Elvis Andrus hasn't lived up to his billing as a long-term, $100-million man after the Texas Rangers gave him a long-term contract extension after one game in 2013, and back then, the move was seen as a pretty nice deal for the Rangers and their young, yet experienced all-star shortstop.
This season, Andrus is struggling at the plate, especially in key situations as the team's No. 2 hitter. With runners in scoring position, Andrus is hitting a putrid .145 on the season. He hasn't even been a great fielder, which is arguably the top part of his game. He's got 10 errors after one on Tuesday night, putting him within four of his career-high 14.
On Tuesday, Andrus' big error on a bases-loaded, one-out groundball killed a chance at a double play and extended a 4-2 Orioles lead into a much bigger one. Oh, and Andrus went 0-for-4 at the plate and hit into an inning-ending double play of his own.
It wasn't a good night for Andrus, who is going on nearly two years now of underwhelming play with eight more seasons at $15 million per year coming up after this season, when his extension officially kicks in. There's still plenty of hope for the 25-year-old, but it's not too encouraging that he's regressed the way he has at the plate, and even in the field.
