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 former professional baseball shortstop from Venezuela and the United States. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, and Chicago White Sox. He was chosen as an All-Star twice during his career.
Elvis was born in Maracay, Venezuela. He signed with the Atlanta Braves when he was just 16 years old in 2005. By 2007, he was considered one of the top young players in the Braves' system. Later that year, he was traded to the Texas Rangers.
Andrus made his big league debut in 2009 with the Rangers. He was only 20 years old and became their starting shortstop. After his first season, he finished second in the voting for the Rookie of the Year award in the American League. He was selected for the All-Star team in 2010 and again in 2012.
Elvis played alongside third baseman Adrián Beltré for many years with the Rangers. They were known for their friendship and fun pranks. After 12 seasons with the Rangers, Andrus moved to the Oakland Athletics in 2021. He later played for the Chicago White Sox, where he reached important milestones like his 1,000th career run and 2,000th career hit.
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Early Life and Baseball Start
Elvis Andrus was born in Maracay, Venezuela. His father, Emilio Andrus, 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 the singer Elvis Presley. He said his mother never told him, but maybe his dad liked Elvis Presley.
Joining the Atlanta Braves
When he was 16, Elvis signed with the Atlanta Braves and received a $600,000 bonus. He started playing in the minor leagues in 2005. He played for teams like the Orlando Braves and Danville Braves.
In 2006, he played for the Class-A Rome Braves and was named to the South Atlantic League All-Star team. The next year, in 2007, he joined the Class A Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Elvis was chosen to play in the All-Star Futures Game in both 2007 and 2008, which features baseball's top young prospects.
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Playing for the Texas Rangers
On July 31, 2007, Elvis Andrus was traded from the Braves to the Texas Rangers. This trade also included other players like Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Matt Harrison, and Neftalí Feliz. They were traded for Mark Teixeira and Ron Mahay.
Major League Debut
In 2009, the Rangers' shortstop, Michael Young, agreed to move to third base. This opened up the starting shortstop job for Elvis Andrus on Opening Day. At 20 years old, he was the second-youngest player in the American League.
On May 20, Andrus and second baseman Ian Kinsler made a rare triple play. Kinsler caught a line drive, threw to Andrus at second base, who then tagged another runner. Elvis stole his 20th base on July 28, 2009. He was one of only ten players in MLB history to steal 20 bases before turning 21.
Andrus finished his first season hitting .267 with 6 home runs and 33 stolen bases. He finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.
All-Star Seasons
Elvis was named to the 2010 American League All-Star team. That year, he hit .265 and led the AL in sacrifice hits. He was also second in caught stealing and ninth in stolen bases. In the World Series, the Rangers lost to the San Francisco Giants.
In 2011, Andrus hit .279 with 5 home runs. He was third in the AL in sacrifice hits and fifth in stolen bases. The Rangers again won the American League pennant but lost the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals.
In 2012, Andrus earned his second All-Star selection. He hit .286 and again led the AL in sacrifice hits.
Contract Extension and Records
On April 1, 2013, Andrus signed a big eight-year contract extension with the Rangers. He finished the year leading the AL in sacrifice hits again. He also had a career-high 42 stolen bases, which was third-best in the AL.
In 2014, Andrus became the Rangers' all-time leader in stolen bases. He passed his former teammate Ian Kinsler's record of 172 steals.
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In 2016, his hitting improved with a .302 batting average, eight home runs, and 69 RBIs. The next year, 2017, was his best offensive season. He hit .297 with 20 home runs, 88 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases.
On April 11, 2018, Elvis was hit by a pitch on his right arm. X-rays showed he had a fractured elbow. This was the first time he was on the injured list in his MLB career. He returned to play in June.
By the end of his time with the Rangers, Andrus was the franchise's career leader with 305 stolen bases. He is also second in games played, at-bats, singles, and triples for the team.
Later Career
Oakland Athletics
On February 6, 2021, Andrus was traded to the Oakland Athletics. In his first year in Oakland, he hit .243 with 3 home runs and 37 RBIs. On August 17, 2022, the Athletics released him.
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox signed Andrus on August 19, 2022. He played well in his 43 games with the White Sox.
On February 20, 2023, Andrus re-signed with the White Sox for one year. On April 5, he reached a major milestone: his 2,000th career hit. This was a single against Logan Webb of the Giants. In 2023, he played most of his games at second base instead of shortstop for the first time in his career. He became a free agent after the 2023 season.
Retirement
On March 3, 2024, Andrus signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. However, he was released on March 22 after not making the team.
Elvis Andrus officially announced his retirement from MLB on September 4, 2024. Two days later, on September 6, he signed a one-day contract with the Texas Rangers and officially retired as a Ranger.
Coaching Career
Andrus was a coach for the American League in the 2024 All-Star Futures Game.
Personal Life
Elvis Andrus is a Christian. In 2012, he donated money to OurCalling, a Christian charity that helps people experiencing homelessness in Dallas County.
His older brother, Erold Andrus, also played baseball as an outfielder in the minor leagues. In 2011, Elvis and Erold played in a Rangers spring training game together, which was their first time playing in a game together in the United States.
Elvis married Cori Febles on June 1, 2017. Their first child, a son named Elvis Emilio, was born on July 6, 2017. Their second child, a daughter named Lucia Alessandra, was born in November 2018. In 2019, Elvis used "Baby Shark" as his walk-up song because it reminded him of his children.
On July 26, 2019, Elvis Andrus became a naturalized U.S. citizen.
In 2023, Andrus invested in Baseball United, 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
