Elvis Andrus #1

Andrus is coming off his most productive season at the plate, as he set career highs in home runs, RBI, hits, OPS, and slugging last year in his ninth major league campaign…has the longest tenure of any active Ranger at the major league level, and also joins Martin Perez as the only players in the organization since 2007…since making his major league debut on Opening Day 2009, has appeared in 1421 of the club's 1501 games (regular and postseason), second-most of any MLB player in that span…produced 1416 hits before his 29th birthday on 8/26/17, second-most in Rangers history to only Hall of Famer Pudge Rogriguez (1459)…joins Vada Pinson (1959-67) and Andruw Jones (1997-2005) as only players in modern history with 9 different seasons of 145-or-more games before their age-29 season, and only active player with more total regular season games in their career to that point than Andrus (1379) was teammate Adrian Beltre (1427)…the two-time All-Star (2010 and 2012) is the Rangers' all-time leader in stolen bases (266), games at shortstop (1356), bunt hits (49), and infield hits (211), ranks second in sacrifice hits (100), and is third in triples (41)…his nine seasons of 20+ steals are a club record, and he is the only MLB player to do it each year since 2009…leads all major league shortstops in putouts (2152) and total chances (6103) from 2009-17, also leading in games, starts, innings, assists, and double plays at the position in that span…signed an 8-year contract extension through 2022 with a vesting option for 2023 on April 4, 2013.

Started 158 of 162 games // 157 at SS, 1 as DH…made starts in every spot in the batting order, just the 4th player in Rangers history to accomplish that feat (others // Billy Sample in 1983; Mike Hargrove and Ken Henderson in 1977)…his 2017 included first 4 starts ever in cleanup slot // 4/23 vs. KC, 5/4 at HOU, 5/5-6 at SEA…became just the 15th player in ML history (since 1933) to have 100+ H, 20+ 2B, 20+ SB, and 50+ RBI before the All-Star break in a season, and just the 4th on the list to not be selected for that year's ASG (others LAA's Devon White in 1987, CIN's Bobby Tolan in 1972, and CIN's Vada Pinson in 1963)…Andrus was part of the A.L. ASG Final Vote last season, which was won by KC's Mike Moustakas.

Established career highs in the slash categories with a .302 average, .362 OBP, .439 SLG, and .800 OPS in 2016…also had career highs in home runs (8), RBI (69), and extra-base hits (46), all while posting his fewest strikeouts (70) in any season…the team-high .302 avg. was 10th in the A.L., his 1st career .300 season, 2nd highest among ML SS (LAD's Corey Seager-.309)…his .800 OPS ranked 2nd among Rangers (Beltre-.879) and 3rd among A.L. shortstops to only HOU's Carlos Correa (.804) and BOS' Xander Bogaerts (.802)…had 222 total bases, 2nd-highest total of his career (238 in 2012)…according to STATS LLC, Andrus' line drive percentage of 26.2% was the highest of his career, highest among qualifying Rangers, and 13th-best in the A.L…ranked among A.L. leaders in triples (T3rd, 7), sac flies (T5th, 7), stolen bases (T7th, 24), average vs. LHP (1st, .348), average with RISP (1st, .378), and plate appearances per strikeout (10th, 8.1)…twice won Rangers Player of the Month honors (April and Sept./Oct.), 1st such selections in his career.

POSTSEASON

Has started each of Rangers' 42 playoff games since 2010 at shortstop, T2nd-most games for any A.L. player in that span (52-Mike Napoli, 42-Josh Hamilton)… is Texas' all-time postseason leader in hits (46), steals (9), games, multi-hit games (14), and at-bats (173), and ranks 2nd in runs (21) to Nelson Cruz (26)…had team-high 4 hits in 2016 ALDS loss vs. TOR, hits in all 3 games, and has an active 10- game postseason hit streak in Arlington (.390, 16-41)…hit lone postseason HR in 2016 ALDS G3 at TOR, the only such HR ever by a Texas SS, which had been the only position (outside of pitcher) without a playoff HR for the Rangers…had hits in 3 of 5 games in 2015 ALDS…went 2-for-4 in club's loss to BAL in 2012 A.L. Wild Card Game…in 2011, batted .235 (16-68) in the 17 playoff games, hitting safely in 11 of those…was 2-for- 14 in ALDS vs. TB, a pair of singles in Game 3…batted .240 (6-25) in the 6-game ALCS vs. DET with lone stolen base of postseason coming in Game 6…had a .276 (8-29) average in the World Series against STL, hitting safely in Games 2-6… scored the winning run in top of 9th of Game 2…was team leader in at-bats (68), hits (20), and steals (8) in 2010 playoffs, as 8 SB remain T5th-most ever in a single postseason…had a .294 overall average with 4 RBI…hit safely in each of 1st 12 playoff games (5-ALDS; 6-ALCS; 1 WS) at .333 (18-54), tying 3rd-longest hit streak to begin postseason career in baseball history…matched Nelson Cruz for most hits in the ALDS (8), youngest player to lead or tie a playoff series in hits since Mets' Gregg Jeffries had 9 at age 21 in 1988 NLCS vs. the Dodgers…had steal of home on double steal in the 1st inning of ALCS Game 2 vs. NYY, the 1st steal of home in a playoff game since ANA's Brad Fullmer in Game 2 of 2002 WS vs. SF.

After a slow start to the year, Andrus rebounded and was a key part of the offense in the Rangers' surge to the postseason…for the year, batted .258 (154-596), setting career highs with 7 HR and 160 games, adding a team-high 34 doubles along with 62 RBI…compiled his highest OPS (.667) since his All-Star season in 2012 (career-high .727) and posted 2nd-most total bases (213) in his career (238 in 2012)…career lows in average, on-base pct. (.309), and pitches per PA (3.69)…had a team-high 159 starts, appearing in all but 2 games for Texas.

In his 6th ML season, led Rangers in games (157), plate appearances (685), at-bats (619, 8th in A.L.), singles (tied-125), doubles (career-high 35, T10th in A.L.), sac flies (7), and sac hits (9, T4th in A.L.)...joined Michael Young (2005-06-07-08) as only Texas shortstops with at least 35 doubles in a season...ranked 2nd on team in runs (72), hits (163), and total bases (206), finished 3rd in walks (46) and extra-base hits (38), and was 4th in RBI (41)...the 72 runs tied a career low (also 2009)...team-high 21 GIDP's, T3rd in A.L. and T9th-most in a season in club history...his 38 extra-base hits were 2nd-most of his career (43 in 2012), but had career-low one triple after 3+ triples in each of his first 5 seasons...his .263 avg. and .314 OBP in 2014 were both career lows...started 152 games at short and 4 at DH.

Led the A.L. in singles (143) and sacrifice bunts (16) and tied for 3rd in steals (42)…topped the Rangers in runs (91), walks (52), and stolen bases, was 2nd in games (156), at bats (620), and hits (168), ranked 3rd among qualifiers in on-base percentage (.328), and was 4th in batting (.271)…set career highs for RBI (67), steals, sac flies (6), and strikeouts (97)… was the only ML player with at least 90 runs, 60 RBI, and 40 steals… started 145 games at short and 10 as the DH…played for Venezuela in World Baseball Classic, going 2-for-7 with 2 RBI and 2 stolen bases in 2 games.

BATTING: Had a .331 average (45-136) over 1st 38 games through May 18, his highest figure all year after season's 1st 10 games...hit .213 (26-122) in next 28 games from May 19-June 20, dropping to .275...hit safely in final 8 games in June at .455 (15- 33) to rise from .275 to .296...beginning July 1, hit .236 (70-297) over final 74 games...became just the 3rd Ranger with 3 hit streaks of at least 13 games (14 games, April 28-May 14 and Aug. 8-24; 13 games, May 23-June 8), joining Ruben Sierra (3 in 1991) and Michael Young (3 in 2008) ...only other players with multiple hit streaks of 13+ games in 2010 were Ichiro Suzuki, Miguel Cabrera, Mark Ellis, Matt Holliday, and Corey Hart (all 2 each) with Orlando Cabrera in 2009 with Oakland and Minnesota the last with 3 such streaks in one year...matched career high with a pair of 4- hit games, May 13 vs. Oakland and July 30 at Los Angeles (AL)... had 3 hits on July 18 at Boston to snap 0-for-26 drought.

ALL-STAR: Selected to 1st All-Star team via player voting, finishing 2nd to the fan-elected Derek Jeter...at 21 years, 10 months was Texas' 2nd youngest All-Star ever behind Ivan Rodriguez (20 years, 8 mos.) in 1992...pinch-ran for Jeter at 1st base in the 6th inning of July 13 game in Anaheim and was caught stealing by Brian McCann on a strikeout by Paul Konerko, the next batter...grounded out against Brian Wilson in 8th inning in A.L.'s 3-1 defeat.

POSTSEASON: Started all 16 playoff games at shortstop, hitting .294...at 22 years, 44 days on day of Game 1 of ALDS, was the youngest Ranger to ever appear in a playoff game...was team's postseason leader in at bats (68), hits (20), and steals (8) and ranked 3rd in average and runs (8)...tied for 5th most steals ever in a single postseason...hit safely in each of 1st 12 playoff games (5-ALDS; 6-ALCS; 1 WS) at .333 (18-54) before going 2-14 in final 4 games of the fall classic...matched 3rd longest hit streak to begin postseason career in history...fielded .957 (3 E/69 TC). Was 8-for-24 (.333) in the ALDS against Tampa Bay with 2 hits each in Games 2, 4, and 5...matched Nelson Cruz for most hits in the series, youngest player to lead or tie a playoff series in hits since Mets' Gregg Jeffries had 9 at age 21 in 1988 NLCS vs. the Dodgers...after 1st inning leadoff single and stolen base scored all the way from 2nd on Josh Hamilton groundout for Texas' 1st run in 5th and deciding game...also hit .333 (9-27) with 4 steals in ALCS versus New York...had a pair of hits and 2 SB in Game 2, including steal of home on double steal in 1st inning...was 1st steal of home in a playoff game since Anaheim's Brad Fullmer in Game 2 of 2002 WS vs. San Francisco...went 3-for-5 in Game 4...was 3-for-17 in World Series vs. the Giants with 2 hits in Game 3.

MISCELLANEOUS: Exited in 3rd inning Sept. 4 at Minnesota with tightness in right hamstring, and missed final 5 games of road trip Sept. 5-9, his 1st time to miss consecutive starts in his big league career (2009-10)...hit a walk-off bases loaded single in the 9th inning on April 23 vs. Detroit on night Rangers were honoring Elvis Presley...at 21 years, 8 months, was youngest Texas player with a walk-off hit since Ivan Rodriguez on May 24, 1992...had 54 runs scored in 1st 74 games through end of June (0.73 R/G), but just 34 runs in final 74 games (0.46 R/G)...went 23 games without an extra-base hit, June 9-July 4, longest streak by a Ranger since Michael Young went 24 games, June 16-July 15, 2007...had 2 extra-base hits (doubles) over final 39 games beginning Aug. 13... did not play winter ball after 2010 season. 2009 In first major league action, ranked among American League leaders in sacrifice bunts (T4th, 12), triples (T5th, 8), stolen bases (6th, 33/9th in majors), and bunt hits (T7th, 6)...led club in triples, steals, sac bunts, bunt hits, and infield hits (19) and ranked among team leaders in hits games (2nd, 145), singles (2nd, 97), hit by pitches (T2nd, 6), hits (4th, 128), runs (4th, 72), times on base (4th, 174), runs created (5th, 63), walks (6th, 40), and total bases (7th, 179)...averaged a GIDP every 120.0 at-bats, the third best ratio among qualifying A.L. players...his 2.46 ground ball/fly ball ratio was fifth best in the majors and 2nd-best in the A.L., trailing only Derek Jeter (2.63) in that category. 2008 The youngest player to appear in the Texas League all season, Andrus batted .295 with 4 home runs, 19 doubles, 82 runs, 65 RBI, and 54 stolen bases in 118 games with Frisco (AA)...rated by Baseball America as league's best defensive shortstop and no. 5 prospect after the season...ranked as one of the top 40 prospects in baseball by both Will Lingo (no. 32) and John Manuel (no. 37) at that publication...also rated as a top baseball prospect by both ESPN.com (no. 39) and MLB.com (no. 21)...had play hampered and missed 16 days after suffering a fractured finger on his right hand in late May, but did not go on the disabled list...his career-high 54 steals led all players in the Rangers organization and ranked 2nd in the league...his .295 average ranked 4th in the Texas League...despite the missed time and appearing in fewer games than 2007, still established career bests in average, runs, hits, and RBI...was starting shortstop for the World Team in the 2008 Futures Game at Yankee Stadium on July 13, going 0-for-1 with a walk, stolen base, and run scored...went 0-for-3 for South Team in Texas League All-Star Game on June 25 in Springfield, Mo., a 7-3 South win in 10 innings...also selected to the Texas League Postseason All-Star team. 2007 Split season with pair of High-A clubs, combining to bat .257 (127-495) with 5 home runs, 22 doubles, and 49 RBI in 126 games for Myrtle Beach in the Carolina League and Bakersfield in the California League...established career highs in games, at-bats, runs (78), hits, total bases (170), walks (54), and stolen bases (40)...he was the youngest player in the Carolina League, 4thyoungest in the Cal League...he was the 8th-youngest player to appear in the top 3 levels of the Minor Leagues in 2007, and more than doubled the number of games played by any other player on that list...Andrus was the youngest player in the Minors to spend the duration of the season at the High-A level or better...over final 31 games combined in the two organizations, batted .315 (40-127) to raise final average from .236 to .257...hit primarily second in batting order the entire season...batted 100 points higher in road games (.301, 83-276) vs. home games (.201, 44-219)...was successful in 22 of his final 25 steal attempts with Myrtle Beach, including a stretch of 16 straight without being caught from May 4-June 12...had 3 steals on June 1 (G1) at Frederick...selected to World Roster for Futures Game on July 8 in San Francisco, going 0-for-2...pinch-hit in 5th and grounded out to short against Luke Hochevar, then struck out swinging against Clayton Kershaw in the 7th and final inning...made his Bakersfield debut on Aug. 1 at Visalia, the day after the trade was finalized, going 0-for-5...went just 4-for-21 (.190) in his first 5 games with the Blaze, but would bat .326 (29- 89) the rest of the way...went 4-for-5 on Aug. 15 at High Desert, posting season highs for hits and runs (4)...had no errors in last 13 games for Blaze...named to Arizona Fall League's Top Prospects Team after batting .353 (18-51) with a .411 on-base pct. for West Division champion Surprise Rafters...hit safely in 12 of 15 games for Surprise despite being youngest player in the league...named 3rd-best prospect in the Carolina League by Baseball America after the season...was rated no. 65 on Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects prior to the season. 2006 Spent entire season at Rome (A), ranking sixth among all Braves minor leaguers with 25 doubles and 23 stolen bases, and seventh with 67 runs scored...was selected to SAL All-Star squad as a utility infielder after hitting .281 with 32 RBI in the first half...played in 2 games for Magallanes of Venezuelan Winter League...was named Atlanta's second-best prospect by Baseball America following the season, fourth-best prospect in the South Atlantic League 2005 Earned MVP honors for the Gulf Coast Braves (Rookie)...led the club in hits (49), on-base pct. (.377), stolen bases (7), runs scored (26) and walks (19)...reached base safely via hit or walk in 35 of 46 contests...was honored by the Braves organization as GCL July Player of the Month when he batted .351 (27-77) with 15 RBI...his overall .293 average was ninthbest among Braves minor leaguers...earned promotion at end of year to Danville (rookie) on Aug. 29 and hit .400 in the Appalachian League championship series....selected as Braves' second-best overall prospect by Baseball America following the season.