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After being called up to the majors from the then Dodgers Double-A affiliate [[San Antonio Missions]], Beltré made his major league debut on June 24, starting at third base in the first game of an interleague series against the [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|Anaheim Angels]]. At the time, he was the youngest player in the National League.<ref name="baseball-reference1">{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/beltrad01.shtml |title=Adrian Beltre Statistics and History |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date= |accessdate=October 3, 2011}}</ref> During his first [[at-bat]], Beltré smashed a two-out [[Run batted in|RBI]] [[Double (baseball)|double]] off Angels [[Starting pitcher|starter]] [[Chuck Finley]] into [[left field]] to score [[Paul Konerko]] from [[second base]] to tie the game. He would hit his first [[home run]] six days later against [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] starter [[Rick Helling]]. At the end of the 1998 season, Beltré would finish with 13 [[Error (baseball)|errors]] at third base while [[Batting average|batting]] .215 with seven home runs.
After being called up to the majors from the then Dodgers Double-A affiliate [[San Antonio Missions]], Beltré made his major league debut on June 24, starting at third base in the first game of an interleague series against the [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|Anaheim Angels]]. At the time, he was the youngest player in the National League.<ref name="baseball-reference1">{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/beltrad01.shtml |title=Adrian Beltre Statistics and History |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date= |accessdate=October 3, 2011}}</ref> During his first [[at-bat]], Beltré smashed a two-out [[Run batted in|RBI]] [[Double (baseball)|double]] off Angels [[Starting pitcher|starter]] [[Chuck Finley]] into [[left field]] to score [[Paul Konerko]] from [[second base]] to tie the game. He would hit his first [[home run]] six days later against [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] starter [[Rick Helling]]. At the end of the 1998 season, Beltré would finish with 13 [[Error (baseball)|errors]] at third base while [[Batting average|batting]] .215 with seven home runs.


The Dodgers saw Beltré develop into a consistent and durable young star during his time with the team, as he hit .265 while hitting 18 homers a year (on average). From {{mlby|1999}} through {{mlby|2003}}, Beltré also started 710 games at third base (out of 810 games played) averaging a .948 [[fielding percentage]].
The Dodgers saw Beltré develop into a consistent and durable young star during his time with the team, as he hit .265 while hitting 18 homers a year (on average). From {{mlby|1999}} through {{mlby|2003}}, Beltré also started 710 games at third base (out of 810 games played) averaging a .948 [[fielding percentage]]. He also did not do a very good job lol jk.


Beltre led MLB in 2004 with 48&nbsp;home runs, and he was honored with the [[Babe Ruth Home Run Award]].<ref name=baberuthcentral>At the following webpage, '''''scroll down to''''' "The Babe Ruth Homerun Award". {{cite web |title=06 Fan Stories: Ultimate Babe Ruth Fans |work=BabeRuthCentral.com |publisher=Babe Ruth Central |url=http://www.baberuthcentral.com/Fan%20Stories/#HomeRun |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/633STrQVa |archivedate=November 8, 2011}}</ref>
Beltre led MLB in 2004 with 48&nbsp;home runs, and he was honored with the [[Babe Ruth Home Run Award]].<ref name=baberuthcentral>At the following webpage, '''''scroll down to''''' "The Babe Ruth Homerun Award". {{cite web |title=06 Fan Stories: Ultimate Babe Ruth Fans |work=BabeRuthCentral.com |publisher=Babe Ruth Central |url=http://www.baberuthcentral.com/Fan%20Stories/#HomeRun |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/633STrQVa |archivedate=November 8, 2011}}</ref>

Revision as of 18:48, 27 February 2012

Adrián Beltré
Texas Rangers – No. 29
Third baseman
Born: (1979-04-07) April 7, 1979 (age 45)
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
debut
June 24, 1998, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Career statistics
(through 2011)
Batting average.276
Home runs310
Runs batted in1,113
Hits2,033
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Adrián Beltré Pérez (born April 7, 1979) is a Major League Baseball (MLB) third baseman for the Texas Rangers.

The youngest player in the National League when he made his major league debut, he has also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1998–2004), the Seattle Mariners (2005–2009), and the Boston Red Sox (2010). He bats and throws right-handed. He is known for his signature home run swing, dropping to one knee when connecting with an off-speed pitch.[1]

Professional career

Los Angeles Dodgers (1998–2004)

He was signed out of the Dominican Republic by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1994. All-Star catcher Alex Avila's grandfather was the scout who signed him. Beltré attended Liceo Maximo Gomez High School, where he developed into one of the school’s top players. In 1994, while working out at Campo Las Palmas, the Los Angeles Dodgers facility, he was spotted by scouts Ralph Avila and Pablo Peguero. Though only 15 and weighing just 130 pounds, he had a lightning-quick swing and electric throwing arm. On the insistence of Avila and Peguero, the Dodgers signed Beltré in July. He received a $23,000 bonus. When it was revealed that Beltré had signed his initial contract at the age of 15, commissioner Bud Selig suspended the Dodgers' scouting operations in the Dominican Republic for a year, because signing a player at that age was prevented under MLB rules.[2]

After being called up to the majors from the then Dodgers Double-A affiliate San Antonio Missions, Beltré made his major league debut on June 24, starting at third base in the first game of an interleague series against the Anaheim Angels. At the time, he was the youngest player in the National League.[3] During his first at-bat, Beltré smashed a two-out RBI double off Angels starter Chuck Finley into left field to score Paul Konerko from second base to tie the game. He would hit his first home run six days later against Texas Rangers starter Rick Helling. At the end of the 1998 season, Beltré would finish with 13 errors at third base while batting .215 with seven home runs.

The Dodgers saw Beltré develop into a consistent and durable young star during his time with the team, as he hit .265 while hitting 18 homers a year (on average). From 1999 through 2003, Beltré also started 710 games at third base (out of 810 games played) averaging a .948 fielding percentage. He also did not do a very good job lol jk.

Beltre led MLB in 2004 with 48 home runs, and he was honored with the Babe Ruth Home Run Award.[4]

Seattle Mariners (2005–09)

Beltré was signed by the Seattle Mariners as a free agent before the 2005 season to a five-year, $64 million deal. Regressing to his pre-2004 form, he batted just .255 with 19 home runs and 87 RBI. Manager Mike Hargrove did not give up hope on Beltré, saying, "I think it's a season that, personally, he's disappointed in. I think it was a year that he will improve on the longer he's here and the longer he's in the American League."

Beltré fielding.

2006 was, likewise, a disappointment for Beltré and led some to suspect that he had used steroids in his contract year of 2004, or at least had ramped up his production in order to be considered for a heftier contract.[5] Beltré, in an interview for the Seattle Times, denied his dropoff in 2006 to have anything to do with steroids.[6] After batting .167 through April 10, Ted Miller of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer suggested that Beltré may become one of the Mariners' greatest busts.[7] By June 5, 2006, Beltré's batting average was slowly improving, from .109 on April 16 to .236 at that time. After hitting his first home run in April, and his second later that month, Beltré improved his hitting, getting more hits in ballgames, most notably doubles. He also hit two home runs in the first five days of June, good signs for Beltré as well as the Mariners.

On July 23, 2006, against the Boston Red Sox, Beltré hit an inside-the-park home run, the first one ever in Safeco Field history.

Though it wasn't a great season for Beltré, it was his best as a Mariner. He hit .276, had 26 home runs, and had 99 RBI. He also had a career high 41 doubles. He also was honored with a Fielding Bible Award for being the top MLB defensive third baseman during the year.[8]

The 2007 season wasn't one of Beltré's better defensive years statistically.[9] In 2007, he tied with Brandon Inge for the AL lead in errors by a third baseman, with 18, but Beltré ranked second in the league in assists, total chances, and range factor. He also had the lowest fielding percentage of all third basemen in the league, .958.[9][10] Beltré was awarded the Gold Glove award.

On September 1, 2008, Beltré hit for the cycle, becoming the fourth Seattle Mariner to do so. Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Stephen Drew hit for the cycle that day as well, the first time two players had done so since 1920.[11] He won his second Fielding Bible Award for his defense that year.[12]

Beltré's decision not to wear a cup despite playing third base has been well-documented.[13] This came back to hurt him on August 13, 2009, when he took a hard ground ball to the crotch.

Although he stayed in for the remainder of the 14 inning victory, he was put on the DL after suffering bleeding in one of his testicles.[14]

In his first game back from the DL from that injury, teammate Ken Griffey Jr. conspired with those responsible for the Safeco Field PA system to have Beltré's at-bat intro music be the waltz from The Nutcracker Suite.[15]

Beltré batting for the Boston Red Sox in 2010.

Beltré declared free agency on November 5, 2009.[16]

Boston Red Sox (2010)

On January 7, 2010, Beltré signed a one-year, $9 million deal with the Boston Red Sox, which had a $5 million player option for 2011 with a $1 million buyout.[17]

Beltré led the Red Sox in batting average (.321) in 2010 and tied David Ortiz for the team lead in RBI (102). He finished the year with 189 hits in 589 at bats. He had 28 home runs and 84 runs scored. Beltré led the Majors in doubles, with 49 (also a career high). He also finished fourth in the AL in batting average, and was fifth in the AL in total bases (326) and slugging percentage (.553). He also had two stolen bases on the year, and finished ninth in the MVP voting.[18] On defense, he tied for the AL lead in errors by a third baseman, with 19.[19]

Texas Rangers (2011–present)

On January 5, 2011, Beltré signed a six-year, $96 million contract with an option for $16 million for the 2016 season with the Texas Rangers. He was on the 2011 American League All Star team.[3] On September 4, Beltré hit a line single to right against the Boston Red Sox for his 2,000th career hit. On September 11, 2011, Beltré hit two home runs, including the 300th of his career, against the Oakland Athletics.

In 2011, Beltré batted .296 with 32 home runs (5th in the AL).[3] He was third in the American League in slugging percentage (.561), sixth in RBIs (105), and ninth in OPS (.892).[3] Through 2011, he led all active third basemen in career putouts (1,660) and errors (235).[3] He won his third Fielding Bible Award for his outstanding defense.[20]

On October 4, 2011, in an ALDS playoff game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Beltré became the sixth player—the first in a Division Series—to hit three home runs in a Major League playoff game.[21][22] He added a fourth playoff home run on October 24, when he went down to one knee chasing an outside curve ball.[23]

On November 1, 2011, Beltré was honored with the Gold Glove Award for the 2011 season.[24] On November 2, 2011 he was awarded the Silver Slugger Award.[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ Spousta, Tom (October 25, 2011). "Adrian Beltre's Unique Home Run Swing Set Up Rangers' Comeback". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Dayn Perry, "Do Players Perform Better in Contract Years?", Baseball Between the Numbers: Why Everything You Know About the Game is Wrong, (New York, NY, Basic Books and Baseball Prospectus, 2005), p. 200–01.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Adrian Beltre Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  4. ^ At the following webpage, scroll down to "The Babe Ruth Homerun Award". "06 Fan Stories: Ultimate Babe Ruth Fans". BabeRuthCentral.com. Babe Ruth Central. Archived from the original on November 8, 2011.
  5. ^ Perry, p. 200.
  6. ^ Finnigan, Bob (June 2, 2006). "Beltre's power shortage prompts steroid suspicions". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 8, 2007.
  7. ^ Miller, Ted (April 10, 2006). "Beltre on brink of being a bust". SeattlePI.com. Retrieved April 8, 2007.
  8. ^ "The 2006 Fielding Bible Awards". The Fielding Bible. Archived from the original on November 17, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  9. ^ a b Seattle's Suzuki and Beltre win Gold Gloves HeraldNet.com
  10. ^ MLB Player Fielding Stats – As 1B – 2011 ESPN
  11. ^ "Seattle's Adrian Beltre hits for cycle". Associated Press. September 2, 2008. Retrieved September 2, 2008.
  12. ^ "The 2008 Awards". The Fielding Bible. Archived from the original on November 17, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  13. ^ Street, Jim (February 24, 2008). "Beltre Giving it Another Go for the Gold". mlb.com. Retrieved February 24, 2008.
  14. ^ "Adrian Beltre could be out for the season with injured testicle". Associated Press. August 13, 2009. Retrieved August 13, 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help) [dead link]
  15. ^ Baker, Geoff (September 1, 2009). "Los Angeles Angels at Seattle Mariners: 09/01 game thread". Seattle Times. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
  16. ^ Stone, Larry (October 5, 2009). "Beltre, Sweeney file for free agency". Seattle Times. Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  17. ^ By Ian Browne / MLB.com. "Beltre Boston-bound with deal complete". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  18. ^ Hamilton wins MVP; Beltre finishes 9th ESPN
  19. ^ "2010 Regular Season MLB Baseball 3B Fielding Statistics". Espn.go.com. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  20. ^ "The 2011 Awards". The Fielding Bible. Archived from the original on November 1, 2011.
  21. ^ 1 hour, 20 minutes ago (September 30, 2011). "Beltre hits 3 homers in ALDS Game 4". yahoo.com. Retrieved October 4, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ "Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays – Recap – October 04, 2011". Sports.espn.go.com. October 4, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  23. ^ "Adrian Beltre hits a home run off one knee during last night's game". October 24, 2011.
  24. ^ Durrett, Richard (1 November 2011). "Adrian Beltre proud of third Gold Glove". ESPN. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  25. ^ Schroeder, Scott (2 November 2011). "2011 Silver Slugger Award Winners Includes Detroit Tigers' Alex Avila, Not Miguel Cabrera". SB Nation. Retrieved 2 November 2011.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Adrián Beltré.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Youngest Player in the
National League
1998 		Succeeded by
Preceded by National League Player of the Month
September 2004 		Succeeded by

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