Tampa Bay Rays 3B Evan Longoria to grace cover of Major League Baseball 2K10 video game

Tampa Bay Rays All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria is already one of the faces of their franchise, and one of the brightest young stars in Major League Baseball.

Now, Longoria will have a different honor, as he will be the face (the cover athlete and spokesman) for a video game, Major League Baseball 2K10.  Online voting is now open at www.2Ksports.com/vote, and fans can select from a gallery of different cover art designs featuring Longoria and help determine which one will adorn the cover of the game.

“It’s been a milestone year for me, from winning a Gold Glove and the Silver Slugger Award, to now being selected as the cover athlete for Major League Baseball 2K10 – this has been a truly humbling experience,” Longoria said in a statement. “Since 2K Sports is letting fans decide on the final box cover art, I’m going to have to rally my Rays teammates to ensure that my favorite takes the lead.”

Longoria, 24, already has two All-Star appearances, a Gold Glove Award and a Silver Slugger Award in two big league seasons.

“When it comes to selecting cover athletes for our games, we look for players who are more than just a fancy resume,” said Greg Thomas, senior vice president of sports development for 2K. “With Evan, he is one of the most fun and exciting players in the game, which helps complement the vibe we are striving for with Major League Baseball 2K10.”

About the Author

Thomas Gemkow is the editor-in-chief of TampaBayRaysFan.com. Founded in January of 2009, TampaBayRaysFan.com is a compilation of all the best of the Rays, from across the web. The website can be followed on Twitter@TampaBayRaysFan Gemkow is also the official Tampa Bay Buccaneers Correspondent for WhatTheBucs.com, a blog that is part of the FanBall.com sports blogosphere. Currently residing in Lake County, Thomas has been a local sports correspondent the St. Pete Times, Citrus County Chronicle, Ocala Star Banner & was honored by the FCCPA in 2003 for his sports and feature writing ability. You can check out his archived work at his personal blog site, ThomasGemkow.com or follow his updates on Twitter @ThomasGemkow