Navajo Jacoby Ellsbury from Disabled List to Boston Red Sox Lineup

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Entertainment. Discussion »

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – When Major League Baseball returned for the second half of its season on Friday, so did Boston Red Sox's centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who is Navajo.

Jacoby Ellsbury - Navajo, MVP Bound?

His talent is expected to create a boost for the Red Sox, a team playing near .500 baseball and are tied for last with Toronto in the American League East as of Sunday night.

The 2011 American League Most Valuable Player runner-up injured his right shoulder on April 13 and has been on the Disabled List since April 14. Initially, he was expected to be out for six to eight weeks, but his injury kept him out for three months.

“I worked hard to get to this point, so I'm definitely excited,”

Ellsbury was quoted on the Boston Red Sox website.

“We feel comfortable. The doctors feel like I can play. They felt confident that I should go out there and play to my abilities. Nothing should change.”

“I feel good. I think I feel as good as you can coming into the ballgame. Definitely very confident, but most importantly, just excited to be out there. We're all hoping for a great second half from the team.”

In a September 2007 article the "New York Times" described the Boston Red Sox centerfielder as a "cult hero" who brings "speed, improved defense, and unbridled enthusiasm."

Ellsbury was born and raised in Madras, Oregon. He is a tribal member of the Colorado Indian Tribe. He is currently a Nike7 ambassador, a program that the Nike company to brings sport and all of its benefits to the American Indian and Aboriginal communities in the United States and Canada.

While baseball writers wrote, Ellsbury's bat appeared "rusty" on Friday night going 1 for 5. He went to 2 for 4 on Saturday. By Sunday, the rust had worn off, Ellsbury had found his groove: he was 3 for 5 at the plate.

posted July 16, 2012 8:40 am edt