Amateur Eldred attended
Florida International University, and in 2000 he played
collegiate summer baseball with the
Harwich Mariners of the
Cape Cod Baseball League.
Pittsburgh Pirates Eldred was selected by the
Pittsburgh Pirates in the 6th round of the
2002 Major League Baseball draft. In 2004, the Pirates named him their minor-league player of the year after he hit .301 with 38 home runs and 137 RBIs for the Single-A
Lynchburg Hillcats and the Double-A
Altoona Curve. He was promoted to the Pirates' major league roster on July 21, 2005, after he hit .297 with 28 home runs and 75 RBIs for the Curve and the
Indianapolis Indians. With the Pirates, he hit .221 with 12 home runs in 55 games. After the season was over, the Pirates sent him to play in the
Arizona Fall League. Eldred got injured in the first week of the 2006 season, and was unable to play for the rest of the year. After a strong
Spring Training in 2007, in which he began playing the outfield to increase his versatility, he was added to the Pirates' opening day roster. However, he was demoted to Indianapolis on May 20. He was briefly recalled in mid-June, but spent only one day on the roster before returning to the minor leagues.
Chicago White Sox On January 5, 2008, he signed a minor league deal with the
Chicago White Sox. For the AAA Charlotte Knights, he hit 38 home runs and 100 RBIs, leading the International League in both categories. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
Washington Nationals In November 2008, he signed with the
Washington Nationals. Playing for the AAA Syracuse Chiefs, he hit .269, .344 on-base percentage, 17 home runs and 59 RBIs.
Colorado Rockies On March 2, 2010, he signed a minor league contract with the
Colorado Rockies. He was called up on July 7, 2010, when
Todd Helton went on the DL.
San Francisco Giants On January 14, 2011, Eldred signed a minor league contract with the
San Francisco Giants with an invite to spring training.
Detroit Tigers The
Detroit Tigers signed him to a minor league contract on January 21, 2012. He was called up to the Tigers on April 26 after longtime Tiger
Brandon Inge was released. At the time of his call-up, Eldred was batting .388 with 13 homers in 20 games for the
Toledo Mud Hens. Eldred would triple in a run in the second inning of his first game with the Tigers. After playing in five games, Eldred was
designated for assignment. He was released by the Tigers on June 19, 2012.
Hiroshima Toyo Carp He signed a contract with the
Hiroshima Toyo Carp of
NPB. In 2014, his second season in Japan with the Carp, Eldred hit 37 home runs. In 2016, he was limited to 95 games due to injury, but still batted .294 with 21 home runs, helping his team to a playoff spot. Eldred then went on to hit a home run in each of the first three games of the
2016 Japan Series, with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters ultimately winning the championship, four games to two. ==Personal life==