Evan Longoria is Baseball Jesus

Even so, Longoria knows that the Rays will need not just fearlessness but consistent production out of his cleanup spot if they are to dethrone the Red Sox, against whom he hit .245 with one homer in 49 regular-season at-bats, in the ALCS. “When I get the ones I need to hit, I gotta hit ‘em,” he said in the victorious visitors’ clubhouse at Chicago’s U.S. Cellular field on Monday night, as the rest of the Rays bathed each other in champagne. “I need to make the plays on defense and do everything right to help the club win.”

His teammates have little doubt that he will do just that. “I’ve seen some pretty darn good rookies, but I’ve never seen anybody of his caliber,” says 39-year-old reliever Troy Percival. “It doesn’t matter what the situation is, it doesn’t look like he has a heartbeat.”

“I laugh when I think about what this city’s going to see for nine years,” says veteran outfielder Cliff Floyd, in reference to the six-year, $17.5 million contract extension (with three additional club option years) that Longoria signed in April. “I can’t say enough about him without feeling like I’m his dad.”

Then there’s the view of Upton, who, as he walked by the throng of reporters that surrounded Longoria’s locker after his Game 1 heroics, said to no one in particular, “This kid is Jesus in cleats.”

Is Evan Longoria the son of the Baseball Gods? Discuss.