David Matthew Elder (born September 23, 1975) is an American former Major League Baseball player. A pitcher, Elder played for the Cleveland Indians in 2002 and 2003. Elder attended Booker T. Washington High School in Pensacola, Florida, and played college baseball for Georgia Tech. In 1996, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Hyannis Mets of the Cape Cod Baseball League. He was selected by the Texas Rangers in the fourth round of the 1997 MLB draft. Elder began his career with the rookie-level Pulaski Rangers, and had a 1.95 earned run average (ERA) in 20 games. He missed the 1998 season due to Tommy John surgery. Afterwards, he would play in 24 games for the Charlotte Rangers, finishing with a 4-2 win–loss record and a 2.84 ERA. He spent 2000 with the Tulsa Drillers, but struggl