Adrián Beltré

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Beltré and the second or maternal family name is Pérez.
Adrián Beltré

Beltré with the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers – No. 29
Third baseman
Born: (1979-04-07) April 7, 1979
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 24, 1998, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
MLB statistics
(through April 24, 2016)
Batting average .285
Hits 2,790
Home runs 416
Runs batted in 1,479
Stolen bases 118
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Adrián Beltré Pérez (born April 7, 1979) is a Dominican professional baseball third baseman for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is known for his prodigious defensive and offensive capabilities, being selected four times each for the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, Silver Slugger Award, and MLB All-Star Game. He bats and throws right-handed.

His signature home run (HR) swing includes a drop to one knee when connecting with a breaking ball.[1] He is also known for his dislike of anyone touching the top of his head (which teammates have done frequently, among them Rangers teammate Elvis Andrus, much to Beltre's disdain).[2]

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Beltré as an amateur free agent from the Dominican Republic in 1994. The youngest player in the National League when he made his MLB debut for the Dodgers in 1998, Beltré has also played for the Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox. In 2004, he led MLB in HR, in doubles in 2010, and in hits in 2013. He is 25th all-time in defensive Wins Above Replacement (23.2), first among active players, and ninth all-time among third basemen in total zone runs (114).

Professional career

Los Angeles Dodgers (1998–2004)

Beltré was signed out of the Dominican Republic by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1994 by Ralph Avila, the grandfather of Detroit Tigers all-star Catcher Alex Avila. Beltré attended Liceo Máximo Gómez High School. In 1994, while working out at Campo Las Palmas, a 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 quick swing and live 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.[3]

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, 1998, 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.[4] 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.

Beltré 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.

In 2004, Beltré had a breakout season, leading the MLB with 48 home runs, had a .334 batting average, and got 200 hits. He was honored with a Silver Slugger Award and the Babe Ruth Home Run Award while finishing second in the NL MVP voting.[5]

Seattle Mariners (2005–09)

At bat while playing for the Seattle Mariners

Beltré was signed by the Seattle Mariners as a free agent before the 2005 season to a five-year, $64 million deal.[6] Regressing to his pre-2004 form, he batted just .255 with 19 home runs and 87 RBIs. 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

After batting .167 through April 10, Ted Miller of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer wrote 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's hitting began to improve.

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.[8]

Though it was not a great season for Beltré, it was statistically his best as a Mariner. He hit .276, had 26 home runs, and had 99 RBIs. 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.[9]

The 2007 season was not one of Beltré's better defensive years statistically.[10] 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.[10][11] Beltré was awarded the Gold Glove award

On September 1, 2008, Beltré hit for the cycle, at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington,[12] becoming the fourth 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.[13] He won his second Fielding Bible Award for his defense that year.[14]

Beltré's decision not to wear a cup despite playing third base has been well-documented.[15] This came back to hurt him on August 13, 2009, when he took a hard ground ball to the crotch.[16][17]

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.[18]

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 opening march from The Nutcracker Suite.[19]

Beltré batting for the Boston Red Sox in 2010.

Beltré declared free agency on November 5, 2009.[20]

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.[21]

Beltré led the Red Sox in batting average (.321) in 2010 and tied David Ortiz for the team lead in RBIs (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.[22] On defense, he tied for the AL lead in errors by a third baseman, with 19.[23] Beltré was also partially responsible for the Red Sox injuries woes that year, as he had two separate collisions with outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury and Jeremy Hermida, breaking their ribs in both instances.

Texas Rangers (2011–present)

On January 5, 2011, Beltré signed a five-year (2011–15), $80 million contract with a vesting option for $16 million for the 2016 season with the Texas Rangers. He was on the 2011 American League All-Star team.[4] On July 22, Beltré strained his hamstring and was also placed on the DL. On September 4, Beltré hit a line single to right against the Boston Red Sox for his 2,000th career hit. On September 11, 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).[4] He was third in the American League in slugging percentage (.561), sixth in RBIs (105), and ninth in OPS (.892).[4] Through 2011, he led all active third basemen in career putouts (1,660) and errors (235).[4] He won his third Fielding Bible Award for his outstanding defense.[24]

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.[25][26] He added a fourth playoff home run in Game 5 of the 2011 World Series, when he went down to one knee chasing an outside curve ball from Chris Carpenter.[27] He finished the postseason with 5 home runs and 9 RBI's.

On November 1, 2011, Beltré was honored with the Gold Glove Award at third base for the 2011 season, the first by a Ranger third baseman since Buddy Bell's six-year run from 1979–1984.[28] On November 2, 2011 he was awarded the Silver Slugger Award.[29]

Beltré once again proved to be one of the best third basemen in the league, being voted to the 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 1, 2012 as a starter along with teammates Josh Hamilton and Mike Napoli. This was his third all-star game and third in a row dating back to 2010 with the Boston Red Sox.[30]

On August 22, 2012, in a game against the Baltimore Orioles, Beltré hit three home runs in his first three at-bats, including two in the same inning. He joined Pablo Sandoval, Albert Pujols, George Brett, Reggie Jackson and Babe Ruth as the only players to have a three-homer game in the regular season and the postseason.[31] On August 24, he hit for the cycle for the second time in his career. Both of his cycles came at Rangers Ballpark (his first was as a member of the Mariners), the only time in MLB history that this has happened.[32] He joined Joe DiMaggio as the only two players in big league history to have a three-homer game and a cycle in the same week. For his efforts, Beltré was named the AL Player of the Week for the week of August 20–26. During the seven games he hit .433 (13-for-30) with three doubles, one triple, five home runs, nine RBIs and seven runs scored. He had the highest slugging percentage (1.100) for the week in the majors, the most total bases (33), was tied for first in hits and home runs, and tied for second in RBIs.[33] For the season, he won his second straight Fielding Bible Award and fourth overall.[34]

On October 30, 2012 Beltré was honored with the Gold Glove Award for the 2012 season.[35]

Beltré in August 2014

On July 8, 2013, Beltré was named the American League Player of the Week for July 1–7. Beltré batted .478 (11-for-23) with 4 homers, 2 doubles and 5 RBI in 6 games last week. He led the American League in home runs, slugging (1.087), OPS (1.607), total bases (25), and extra-base hits (6) while producing the fourth highest batting average. Beltré hit safely in all six games with two or more hits four times. He had the 24th multi-homer game of his career with a pair of long balls on July 4, 2013 against Seattle.[36]

On August 5, 2013 Beltré was named the American League Player of the Month for July 2013, his third such honor with the Rangers. Beltre batted .369 with four doubles, nine homers, 19 RBIs and 13 runs scored over 26 games. He tied Alfonso Soriano for the Major League lead in homers and tied with Torii Hunter for the MLB lead in total bases (69). Beltre also finished among the AL leaders in slugging percentage (second, .670), hits (tied for second, 38), extra-base hits (tied for fourth, 13), RBIs (tied for fifth) and batting average (sixth). Just for good measure, Beltré capped off his award-winning month in style, blasting a walk-off homer to lead the Rangers past the Angels on July 31. Beltré has received AL Player of the Month honors four times, most recently with the Rangers in September 2012. He is one of seven players to win the monthly award multiple times with Texas, joining Josh Hamilton (four), Rafael Palmeiro, Alex Rodriguez (three each), Ivan Rodríguez, Juan González and Rubén Sierra (two apiece).[37]

On May 7, 2014, Beltré hit his 100th home run as a member of the Rangers, becoming only the 5th player in Major League history to hit 100 home runs with 3 different teams. He joined Darrell Evans, Reggie Jackson, Alex Rodriguez, and Jim Thome.[38]

On June 24, 2014, Adrián hit a single off Drew Smyly of the Detroit Tigers for his 2,500th career hit. It was Beltré's first hit in a 4-for-4 game.[39]

On September 18, Beltré hit a single off of Sonny Gray in the 1st inning to get his 2,591st hit, surpassing Vladimir Guerrero as the all-time hit leader among Dominican players.[40]

Beltré finished the 2014 season batting .324, his highest average since 2004, with 19 home runs, and 77 RBI's in 148 games.

In February 2015, the Rangers picked up Beltré's option, which would have become guaranteed if he had reached 586 plate appearances in the 2015 season.[41][42]

On May 15, 2015, Beltré became the 52nd player in MLB history to hit 400 home runs. [43]

On August 3, 2015, Adrian hit for the cycle with hits in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th innings against the Houston Astros at Rangers Ballpark in a 12-9 win. It was his 3rd cycle in his career and the 2nd as a Ranger. All of his cycles have come in Arlington (the first time as a visiting player for the Seattle Mariners). Only three other players (Long John Reilly, Bob Meusel and Babe Herman) have hit for the cycle three times in a career; Beltré was the first to do this in 82 years.

During the last week of the season, and the Rangers' run towards the AL West Championship, Beltré batted .448 with 2 HRs and 13 RBIs. He also went 2-4 with a HR in the final game of the season to help the Rangers advance to their sixth AL West title. Beltré finished the season with 18 home runs, 83 RBIs, 163 hits, and a .287 BA.

On April 15, 2016 Beltré and the Rangers agreed to a two-year $36 million contract extension. The deal is al is worth $18 million annually. The extension keeps Beltre from being a free agent at the end of the season.[44]


Awards and achievements

Awards
Other accomplishments

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. ↑ http://deadspin.com/elvis-andrus-stalks-the-most-dangerous-game-adrian-bel-1703903221
  3. ↑ Dayn Perry, "Do Players Perform Better in Contract Years?", Baseball Between the Numbers: Why Everything You Know About the Game is Wrong, (New York, Basic Books and Baseball Prospectus, 2005), p. 200–01.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Adrián Beltré Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ "Beltre gets 5-year deal day after Sexson signs". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 16, 2004. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  7. ↑ Miller, Ted (April 10, 2006). "Beltre on brink of being a bust". SeattlePI.com. Retrieved April 8, 2007.
  8. ↑ Thiel, Art (July 23, 2006). "Slapstick home run livens up Safeco lore". Seattle Post Intelligencer. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  9. ↑ "The 2006 Fielding Bible Awards". The Fielding Bible. Archived from the original on November 17, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  10. 1 2 Seattle's Suzuki and Beltre win Gold Gloves HeraldNet.com
  11. ↑ MLB Player Fielding Stats – As 1B – 2011 ESPN
  12. ↑ "September 1, 2008 Seattle Mariners at Texas Rangers Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. ↑ Street, Jim (September 2, 2008). "Beltre hits for cycle against Rangers". MLB.com. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  14. ↑ "The 2008 Awards". The Fielding Bible. Archived from the original on November 17, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  15. ↑ Street, Jim (February 24, 2008). "Beltre Giving it Another Go for the Gold". mlb.com. Retrieved February 24, 2008.
  16. ↑ Spratt, Gerry (August 13, 2009). "UPDATE: Beltre could be out for season with testicle injury". Seattle Post Intelligencer. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  17. ↑ Baker, Geoff (August 13, 2009). "Adrian Beltre to DL, could be lost for season with injured testicle". Seattle Times. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Adrian Beltre could be out for the season with injured testicle". Associated Press. August 13, 2009. Archived from the original on August 17, 2009. Retrieved August 13, 2009.
  19. ↑ Baker, Geoff (September 1, 2009). "Los Angeles Angels at Seattle Mariners: 09/01 game thread". Seattle Times. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
  20. ↑ Stone, Larry (October 5, 2009). "Beltre, Sweeney file for free agency". Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 8, 2009. Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  21. ↑ Ian Browne / MLB.com. "Beltre Boston-bound with deal complete". MLB. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  22. ↑ Hamilton wins MVP; Beltre finishes 9th ESPN
  23. ↑ "2010 Regular Season MLB Baseball 3B Fielding Statistics". ESPN. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  24. ↑ "The 2011 Awards". The Fielding Bible. Archived from the original on November 1, 2011.
  25. ↑ 1 hour, 20 minutes ago (September 30, 2011). "Beltre hits 3 homers in ALDS Game 4". yahoo.com. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  26. ↑ "Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays – Recap – October 04, 2011". ESPN. October 4, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  27. ↑ "Adrian Beltre hits a home run off one knee during last night's game". October 24, 2011.
  28. ↑ Durrett, Richard (November 1, 2011). "Adrian Beltre proud of third Gold Glove". ESPN. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  29. ↑ Schroeder, Scott (November 2, 2011). "2011 Silver Slugger Award Winners Includes Detroit Tigers' Alex Avila, Not Miguel Cabrera". SB Nation. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  30. ↑ "baseball-reference.com". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  31. ↑ Durrett, Richard (January 17, 2014). "ESPN Dallas". Espn.go.com. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Hitting for the Cycle The Cleat Report". The Cleat Report. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  33. ↑ Adrian Beltre named Player of the Week Richard Durrett|ESPN Dallas
  34. ↑ "The 2012 Awards". ACTA Sports. October 25, 2012. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012.
  35. ↑ "Adrian Beltre reels in fourth career Gold Glove". Texas Rangers. MLB. October 30, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  36. ↑ "Rangers' Adrian Beltre named American League player of the week | Dallas Morning News". Rangersblog.dallasnews.com. July 8, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Hot-hitting Beltré wins AL Player of Month | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  38. ↑ "Beltre belts 100th homer as a Ranger". Mlb.mlb.com. May 7, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  39. ↑ "Beltre raps 2,500th career hit". Mlb.mlb.com. June 24, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  40. ↑ Beltre becomes hit leader among Dominican born www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24715926, Retrieved September 19, 2014
  41. ↑ "Rangers rework Beltre's deal, eliminate right to void 2016". ESPN.com. Associated Press. February 23, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  42. ↑ Sullivan, T.R. (February 23, 2015). "Rangers pick up Beltre's 2016 contract option". MLB.com. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  43. ↑ http://m.mlb.com/news/article/124632598/rangers-third-baseman-adrian-beltre-clubs-400th-career-home-run
  44. ↑ http://m.mlb.com/news/article/172562894/rangers-adrian-beltre-sign-contract-extension
  45. ↑ Goold, Derrick (October 30, 2008). "Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina snag Fielding awards". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved October 30, 2008.
  46. 1 2 "Molina earns 5th straight Gold Glove award". MLB.com via St. Louis Cardinals. October 30, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  47. ↑ "Molina captures second Platinum Glove Award". MLB.com via St. Louis Cardinals. November 10, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  48. ↑ Molina, Pujols honored with Gold Glove Awards: Cards catcher wins third straight; first baseman earns second Cardinals.com (November 10, 2010)
  49. ↑ "Molina, Wainwright nab Gold Gloves: Back-to-back awards for Cards catcher; hurler wins first". MLB.com. November 11, 2009.
  50. ↑ "Molina honored with first Gold Glove: Catcher's long-recognized defense finally nabs top NL award". MLB.com. November 5, 2008.

External links

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Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Andruw Jones		 Youngest Player in the
National League
1998 		Succeeded by
Rick Ankiel
Preceded by
Barry Bonds		 National League Player of the Month
September 2004 		Succeeded by
Derrek Lee
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