-eye ..."

First Crawford, Now Longoria

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August 12

Tampa Tribune

"The Rays didn't play a game Monday, but they may have suffered their biggest setback of the season. A second look at third baseman Evan Longoria's sore right wrist revealed a non-displaced fracture that was mistaken for an old injury in the initial X-rays taken after he was hit by a pitch Thursday night. Rather than returning to the lineup tonight in Oakland as he had predicted Sunday, Longoria was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 8. He likely will miss about three weeks, according to Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman. Making matters worse, the Rays could determine by today that Carl Crawford needs to undergo surgery to repair the tendon problem in his ..."

Broken wrist lands Rays HR leader Longoria on DL

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August 12

ESPN.com

"The Tampa Bay Rays placed rookie All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria on the 15-day disabled list Monday because of a right wrist fracture, the second major blow to the team's surprising first-place run in as many days. Two-time All-Star and four-time AL stolen base champion Carl Crawford went on the DL with a right hand injury on Sunday, meaning the Rays face the challenge of staying on top of the division for at least two weeks without two of their best offensive and defensive players. "Obviously it's a tough situation, but this team has shown great perseverance all year and I expect it will continue," vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said during a conference call. ..."

Rays rookie Longoria slams Jays

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July 20

Toronto Star

"The Blue Jays and a packed house at Tropicana Field went down memory lane last night during a post-game concert by MC Hammer, who belted out the two hits he was most famous for in the 1990s. For the Blue Jays, those two hits were exactly the same number they managed through eight innings against the Tampa Bay Rays. Hammer at least had the joint jumping to his pair of old school hip-hop numbers. The Jays were merely boring, and there was little doubt they were going down to defeat, this time in a 6-4 setback to the Rays. The biggest damage came on a grand slam by Tampa rookie Evan Longoria during a five-run sixth."

Longoria's first slam lifts Rays over Jays

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July 20

St. Petersburg Times

"Manager Joe Maddon said you have to "take what you can get" when facing Jays All-Star ace Roy Halladay. But even Maddon had to marvel at how the Rays' five-run sixth-inning rally Saturday night was sparked. Rookie Evan Longoria may have delivered the biggest blast in the Rays' 6-4 victory — his first grand slam — but the crux of chasing Halladay from the game came due to three interesting infield hits."