Elvis Andrus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elvis Andrus |
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Andrus with the Texas Rangers in 2016
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| Shortstop | |||
| Born: August 26, 1988 Maracay, Venezuela |
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| debut | |||
| April 6, 2009, for the Texas Rangers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 1, 2023, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .269 | ||
| Hits | 2,091 | ||
| Home runs | 102 | ||
| Runs batted in | 775 | ||
| Stolen bases | 347 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Elvis Augusto Andrus Torres (born August 26, 1988) is a Venezuelan-American former professional baseball player. He was a shortstop, a key defensive position. Elvis played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, and Chicago White Sox. He was chosen for the All-Star team twice.
Elvis was born in Maracay, Venezuela. He signed with the Atlanta Braves at age 16 in 2005. By 2007, he was a top young player in the Braves' system. Later that year, he was traded to the Texas Rangers. Elvis made his MLB debut in 2009 as the Rangers' starting shortstop. He was only 20 years old at the time. After his first season, he finished second in the American League for the Rookie of the Year award.
Elvis became an All-Star in 2010 and again in 2012. He played alongside third baseman Adrián Beltré for eight years. They were known for their friendship and Elvis's fun practical jokes. After 12 seasons with the Rangers, Elvis was traded to the Oakland Athletics in 2021. He later played for the Chicago White Sox. In 2023, he reached two big milestones: his 2,000th career hit and his 2,000th game played.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Elvis Andrus was born in Maracay, Venezuela. His parents were Emilio and Elvia Andrus. His father, Emilio, was a university professor who passed away when Elvis was seven. Elvis has two older brothers, Erold and Erikson. Some families in Venezuela name their children after famous people. Elvis isn't sure if he was named after Elvis Presley. He said his mother never told him why he got the name.
Starting His Professional Journey
Minor League Baseball Career
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At 16, Elvis signed with the Atlanta Braves. He received a $600,000 bonus. He started playing in the Gulf Coast League in 2005. In 2006, he played for Class-A Rome and was named an All-Star.
In 2007, Elvis joined the Class A Myrtle Beach Pelicans. He was chosen for the All-Star Futures Game in both 2007 and 2008. This game showcases the best young players in minor league baseball.
In July 2007, Elvis and several other minor league players were traded. They went from the Braves to the Rangers. This trade was for star player Mark Teixeira.
Playing in the Major Leagues
Texas Rangers Years (2009–2020)
Becoming a Starter in 2009
In 2009, the Rangers' shortstop, Michael Young, moved to third base. This opened up the starting shortstop job for Elvis. He was the second-youngest player in the American League at just 20 years old. On May 20, Elvis and second baseman Ian Kinsler made a rare triple play. This is when three players are out on one play. Elvis stole his 20th base on July 28, 2009. He was only the tenth player in MLB history to steal 20 bases before turning 21. Elvis finished 2009 with a .267 batting average, 6 home runs, and 33 stolen bases. He was second in the Rookie of the Year voting.
All-Star Seasons (2010-2012)
Elvis was selected for the 2010 American League All-Star team. He batted .265 that year. He led the AL in sacrifice hits (17). In the World Series, the Rangers lost to the San Francisco Giants.
In 2011, Elvis batted .279 with 5 home runs. He was among the league leaders in stolen bases (37). He also led all AL shortstops in errors with 25. The Rangers reached the World Series again but lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Elvis earned his second All-Star selection in 2012. He batted .286 and again led the AL in sacrifice hits (17).
Long-Term Contract and Milestones (2013-2017)
On April 1, 2013, Elvis signed a big eight-year contract extension with the Rangers. He finished the year batting .271 with 91 runs scored. He had a career-high 42 stolen bases, which was third best in the AL.
In 2014, Elvis started the season with an 11-game hitting streak. He also became the Rangers' all-time leader in stolen bases. He passed his former teammate Ian Kinsler's record of 172 steals.
In 2015, Elvis had a .258 batting average. He hit a career-best seven home runs and stole 25 bases. He led all major league shortstops with 516 assists.
His offense improved in 2016, with a .302 batting average, eight home runs, and 69 RBIs.
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In 2017, Elvis had his best offensive season. He batted .297 with 20 home runs, 88 RBIs, and 25 steals. He led the major leagues in fielding assists with 490.
Later Rangers Years (2018-2020)
In April 2018, Elvis was hit by a pitch and fractured his right elbow. This was the first time he was on the injured list in his MLB career. He returned in June. He finished 2018 batting .256 with 6 home runs and 33 RBIs.
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In 2019, Elvis batted .275 with 12 home runs, 72 RBIs, and 31 stolen bases. He tied for the AL lead with 10 sacrifice flies.
In 2020, a shorter season due to world events, Elvis batted .194. His fielding percentage was his lowest since 2011.
Elvis left the Rangers as the team's career leader with 305 stolen bases. He is also second in games played, at-bats, and triples for the franchise.
Oakland Athletics (2021–2022)
In February 2021, Elvis was traded to the Oakland Athletics. In his first year in Oakland, he batted .243 with 3 home runs and 37 RBIs. He was released by the Athletics in August 2022.
Chicago White Sox (2022–2023)
The Chicago White Sox signed Elvis in August 2022. He played better with the White Sox than he had earlier that season.
In February 2023, Elvis re-signed with the White Sox for one year. On April 5, he recorded his 2,000th career hit. This was a big milestone for him. For the first time in his career, he played most of his games at second baseman instead of shortstop. He became a free agent after the 2023 season.
Life After Playing Baseball
In March 2024, Elvis signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was released later that month after not making the main team.
Elvis officially announced his retirement from MLB on September 4, 2024. Two days later, he signed a special one-day contract with the Texas Rangers. This allowed him to officially retire as a member of the team where he spent most of his career.
Elvis was a coach for the American League in the 2024 All-Star Futures Game.
Beyond the Field: Personal Life
Elvis is a Christian. In 2012, he donated money to OurCalling, a charity that helps homeless people.
His older brother, Erold Andrus, also played baseball in the minor leagues. In 2011, they played in a Rangers spring training game together. This was their first time playing in a game together in the United States.
Elvis married Cori Febles in June 2017. Their first child, a son named Elvis Emilio, was born in July 2017. They had a larger wedding celebration in the Dominican Republic later that year. Their second child, a daughter named Lucia Alessandra, was born in November 2018. In 2019, Elvis started using "Baby Shark" as his walk-up song. He said it reminded him of his children.
On July 26, 2019, Elvis became a naturalized U.S. citizen.
In 2023, Elvis invested in Baseball United. This is a new baseball league planned for the Middle East and South Asia.
See also
In Spanish: Elvis Andrus para niños
- List of Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
