It’s twenty-seven (27) games into the season and while it is too early to pass judgment on players, there are certain ones that are worth at least taking a look at. Tampa Bay Ray Evan Longoria is one of those players.

Longoria made recent news by becoming one of the youngest players in Major League Baseball history to sign a long-term multi-million dollar contract after only six complete games in the bigs. We’ll start with that. The Rays signed Longoria to a six year, $17.5 million contract with options for 2014, 2015 and 2016. The first six years fo the contract cover his arbitrations years, with three more years added by team options. If the team exercises its one-year option for 2014, and then its two-year option for the 2015 and 2016 seasons (provided the contract does not get re-negotiated before then), the deal could ultimately be worth up to $44 million.

So who is this young new stud to enter the baseball scene. Well Longoria went to St. John Bosco Highschool where he was a baseball superstar and a four year letterman. As a senior he became a first team All Siera League selection, yet no Division 1 NCAA school came calling. Longoria was not discouraged and went to Rio Hondo Community College where in his Freshman season he earned first team All-State honors and received a scholarship to Long Beach State. From there is career hit new heights. He hit .320 and received All-Conference recognition. From there he was the MVP of the Cape Cod Summer League with the Chatam A’s and the Co Big-West Player of the Year in his Junior year at Long Beach State.

Longoria was the Rays third overall pick in the 2006 Major League Draft and Baseball America called Longoria the “best pure hitter” among college players in that draft. For that he was rewarded with a $3 million signing bonus.

Longoria had a rapid assent up the Rays minor league ladder. After only eight (8) games in Class A, Longoria was called up to Visalia Oaks. From there he moved to AA and hit .26 with 6 HR and .345 in the post season including a walk-off home run in a game that moved his team into the championship.

In this his first full year in the Majors, Longoria is struggling to find good pitches to hit and his average has dropped to a disappointing level, but his power numbers are coming along with 4 HR and 15 RBI’s. Could he be doing better, absolutely but he has a lot of pressure after signing a big deal. Ken Rosenthal has said that Longoria might be this season’s Ryan Braun and while that might not come true, he is a player that if you can get in your fantasy league could really help your roster for a long time.