It is highly likely that three-time All-Star Evan Longoria’s final game was the Game 5 loss to the Texas Rangers in the World Series.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Longoria’s career, unfortunately, began and ended on sour notes. During his Rookie of the Year season in 2008, the Rays ultimately fell to the Phillies in a World Series that went: Phillies, Rays, Phillies, Phillies, Phillies.
Fast forward to 2023, and Longoria fell short again with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The World Series went: Rangers, Diamondbacks, Rangers, Rangers, Rangers.
While it seemed that Longoria might secure a one-year deal with a contending team for one last shot at a World Series ring, he failed to do so. With over half of the season now completed, the former third overall pick of the 2006 draft told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times that he has all but officially retired.
Longoria signed a one-year deal with the Diamondbacks ahead of the 2023 season and played in 74 games at the age of 37. In the postseason, he made some remarkable plays at third base, likely saving multiple runs against the Brewers.
However, a season extending all the way into November can take a toll on a player, especially in their 16th year. Longoria explained, “I waited long enough to know that I was done,” before detailing the physical toll his 16-year playing career had taken during his final seasons. “Being able to go to the World Series and have the experience that I had made it a pretty easy decision for me going into the offseason.”
Longoria admitted that he left the door slightly open this past offseason, still hoping for a World Series win. The two-time Gold Glover said, “If you told me I would hit .080 for the rest of the season but the team would win the World Series, I’d do it. But that’s probably the only thing that would have kept me playing.”
Longoria recorded at least 100 hits in 11 seasons, had 10 seasons with over 20 home runs, and a couple of 100+ RBI seasons early in his career. Since the Rays are a relatively young franchise, he holds the franchise records for games played, offensive WAR, doubles, runs scored, total bases, walks, and many other offensive categories.
After being traded to the Giants in 2018, no other player in Tampa Bay has worn Longoria’s #3 jersey.
