Spring Training Report - Evan Longoria

Evan Longoria (property of the Minneapolis Miller) has a different look about him than he did the last time he donned a Devil Rays uniform in St. Petersburg. The Rays had just selected and signed the slugging third baseman from Long Beach State (third overall pick of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft) and brought him to Tropicana Field to show off like a neighbor would a new Mercedes. Longoria then took batting practice and the "slugging" third baseman hardly inspired anyone with his power, or lack thereof.

Longoria smiled when asked to recall the moment. "I was just real nervous, that was my first professional baseball experience," he said. "I was nervous to come out and get to hit with all the big stars you see on TV. I just wanted to hit the ball. But to finally get out and play in the Minor Leagues was a relief."

Longoria, 21, quickly got busy on a whirlwind trip through the lower levels of the Rays' organization. At Class A Hudson Valley, he hit .424 in eight games with four home runs and 11 RBIs. Class A Visalia was his next stop and again he excelled, hitting .327 with eight home runs and 28 RBIs. By the end of the season, Longoria found himself at Double-A Montgomery, where he finally seemed to get challenged, hitting .267 with six home runs and 19 RBIs in 26 games.
"At Double-A, I was kind of blown away," Longoria said. "From what I hear, that is the hardest jump -- from A ball to Double-A, because a lot of those guys are almost ready for the big leagues. They can make that jump. It was a shock. Because you go from high A, where you see one or two really good starters a week, but in Double-A it was every day, someone throwing 92. It was a little bit different."

Other than reaching the end of his rope by the end of the season, Longoria found professional baseball to his liking. "I really liked playing every day, as opposed to practice [in college]," Longoria said. "I think it's easier to play. Games are more fun. That wasn't too much of a shock to me. That was something I was looking forward to. "A lot of travel, living out of a suitcase and jumping on planes and buses. It was different. You go through so many stages, but it was fun at the same time. I got to meet a bunch of guys in the organization."

Longoria has embraced being in his first Major League camp this spring.