Jacoby Ellsbury

Baseball outfielder for the New York Yankees

What is Jacoby Ellsbury known for?

Jacoby McCabe Ellsbury, born on September 11, 1983, in Madras, Oregon, United States, is celebrated as a highly accomplished American baseball player. A notable alumni of Madras High School, Ellsbury went on to carve a significant career in the Major League Baseball (MLB), playing for esteemed teams like the Boston Red Sox (2007-2013) and the New York Yankees (2014-2017).

The first Native American of Navajo descent to play Major League Baseball, Ellsbury began his journey in the sport in high school where he lettered in five sports. In his senior year, he stole the spotlight with an impressive batting average of .537 and 65 stolen bases in baseball alone.

After forgoing an initial draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 2002 MLB draft, Ellsbury chose to sharpen his skills at Oregon State University. He was later selected by the Boston Red Sox as the 23rd overall pick in the 2005 draft, making his major league debut two years later in 2007.

Throughout his career, Ellsbury racked up a commendable batting average of .284, with 104 home runs, 512 runs batted in, and 343 stolen bases. He had the distinction to become the first Red Sox player to join the 30-30 club, and he led the American League in stolen bases three times (2008, 2009, and 2013). Additionally, he was a part of the championship-winning Red Sox team for the World Series in 2007 and 2013.

In 2011, Ellsbury had a particularly remarkable season. He was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year, recognized as an All-Star, and received both the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards. He was also the runner-up for the American League Most Valuable Player Award.

Post the 2013 season, Ellsbury signed a seven-year deal worth $153 million with the New York Yankees, where he played from 2014 to 2017. However, injuries kept him from playing in 2018 and 2019, leading to his release by the Yankees in November 2019. Ellsbury ended his career as the single-season and career record holder for reaching base via catcher's interference.

As of his background, Ellsbury carries a rich heritage being an enrolled member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes and traces his lineage back to the 19th-century Navajo tribal leader Ganado Mucho.

For more analytics and in-depth statistics, you can visit MLB's official page.