Carlos Beltrán
Encyclopedia
Carlos Iván Beltrán (ˈkarloz βelˈtɾan; born April 24, 1977 in Manatí, Puerto Rico
) is a Major League Baseball
outfielder
.
and baseball
being his favorites. At his father's urging, he gave up volleyball to concentrate on baseball when he was seventeen. Graduating from Fernando Callejo High School in , the highly-regarded five tool player was selected by the Kansas City Royals
in the second round of that year's amateur baseball draft.
assigned him to their rookie-level team in the Gulf Coast League
, The Wilmington Blue Rocks of Wilmington Delaware. Beltrán made his Major League debut on September 14, 1998, playing 15 games. Going into , he won the job as the Royals' starting center fielder
and leadoff hitter. He displayed significant power by midsummer, and was moved to the #3 slot in the batting order
. Beltrán won the American League
Rookie of the Year
award, batting .293 with 22 home run
s, 108 RBI and 27 stolen bases. On September 27, 1999, Beltran made the final out at Tiger Stadium striking out against relief pitcher
Todd Jones as the Detroit Tigers
beat the Royals 8–2.
Injuries restricted Beltrán to 98 games during the season and he slumped to .247, losing his center field position to the popular Johnny Damon
. After Damon was traded to the Athletics
following the season, Beltrán regained his job in and recaptured his rookie form. He batted
.306 with 24 home run
s and 101 RBI
in that season, followed by lines of .273-29-105 in and .307-26-100 in .
Beltrán became known for starting sluggishly, and stayed like that for the rest of his career, as in when he batted .194 in April. His luck changed in , as Beltrán began the year with 8 home run
s and 19 RBI and was selected as American League Player of the Month
for April.
Playing for a small market club and represented by agent Scott Boras
, Beltrán endured trade rumors through the 2003 and 2004 seasons. As the end of his contract neared, the two sides failed to negotiate a longterm deal. Following an interleague doubleheader loss to the last-place Montreal Expos
, Royals general manager
Allard Baird
told reporters that he was preparing to dismantle the team and rebuild it for the season.
in a three-team deal, which also sent relief pitcher Octavio Dotel
from the Astros to the Oakland Athletics
, while the Royals picked up Oakland minor leaguers (pitcher Mike Wood
and third-baseman Mark Teahen
) and Astros
catcher John Buck.
While still a Royal, Beltrán had been selected to the American League
starting outfield
for the 2004 All-Star Game
. After the trade to the National League
, he was initially denied a place in the game. However, after NL starter Ken Griffey, Jr.
went on the disabled list, Beltrán was named his substitute. Beltrán became the first player ever to be selected for one All-Star team but play for the other.
In the 2004 MLB playoffs, Beltrán tied Barry Bonds
's single postseason record with 8 home runs. He had one in each of the first four games of the NLCS
against the St. Louis Cardinals
, including a game-winner in Game 4. Following his 2 home runs in Game 5 of the previous NLDS
against the Atlanta Braves
, this gave Beltrán five consecutive postseason games with a home run, setting a record.
were tipped as favorites and Beltrán allegedly offered them a $19 million discount. The Yankees declined and the crosstown New York Mets
signed him to a 7-year, $119-million contract, the biggest in franchise history at the time. It was the tenth contract in baseball history to surpass $100 million.
On August 11, 2005, in a game against the San Diego Padres
at Petco Park
, Beltrán was seriously injured after colliding head-to-head with fellow Mets outfielder Mike Cameron
when both were diving to catch a ball in shallow right center field. Cameron missed the rest of the season with a concussion, temporary loss of vision, and two broken cheekbones. Beltrán suffered vertigo
for a while, although both players eventually recovered.
Quadriceps injury bothered him most of the season and limited his speed. In 582 at bats, Beltrán's stats included career lows in batting average (.266), home runs (16), runs batted in (78), runs scored (83), and stolen bases (17). Despite these numbers, he was still voted to his second All-Star team.
Carlos Beltrán played for Puerto Rico in the 2006 World Baseball Classic
, joining Carlos Delgado
, Bernie Williams
, Javier Vazquez
, Iván Rodríguez
and others on the team managed by St. Louis Cardinals
third base coach Jose Oquendo
. Beltrán's 2006 season was an upgrade on his first year in New York. Helped by 10 home runs in May, he surpassed his home run total from the previous year before the 2006 season was half over. Beltrán's performance secured him a spot in the 2006 All-Star Game
, his third. He was joined by five other Mets, including three other starters. Beltrán was a standout for the NL as the only batter with multiple hits, along with two stolen bases. He scored the go-ahead run that gave the National League a 2–1 lead in the third inning. Beltrán might have been the game's MVP, but the American League came back to win in the 9th inning. Beltrán hit grand slam
s in consecutive games on July 16 and 18, becoming the 22nd player to do so. Another grand slam at the end of July made him only the third Met to hit three in one season. Beltrán continued to produce with a walk-off home run
against the St. Louis Cardinals
on August 22, off Cardinals' closer
and current Met Jason Isringhausen
. It was Beltrán's second walk-off of the season, following a 16th-inning gamewinner against the Phillies
.
Beltrán's 41 home runs tied the Mets' single season record for homers, matching Todd Hundley
's total in 1996. His 127 runs scored gave him sole possession of the Mets' single season franchise mark. He and teammate José Reyes won the Silver Slugger Award at their respective positions. He also tied for the major league lead in times reached base on an error (13).
Beltrán's defense was also recognized during the 2006 season, as he received his first Gold Glove
award. He made only 2 errors in 372 chances to give him a .995 fielding percentage, and recorded 13 outfield assists and 6 double plays. He also won a Fielding Bible Award
as the top fielding center fielder in MLB. Beltrán came fourth in the National League MVP award voting, behind winner Ryan Howard
, Albert Pujols
, and Lance Berkman
. Returning to the playoffs, Beltrán hit three home runs in the 2006 NLCS
, bringing his career playoff total to 11 home runs in 22 games, though he was struck out by Adam Wainwright
at a crucial moment with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth of Game 7 to end the NLCS and the Cardinals advanced to the World Series
.
In 2007, Beltrán hit below .230 from May to July. However, he improved in August and September, finishing with a .276 batting average and 112 RBI. Batting .282 in September with 8 home runs, 27 RBI and 22 runs scored, he was not one of the prime culprits in the Mets' painful collapse down the stretch. In July, he was named to his 4th All-Star Game appearance and upon the conclusion of the season, won his 2nd straight Gold Glove award.
In the final game before the All-Star game Beltrán connected his 15th home run of the season. On August 29 Beltran had all 5 RBIs for the Mets including a grand slam with 2 outs in the 9th to give the Mets a 5–2 lead. The Mets would win this game 5–4. Beltran hit the last and only Mets home run in the final regular season game at Shea Stadium (the last home run would belong to Dan Uggla
). The home run was a two run shot that tied the game 2–2 against the Florida Marlins. Beltran won his 3rd straight Gold Glove award in the outfield for the Mets. He won his second Fielding Bible Award as the top MLB center fielder in 2008.
against Scott Olsen
(Washington Nationals
) with a triple
in the third inning on April 24, 2009.
In voting for the 2009 All Star Game, Beltrán was third among NL outfielders (2,812,295 votes), trailing only Ryan Braun
(4,138,559) and Raúl Ibáñez
(4,053,355).
On January 13, 2010, Beltrán had surgery on his knee and was originally expected to miss 8–12 weeks. The procedure was performed by Beltrán's personal physician Dr. Richard Steadman
. The Mets have stated that the surgery was done without their consent, and the team expressed their disappointment with Beltrán's decision. However, Beltrán's agent, Scott Boras
, claimed that the Mets consented to the procedure. Beltrán played his first game of the 2010 season on July 15.
On May 12, 2011, playing against the Colorado Rockies
, Beltrán hit three two-run home runs in a 9–5 Mets victory. It was the first three-home run game of his career, and he became only the eighth Mets hitter in history to hit three home runs in a game.
in exchange for pitching prospect Zack Wheeler. The Mets also sent $4 million cash to the Giants to cover Beltrán's remaining $6.5 million contract, which expires at the end of 2011.
On July 29, 2011, the next day, Beltrán got his first hit
with the Giants (an RBI
single
to left field in the first inning), going 1-for-5 while playing right fielder
against the Cincinnati Reds
. (The Giants eventually lost to the Reds 4-3 in thirteen innings.)
On September 14, 2011, Beltrán hit 2 solo home runs against San Diego Padres
' starting pitcher Mat Latos
. He reached 20 home runs for the season and his 300th career home run. Prior to this game, Beltrán has never hit against Mat Latos. Both home runs were hit the right side of the field with Beltrán batting from the left side. The 299th hit the arcade, and the 300th landed in McCovey Cove
which increased the "Splash Hit" count to 59. Both home runs would prove to be crucial, as the Giants swept the Padres in a 3-game series, with a score of 3-1. His home runs in the series accounted for 4 out of the 14 runs.
Since establishing his foundation, Beltrán began a fund with part of his salary, intending to establish a high school focused on developing young athletes. Construction of the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy began in 2009, being established in the municipality of Florida, Puerto Rico
. The project has an estimated cost of six million dollars, being built in a terrain of approximately 30 acres (121,405.8 m²). The target date for its inauguration is August 2010, accepting students between the ages of 14 to 18 years, with a curriculum that includes instruction by MLB players.
Beltrán maintains homes in Port Washington
, New York and Manatí
, Puerto Rico.
Manatí, Puerto Rico
Manatí is a municipality of Puerto Rico in the northern coast, north of Morovis and Ciales; east of Florida and Barceloneta; and west of Vega Baja. Manatí is spread over 8 wards and Manatí Pueblo...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
.
Early life
In his youth, Beltrán excelled in many sports, with volleyballVolleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
being his favorites. At his father's urging, he gave up volleyball to concentrate on baseball when he was seventeen. Graduating from Fernando Callejo High School in , the highly-regarded five tool player was selected by the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
in the second round of that year's amateur baseball draft.
Kansas City Royals
After selecting Beltrán in the 1995 draft, the Kansas City RoyalsKansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
assigned him to their rookie-level team in the Gulf Coast League
Gulf Coast League
The Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
, The Wilmington Blue Rocks of Wilmington Delaware. Beltrán made his Major League debut on September 14, 1998, playing 15 games. Going into , he won the job as the Royals' starting center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
and leadoff hitter. He displayed significant power by midsummer, and was moved to the #3 slot in the batting order
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
. Beltrán won the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
Rookie of the Year
MLB Rookie of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is annually given to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America . The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA, which selected an annual winner from 1940 through 1946...
award, batting .293 with 22 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 108 RBI and 27 stolen bases. On September 27, 1999, Beltran made the final out at Tiger Stadium striking out against relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
Todd Jones as the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
beat the Royals 8–2.
Injuries restricted Beltrán to 98 games during the season and he slumped to .247, losing his center field position to the popular Johnny Damon
Johnny Damon
Johnny David Damon is an American professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter. From 2000–2008, he was third among active players in runs and seventh in hits and stolen bases . He is currently second among active leaders in triples , five behind Carl Crawford...
. After Damon was traded to the Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
following the season, Beltrán regained his job in and recaptured his rookie form. He batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.306 with 24 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 101 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in that season, followed by lines of .273-29-105 in and .307-26-100 in .
Beltrán became known for starting sluggishly, and stayed like that for the rest of his career, as in when he batted .194 in April. His luck changed in , as Beltrán began the year with 8 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 19 RBI and was selected as American League Player of the Month
Player of the Month
The Player of the Month Award is a Major League Baseball award named by each league every month of the regular season. The National League started recognizing the award on June 4, 1958. National League president Warren Giles conducted a poll of baseball writers in each Major League city and...
for April.
Playing for a small market club and represented by agent Scott Boras
Scott Boras
Scott Boras is an American sports agent, specializing in baseball. He is the founder, owner and president of the Boras Corporation, a sports agency based in Newport Beach, Calif. that represents roughly 175 professional baseball clients, including many of the game's highest-profile players...
, Beltrán endured trade rumors through the 2003 and 2004 seasons. As the end of his contract neared, the two sides failed to negotiate a longterm deal. Following an interleague doubleheader loss to the last-place Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
, Royals general manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
Allard Baird
Allard Baird
Allard Baird is the former general manager of the Kansas City Royals. He now works for the Boston Red Sox as vice president, player personnel, serving under general manager Ben Cherington...
told reporters that he was preparing to dismantle the team and rebuild it for the season.
Houston Astros
On June 24, 2004, Beltrán was traded to the Houston AstrosHouston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
in a three-team deal, which also sent relief pitcher Octavio Dotel
Octavio Dotel
Octavio Eduardo Dotel is a Domincan professional baseball pitcher who is currently a Free Agent....
from the Astros to the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, while the Royals picked up Oakland minor leaguers (pitcher Mike Wood
Mike Wood (baseball)
Michael Burton Wood is a former professional baseball pitcher. He has played all or part of five seasons in Major League Baseball, and one in Nippon Professional Baseball....
and third-baseman Mark Teahen
Mark Teahen
Mark Thomas Teahen is an American-Canadian professional baseball infielder for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball....
) and Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
catcher John Buck.
While still a Royal, Beltrán had been selected to the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
starting outfield
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the 2004 All-Star Game
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
. After the trade to the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, he was initially denied a place in the game. However, after NL starter Ken Griffey, Jr.
Ken Griffey, Jr.
George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey, Jr. , nicknamed "Junior" and "The Kid", is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and during his final years, designated hitter...
went on the disabled list, Beltrán was named his substitute. Beltrán became the first player ever to be selected for one All-Star team but play for the other.
In the 2004 MLB playoffs, Beltrán tied Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...
's single postseason record with 8 home runs. He had one in each of the first four games of the NLCS
National League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Championship Series is a round in the postseason that determines who wins the National League pennant and advances to Major League Baseball's championship, the World Series, facing the winner of the American League Championship Series. The reigning...
against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, including a game-winner in Game 4. Following his 2 home runs in Game 5 of the previous NLDS
National League Division Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Division Series determine which two teams from the National League will advance to the National League Championship Series...
against the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, this gave Beltrán five consecutive postseason games with a home run, setting a record.
2005–2006
Following Beltrán's impressive performance in the 2004 season, he became a free agent. The New York YankeesNew York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
were tipped as favorites and Beltrán allegedly offered them a $19 million discount. The Yankees declined and the crosstown New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
signed him to a 7-year, $119-million contract, the biggest in franchise history at the time. It was the tenth contract in baseball history to surpass $100 million.
On August 11, 2005, in a game against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
at Petco Park
PETCO Park
Petco Park is an open-air ballpark in downtown San Diego, California, USA. It opened in 2004, replacing Qualcomm Stadium as the home park of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres. Before then, the Padres shared Qualcomm Stadium with the NFL's San Diego Chargers...
, Beltrán was seriously injured after colliding head-to-head with fellow Mets outfielder Mike Cameron
Mike Cameron
Michael Terrance Cameron is an American professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He has previously played for the Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, and Florida Marlins.Cameron has won 3...
when both were diving to catch a ball in shallow right center field. Cameron missed the rest of the season with a concussion, temporary loss of vision, and two broken cheekbones. Beltrán suffered vertigo
Vertigo (medical)
Vertigo is a type of dizziness, where there is a feeling of motion when one is stationary. The symptoms are due to a dysfunction of the vestibular system in the inner ear...
for a while, although both players eventually recovered.
Quadriceps injury bothered him most of the season and limited his speed. In 582 at bats, Beltrán's stats included career lows in batting average (.266), home runs (16), runs batted in (78), runs scored (83), and stolen bases (17). Despite these numbers, he was still voted to his second All-Star team.
Carlos Beltrán played for Puerto Rico in the 2006 World Baseball Classic
World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and created by Major League Baseball , the Major League Baseball Players Association , and other professional baseball leagues and their players associations around the world...
, joining Carlos Delgado
Carlos Delgado
Carlos Juan Delgado Hernández is a retired Puerto Rican professional baseball player. With 473 home runs and 1,512 RBI, he holds the all-time home run and RBI records among Puerto Rican players....
, Bernie Williams
Bernie Williams
Bernabé Williams Figueroa Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and Puerto Rican musician.-Early life:...
, Javier Vazquez
Javier Vázquez
Javier Carlos Vázquez is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. Previously, he pitched for the Florida Marlins , Atlanta Braves , Chicago White Sox , Arizona Diamondbacks , New York Yankees and Montreal Expos . Vázquez was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico...
, Iván Rodríguez
Iván Rodríguez
Iván Rodríguez Torres , nicknamed "Pudge" and "I-Rod", is a Major League Baseball catcher...
and others on the team managed by St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
third base coach Jose Oquendo
José Oquendo
José Manuel Roberto Guillermo Oquendo Contreras is a former Major League Baseball infielder and the current third base coach for the St. Louis Cardinals...
. Beltrán's 2006 season was an upgrade on his first year in New York. Helped by 10 home runs in May, he surpassed his home run total from the previous year before the 2006 season was half over. Beltrán's performance secured him a spot in the 2006 All-Star Game
2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 77th playing of the midseason exhibition baseball game between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 11, 2006 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh,...
, his third. He was joined by five other Mets, including three other starters. Beltrán was a standout for the NL as the only batter with multiple hits, along with two stolen bases. He scored the go-ahead run that gave the National League a 2–1 lead in the third inning. Beltrán might have been the game's MVP, but the American League came back to win in the 9th inning. Beltrán hit grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
s in consecutive games on July 16 and 18, becoming the 22nd player to do so. Another grand slam at the end of July made him only the third Met to hit three in one season. Beltrán continued to produce with a walk-off home run
Walk-off home run
In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives the home team the lead in the bottom of the final inning of the game—either the ninth inning, or any extra inning, or any other regularly scheduled final inning...
against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
on August 22, off Cardinals' closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
and current Met Jason Isringhausen
Jason Isringhausen
Jason Derik Isringhausen is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher.-New York Mets:Isringhausen was chosen as a draft-and-follow prospect by the New York Mets in the 44th round of the 1991 Major League Baseball Draft...
. It was Beltrán's second walk-off of the season, following a 16th-inning gamewinner against the Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
Beltrán's 41 home runs tied the Mets' single season record for homers, matching Todd Hundley
Todd Hundley
Todd Randolph Hundley is a former Major League Baseball catcher and outfielder. He is the son of former Chicago Cubs catcher Randy Hundley...
's total in 1996. His 127 runs scored gave him sole possession of the Mets' single season franchise mark. He and teammate José Reyes won the Silver Slugger Award at their respective positions. He also tied for the major league lead in times reached base on an error (13).
Beltrán's defense was also recognized during the 2006 season, as he received his first Gold Glove
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
award. He made only 2 errors in 372 chances to give him a .995 fielding percentage, and recorded 13 outfield assists and 6 double plays. He also won a Fielding Bible Award
Fielding Bible Award
A Fielding Bible Award recognizes the best defensive player for each fielding position in Major League Baseball based on statistical analysis. John Dewan and Baseball Info Solutions conduct the annual selection process...
as the top fielding center fielder in MLB. Beltrán came fourth in the National League MVP award voting, behind winner Ryan Howard
Ryan Howard
Ryan James Howard is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies. Nicknamed "The Big Piece", Howard stands and weighs . He bats and throws left-handed....
, Albert Pujols
Albert Pujols
José Alberto Pujols Alcántara , better known as Albert Pujols , is a Dominican-American professional baseball player, who is currently a free agent...
, and Lance Berkman
Lance Berkman
William Lance Berkman is an American professional baseball outfielder and right fielder with the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball....
. Returning to the playoffs, Beltrán hit three home runs in the 2006 NLCS
2006 National League Championship Series
The National League Championship Series , the second round of the 2006 National League playoffs, began on October 12 and ended on October 19; it was scheduled to begin on October 11, but was postponed a day because of inclement weather. The St...
, bringing his career playoff total to 11 home runs in 22 games, though he was struck out by Adam Wainwright
Adam Wainwright
Adam Parrish Wainwright is a right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was drafted 29th overall by the Atlanta Braves in the 2000 amateur draft. He made his major league debut for the St...
at a crucial moment with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth of Game 7 to end the NLCS and the Cardinals advanced to the World Series
2006 World Series
The 2006 World Series, the 102nd edition of Major League Baseball's championship series, began on October 21 and ended on October 27, and matched the American League champion Detroit Tigers against the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals won the Series in five games, taking...
.
2007–2008
In the final game before the All-Star game Beltrán connected his 15th home run of the season. On August 29 Beltran had all 5 RBIs for the Mets including a grand slam with 2 outs in the 9th to give the Mets a 5–2 lead. The Mets would win this game 5–4. Beltran hit the last and only Mets home run in the final regular season game at Shea Stadium (the last home run would belong to Dan Uggla
Dan Uggla
Daniel Cooley Uggla is an American professional baseball second baseman with the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball....
). The home run was a two run shot that tied the game 2–2 against the Florida Marlins. Beltran won his 3rd straight Gold Glove award in the outfield for the Mets. He won his second Fielding Bible Award as the top MLB center fielder in 2008.
2009–2011
Beltrán got his 1,000th RBIRun batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
against Scott Olsen
Scott Olsen
Scott Matthew Olsen is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher who is a free agent.-Early life:Olsen was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan...
(Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
) with a triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
in the third inning on April 24, 2009.
In voting for the 2009 All Star Game, Beltrán was third among NL outfielders (2,812,295 votes), trailing only Ryan Braun
Ryan Braun
Ryan Joseph Braun is an American right-handed Major League Baseball left fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers. A perennial standout, he was ranked No...
(4,138,559) and Raúl Ibáñez
Raúl Ibáñez
Raúl Javier Ibáñez is an American Major League Baseball outfielder.Over his career, Ibáñez, who did not make 500 plate appearances until the age of thirty, has batted .280 with 377 doubles, 252 home runs and 1054 runs batted in over sixteen Major League seasons...
(4,053,355).
On January 13, 2010, Beltrán had surgery on his knee and was originally expected to miss 8–12 weeks. The procedure was performed by Beltrán's personal physician Dr. Richard Steadman
Richard Steadman
J. Richard Steadman, M.D. is a specialist knee surgeon, practising in Vail, Colorado and a Clinical Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He is best known medically for his work in the area of microfracture surgery, and publicly for treating injured...
. The Mets have stated that the surgery was done without their consent, and the team expressed their disappointment with Beltrán's decision. However, Beltrán's agent, Scott Boras
Scott Boras
Scott Boras is an American sports agent, specializing in baseball. He is the founder, owner and president of the Boras Corporation, a sports agency based in Newport Beach, Calif. that represents roughly 175 professional baseball clients, including many of the game's highest-profile players...
, claimed that the Mets consented to the procedure. Beltrán played his first game of the 2010 season on July 15.
On May 12, 2011, playing against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
, Beltrán hit three two-run home runs in a 9–5 Mets victory. It was the first three-home run game of his career, and he became only the eighth Mets hitter in history to hit three home runs in a game.
San Francisco Giants
On July 28, 2011, Beltrán was traded from the Mets to the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in exchange for pitching prospect Zack Wheeler. The Mets also sent $4 million cash to the Giants to cover Beltrán's remaining $6.5 million contract, which expires at the end of 2011.
On July 29, 2011, the next day, Beltrán got his first hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
with the Giants (an RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
to left field in the first inning), going 1-for-5 while playing right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. (The Giants eventually lost to the Reds 4-3 in thirteen innings.)
On September 14, 2011, Beltrán hit 2 solo home runs against San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
' starting pitcher Mat Latos
Mat Latos
Mathew Adam "Mat" Latos is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres.-High school and college:...
. He reached 20 home runs for the season and his 300th career home run. Prior to this game, Beltrán has never hit against Mat Latos. Both home runs were hit the right side of the field with Beltrán batting from the left side. The 299th hit the arcade, and the 300th landed in McCovey Cove
McCovey Cove
McCovey Cove is the unofficial name of a section of San Francisco Bay beyond the right field wall of AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, coined after famed Giants first baseman Willie McCovey. The proper name for the cove is China Basin, which is the mouth of Mission Creek as it meets the...
which increased the "Splash Hit" count to 59. Both home runs would prove to be crucial, as the Giants swept the Padres in a 3-game series, with a score of 3-1. His home runs in the series accounted for 4 out of the 14 runs.
Personal life
Beltrán is the cousin of outfielder Reymond Fuentes.Since establishing his foundation, Beltrán began a fund with part of his salary, intending to establish a high school focused on developing young athletes. Construction of the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy began in 2009, being established in the municipality of Florida, Puerto Rico
Florida, Puerto Rico
Florida is a municipality of Puerto Rico located north of Ciales, south of Barceloneta, east of Arecibo, and west of Manatí. Florida is spread over one ward and Florida Pueblo...
. The project has an estimated cost of six million dollars, being built in a terrain of approximately 30 acres (121,405.8 m²). The target date for its inauguration is August 2010, accepting students between the ages of 14 to 18 years, with a curriculum that includes instruction by MLB players.
Beltrán maintains homes in Port Washington
Port Washington, New York
Port Washington is a hamlet and census-designated place in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the community population was 15,846....
, New York and Manatí
Manatí
Manatí may refer to:*Manatí, Puerto Rico*Manatí, Atlántico in Atlantico, Colombia*Manatí, Cuba, a municipality in Las Tunas, CubaManatí is also the Spanish word for manatee.*See also: Special:Allpages/Manatí...
, Puerto Rico.
Accomplishments
- American League Rookie of the Year (Kansas City Royals, 1999)
- American League Player of the MonthPlayer of the MonthThe Player of the Month Award is a Major League Baseball award named by each league every month of the regular season. The National League started recognizing the award on June 4, 1958. National League president Warren Giles conducted a poll of baseball writers in each Major League city and...
(Kansas City Royals, April 2004) - Tied single postseason record for home runs (Astros-8)
- Won NL Gold Glove (New York Mets, 2006–2008)
- Won NL Silver SluggerSilver SluggerThe Silver Slugger Award is awarded annually to the best offensive player at each position in both the American League and the National League, as determined by the coaches and managers of Major League Baseball...
(New York Mets, 2006–2007) - Won Fielding Bible AwardFielding Bible AwardA Fielding Bible Award recognizes the best defensive player for each fielding position in Major League Baseball based on statistical analysis. John Dewan and Baseball Info Solutions conduct the annual selection process...
at center field (New York Mets, 2006, 2008) - Mets single season record holder for runs scored (127) ahead of Edgardo AlfonzoEdgardo AlfonzoEdgardo Antonio Alfonzo a.k.a. "Fonzie" is a former Major League Baseball infielder who most recently played for the Yomiuri Giants. He bats and throws right-handed, and is tall and weighs...
and José Reyes. - Mets single season record holder for home runs (41) tied with Todd HundleyTodd HundleyTodd Randolph Hundley is a former Major League Baseball catcher and outfielder. He is the son of former Chicago Cubs catcher Randy Hundley...
. - 6-time All-StarAll-starAll-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
(2004–2007, 2009, 2011) - 1,000th Run scored (Aug. 12, 2008)
- Highest stolen base percentage in MLB since 2000 (minimum of 250 attempts): 88%
- 1,000th RBI (Apr. 24, 2009)
- 8th player in MLB history to have a 3 2-run HR game (2011)
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- Players from Puerto Rico in MLB
- List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
- 30-30 club30-30 clubThe 30–30 club is a grouping of Major League Baseball players who have reached the 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases plateaus in the same season....
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBIs
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- French immigration to Puerto RicoFrench immigration to Puerto RicoThe French immigration to Puerto Rico came about as a result of the economic and political situations which occurred in various places such as Louisiana , Saint-Domingue and in Europe....