Longoria’s star is rising on and off the diamond
Article By smcneal.tsn on 7th April, 2010
Evan Longoria could soon be baseball's No. 1 pitchman.
Evan Longoria won't turn 25 until October, but he already has exceeded all expectations for someone who went undrafted out of a Los Angeles high school in 2003.
• He became an All-American at Long Beach State after spending a year at junior college, and ended up as the third pick in the 2006 draft. He soared through the minors, reached the majors early in 2008 and has established himself as one of the game's top players.
• He was a unanimous winner of the 2008 AL Rookie of the Year award, has made two All-Star teams, won a Gold Glove and set a rookie record for homers in a postseason (six).
• He averaged 30 homers and 99 RBIs in his first two seasons and started his third season Tuesday night by slamming a monster home run — a 473-foot shot that was the third longest in Tropicana Field history — in his third at-bat.
So what's next?
Becoming a commercial star, of course.
Even if you don't see the Rays on national TV much in the coming months, prepare to see a lot of Longoria. He is starring in two ads -- one for New Era caps and on for the MLB 2K10 video game (he is the cover boy) -- and has a role in a Pepsi spot. All figure to be played often during baseball broadcasts.
Longoria is reminiscent of Derek Jeter, baseball's foremost pitchman. He has the All-American looks and although obviously confident, he comes across as humble and as guarded as he can be in interviews. Still, you can sense his personality.
He shows this in his role in the New Era commercial in which he plays a James Bond-like character who zooms around Tampa Bay seeking the culprit whom he believes has snatched his cap. While Longoria is not new to the camera, this was the rare instance when he wasn't wearing his No. 3 jersey. In jeans and T-shirt, he felt the difference.
"When I wear...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
• He became an All-American at Long Beach State after spending a year at junior college, and ended up as the third pick in the 2006 draft. He soared through the minors, reached the majors early in 2008 and has established himself as one of the game's top players.
• He was a unanimous winner of the 2008 AL Rookie of the Year award, has made two All-Star teams, won a Gold Glove and set a rookie record for homers in a postseason (six).
• He averaged 30 homers and 99 RBIs in his first two seasons and started his third season Tuesday night by slamming a monster home run — a 473-foot shot that was the third longest in Tropicana Field history — in his third at-bat.
So what's next?
Becoming a commercial star, of course.
Even if you don't see the Rays on national TV much in the coming months, prepare to see a lot of Longoria. He is starring in two ads -- one for New Era caps and on for the MLB 2K10 video game (he is the cover boy) -- and has a role in a Pepsi spot. All figure to be played often during baseball broadcasts.
Longoria is reminiscent of Derek Jeter, baseball's foremost pitchman. He has the All-American looks and although obviously confident, he comes across as humble and as guarded as he can be in interviews. Still, you can sense his personality.
He shows this in his role in the New Era commercial in which he plays a James Bond-like character who zooms around Tampa Bay seeking the culprit whom he believes has snatched his cap. While Longoria is not new to the camera, this was the rare instance when he wasn't wearing his No. 3 jersey. In jeans and T-shirt, he felt the difference.
"When I wear...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
Readers Comments
Related News
Featured Sponsors
Interested in getting MLB Tickets for this coming season? The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division. Get your New York Yankees Tickets today!
The Baltimore Orioles Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1992, the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
New York Mets Tickets: The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Get your Minnesota Twins Tickets today!
The Toronto Blue Jays Tickets are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners Tickets are looking to be a good team this year.
Detroit Tigers Tickets: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises.
The Philadelphia Phillies Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. One of the biggest games of the season are the Phillies Red Sox Tickets. Another long time rival in the same state is Phillies Pirates Tickets.
The Chicago White Sox Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division.
The Atlanta Braves Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. Get your Texas Rangers Tickets today!
San Diego Padres Tickets: The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California.
Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
The Florida Marlins were established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins Tickets are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Indians Tickets are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League.
The Baltimore Orioles Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1992, the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
New York Mets Tickets: The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Get your Minnesota Twins Tickets today!
The Toronto Blue Jays Tickets are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners Tickets are looking to be a good team this year.
Detroit Tigers Tickets: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises.
The Philadelphia Phillies Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. One of the biggest games of the season are the Phillies Red Sox Tickets. Another long time rival in the same state is Phillies Pirates Tickets.
The Chicago White Sox Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division.
The Atlanta Braves Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. Get your Texas Rangers Tickets today!
San Diego Padres Tickets: The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California.
Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
The Florida Marlins were established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins Tickets are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Indians Tickets are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League.
