The underdog who outgrew his own frame to become an MLB icon
In short: In the early 2000s, scouts dismissed Evan Longoria as too slim for professional baseball. He didn't even receive a college scholarship offer. Yet, through a grueling transformation of physical and mental discipline, he evolved into one of the most decorated third basemen in Tampa Bay Rays history.
Longoria’s path to the majors was defined by early skepticism. Standing at 6 feet 1 inch and weighing only 170 pounds as a teenager, many recruiters felt he lacked the physical stature required for NCAA Division I baseball. The University of Southern California even backed out of recruiting him. This forced Longoria to attend Rio Hondo Community College first, where he played shortstop before earning a scholarship to Long Beach State University.
The transition at Long Beach State was pivotal. Because an established shortstop named Troy Tulowitzki occupied that spot, Longoria moved to third base—a position where he would eventually become a three-time Gold Glove winner. During his tenure there, he underwent a massive physical transformation, gaining weight and muscle to reach 6 feet 2 inches and 210 pounds by the end of his college career.
Despite being labeled 'too slim,' Longoria was selected third overall in the 2006 MLB draft as the "best pure hitter" among college players. Following his 2008 debut, he achieved a historic milestone by securing a unanimous Rookie of the Year Award for the first time since Nomar Garciaparra did so in 1997. His career is marked by high-leverage moments, including a 12th-inning walk-off home run in 2011 that secured the Rays' postseason berth amidst an epic collapse by the Boston Red Sox.
Longoria remains a cornerstone of the Tampa Bay franchise, holding records for games played, doubles, and Wins Above Replacement. His career is also defined by longevity and endurance; he appeared in two World Series with a 15-season gap between them—the longest such span for any position player in MLB history.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Evan Longoria
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