Elvis Andrus on Monday returned to the city he called home for 12 years, as the Athletics began a four-game series against the Rangers in Arlington, Texas.
Nearly three months into the 2021 MLB season, Monday's game was the first between the A's and Rangers since the two teams pulled off a trade in the offseason that sent Andrus to Oakland for designated hitter Khris Davis.
Andrus was a fan favorite in Texas and helped the Rangers reach back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011. So you just knew that his first at-bat Monday would be an emotional one.
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When the 32-year-old stepped to the plate in the top of the second inning, Rangers fans gave him a standing ovation that lasted over 30 seconds.
Andrus took in the moment, looking up to the stands and then taking off his helmet and tipping it to the fans clapping for him.
"Not a surprise that he got the type of reception that he did," manager Bob Melvin told reporters after the A's 8-3 loss to the Rangers. "Monday night, good crowd, probably had a lot to do with Elvis coming back to town and playing. So I think we all got a little choked up too. He's meant so much to this city and this team and he's been with them so long, you kind of have to step back and realize how much he's meant here. So, great reception and it wouldn't surprise me if was a little bit emotional, and he probably should have been."
Oakland Athletics
In his first at-bat in front of Rangers fans will wearing green and gold, Andrus grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning.
In 12 seasons with the Rangers, Andrus slashed .274/.330/.372 with 303 doubles, 76 homers and 636 RBI. He was selected to two AL All-Star teams and ranks ninth all-time in franchise history with 29.8 WAR, according to Baseball-Reference.
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Andrus still is trying to find his footing with the A's and has started to see an uptick in his numbers recently. Overall, Andrus entered Monday's game hitting .224 with 14 doubles and 14 RBI. He has yet to homer this season.
As for Davis, he was designated for assignment by the Rangers and released early in June.