Long Beach State University Athletics
EVAN LONGORIA PLEDGES $100,000 TO BLAIR FIELD RENOVATIONS
1/25/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
LONG BEACH, Calif. - As the renovation project continues at Blair Field, so does the generous support from former Dirtbags. Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria joins the list of former players who have given back to Long Beach State, contributing $100,000 to the renovation efforts at Blair Field.
"I'm thrilled to be able to give back to Long Beach State and the ongoing renovations at Blair Field," Longoria said. "As someone who grew up in the Long Beach area, I know what Blair Field means to the local baseball community, and I have many great memories there from my time as a Dirtbag. I'm excited to help restore Blair Field as one of the premier amateur ballparks on the West Coast, and I look forward to a bright future for Dirtbags Baseball."
Longoria, a native of nearby Downey, Calif., played at Long Beach State from 2005-06 under Mike Weathers, with current Dirtbags head coach Troy Buckley serving as an assistant coach during those years.
"On behalf of the Dirtbag community, the program, and this university, we are very grateful for Evan's gift to the Blair Field renovations," said Buckley. "I appreciate the connection that he constantly keeps with the program and thank him for all of his generosity."
Longoria was a .336 career hitter in his two seasons at the Beach, collecting 16 home runs and 73 RBIs in 114 games played. The third baseman was named co-Big West Player of the Year in 2006, earned All-American recognition from Baseball America and was a finalist for the prestigious Golden Spikes Award. He then became Long Beach State's highest draft pick ever in the 2006 MLB Draft, going No. 3 overall to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
The 31-year-old Longoria was named the American League Rookie of the Year in 2008, and has been selected to three All-Star Games in his career. He just completed his ninth season in the big leagues (all in Tampa Bay) and hit a career-best 36 home runs in 2016. Longoria has played at least 160 games in each of the last four seasons, and has finished in the Top 20 of MVP voting six times.
The Blair Field renovations reached a major milestone this week with the completion of the Troy & Danyll Tulowitzki Batting Facility, which will be available for fans to tour during the Dirtbags Fan Fest on Saturday, Jan. 28. Tickets for the event are on sale now, starting at just $20 per person. The improvements to Blair Field also include the Jered Weaver Bullpen and an updated Dirtbags locker room, which will both be on display during the fan fest as well.
Long Beach State opens the 2017 season with a home series vs. Oklahoma, Feb. 17-19.
