Rays Blog

With the exception of possibly only Jay Bruce, no rookie will be expected to star more than Evan Longoria.  The Rays former first round pick is apparently ready for the big leagues and will have a chance to win the third base job during spring training.  During his two years in the Rays minor league system (time at A, AA, and AAA) Longoria has shown tremendous power and hit for average to boot.

The Rays have opened up their third base job by shifting Iwamura to second base and giving Longoria the chance to win the job this spring.  You to like the guys chances.  However, you shouldn’t blow the guy away with high expectations.  Last year there were two high profile rookie third basemen.  Alex Gordon of the Kansas City Royals and Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Braun played out of his mind at the plate but played himself off of third base in the process.  Braun will almost certainly spend the rest of his career in left field.  Gordon on the other hand will probably be a third baseman for the next decade.  Gordon had similar expectations with the Royals as Longoria will have the Rays.  Gordon struggled at the plate, especially early in the year, and finished the season with a .247 average.

Will Longoria be more of a Braun or a Gordon in 2008?  Rays fan should be patient with Longoria no matter what.  There will undoubtedly but ups and downs.  Hopefully he can progress as the season moves along.