Evan Longoria was the third selection in the first round in the 2006 MLB Draft for Tampa Bay out of Long Beach State. On April 12, 2008 he made his major league debut getting his first hit and first RBI. Longoria made his first A.L. All-Star team that same year and contributed a game tying double. Evan has gone on to make the All-Star team his first three years in the majors. He finished his 2008 season by being named the A.L. Rookie of the Year. In 2009 he won the American League Silver Slugger award for Third Base and has earned Gold Glove awards in both 2009 and 2010. A mainstay in the middle of the MLB Rays order, Longoria has driven in over 100 runs in his last two seasons. He provides a nice balance of power plus defense and even contributes on the base paths adding 15 steals in 2010. Evan is no stranger to coming through in the clutch. In the Rays first ever playoff game Longoria homered in his first two at bats setting the tone for the Rays defeat of the White Sox.
Troy Tulowitzki was the seventh selection in the 2005 MLB Draft for the Colorado Rockies. Like Longoria, Tulowitzki was drafted after attending Long Beach State. Troy was a late season call up in 2006 for the Rockies, hitting his first major league home run off of Woody Williams on September 4, 2006. In 2007 Tulowitzki became the Rockies full time Shortstop. Over 155 games Troy hit 24 homers to go with 99 runs batted in. On April 29, 2007 Tulowitzki turned the 13th unassisted triple play in major league history against the Atlanta Braves. An unassisted triple play might be a fluke but there is no fluke in regards to "Tulo's" fielding prowess. In 2010 Troy earned the Gold Glove Award for National League Shortstops and capped the season by adding a Silver Slugger award. Very similar to Longoria, Tulowitzki is a combination of power, defense as well as a speed threat.
No comments:
Post a Comment