Elder attended Booker T. Washington High School in Pensacola, Florida, and played college baseball for Georgia Tech.

[2] Elder began his career with the rookie-level Pulaski Rangers, and had a 1.95 earned run average (ERA) in 20 games.

He spent 2000 with the Tulsa Drillers, but struggled due to a high walk rate of 6.8 bases on balls per nine innings.

[3] After spending 2001 with the Drillers and the Oklahoma RedHawks, Elder was traded to the Cleveland Indians on December 18 for John Rocker.

He spent 2004 with the Greenville Braves, the Trenton Thunder of the New York Yankees organization, and the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League.