GLENDALE, Ariz. _ Indelible images of Elvis Andrus: Clown prince of baseball with his partner Adrian Beltre, Gatorade-dumping elf, designated team annoyance.
You've seen that slapstick comedy act over 11 years with the Rangers.
But there is another fascinating image: Eloquent voice for Latin American player issues in the MLB Players Association. It is a role he has embraced over the last five years and an environment in which he is a rising star.
When the Rangers and Cleveland Indians gather for their annual spring briefing from union officials Wednesday, Andrus will be at the head of the room as part of the MLBPA's Executive Sub-committee. He has not only been the Rangers' player representative since 2016, he is only the second Latin American-born player to serve on the committee.
"It's a privilege," said Andus, who joined the board by acclimation over the winter after being nominated by St. Louis reliever Andrew Miller. "I've always wanted to leave this game better off for the next generation. That's what the last one did for me. In five, 10, 15 years, when A.J. Beltre (Beltre's son) is playing, I want the game to be better for him, too. In the meetings, I don't goof around. I'm super engaged. I'll clown afterwards."
Yeah, probably not.
The subject is too significant. What he will do is help players _ especially Spanish-speakers _ better understand the issues facing the union going forward. And there are plenty of them. The big one, of course, are the coming collective bargaining agreement negotiations. The current CBA expires after the 2021 season. There has been plenty of sword-rattling on both the owners' and players' side.
There are other complicated issues to work through going forward, too. The Houston Astros' cheating scandal has pitted union members against one another. The looming possibility of an international draft is of significant interest to the Latin American membership.
Andrus has a grasp on all of them. In two languages. It makes him a vital asset to union that counts about 30% of its membership as primarily Spanish speakers. It is often a challenge to get that constituency to be engaged. The union has sought more Latin American involvement for some time; the situation grew more critical when pitcher Carlos Villanueva, the first Latin American-born sub-committee member retired after 2017.
"Being at the (executive committee) meeting for one day in 2007 changed my whole perspective," said Villanueva, now a special assistant to the GM with Milwaukee. "We weren't being represented at all. The MLBPA had tried, but guys weren't present or felt out of place. We didn't have a voice. I saw a duty to represent that."
In Andrus, Villanueva saw a successor. While Andrus was the Rangers' player rep, the two had engaged some owners on elements of the international draft and how it would impact Latin American players.
"He was passionate and what he said in that presentation made an impact," Villanueva added. "That made it something more powerful."
"It was an easy decision to nominate Elvis," Miller said. "He's always brought a thoughtful, smart perspective and is easy to get along with. We have very diverse membership and having him in a leadership position makes everyone feel represented. His background and approach make us better."
While Andrus struggled last year trying to take on more of a clubhouse leadership role, he has never shied away from being vocal on the union side.
This may carry with it more phone calls to make, more text streams to read and more communication in general. But it is about improving the quality of life for players, many of whom come from meager roots in places like Venezuela. It's not a burden; it's an obligation.
That may have been a burden. This, as he said, is a privilege.
"His voice is important," said former outfielder Jose Cruz Jr., who now serves as a team liaison for the MLBPA. "He inspires younger players, especially. And he's got clout. Elvis likes to have fun and have a good time, but it didn't ever mean he didn't care. He's an asset."
