Born08/24/1981 in Santo Domingo Centro, Dominican Republic
ProfileHt.: 6'3" / Wt.: 230 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Debut06/30/2010
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
After signing for a $650,000 bonus in 2000, Beltre ranked as the No. 10 prospect in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, just behind Jason Botts and Adrian Gonzalez. But while those players have slugged their way to the majors, Beltre's prospect status slid as he was discovered to be a year older than originally believed, his weight ballooned and he was caught in a visa scandal that forced him to remain in the Dominican Republic and pitch in the Dominican Summer League in 2005. Beltre made the best of his situation, getting his weight back down to 215 pounds and dominating the DSL with a mid-90s fastball that reached 97. He also has decent command of a slider that he used as an out pitch in the summer, plus a splitter he featured more prominently in winter ball. Makeup questions used to dog Beltre, but several Rangers officials have sat down with him in the past year and are convinced he's more focused on his career. He has the electric arm to be an effective late-innings power reliever, but he's 24 years old and has to prove himself in Double-A this year.
Former scouting director Chuck McMichael concentrated on big-ticket signings in the Dominican Republic. The Rangers snatched Beltre away from the Reds for a $650,000 bonus at age 17. He has handled the trying move of coming to the United States at such a young age. Beltre has a live arm and can throw his plus four-seam fastball past hitters. He has the frame that should allow him to grow into a power pitcher. Beltre needs an offspeed pitch to complement his fastball and slider. He uses a changeup but isn't fully comfortable with it. He had some control problems last season. A dose of humility also would be helpful. Beltre can be headstrong and reluctant to take coaching. He'll need to develop physically and mentally into a pitcher to continue his success as he jumps to full-season ball in 2002.
The Rangers gave Beltre a significant bonus when they signed him out of the Dominican last February, and the early returns were promising. Despite being young and raw, he wasn't overwhelmed by coming straight to the U.S. and facing Gulf Coast League hitters. He ranked as the No. 10 prospect in the GCL. Beltre relied on a fastball-slider combination, and he throws hard enough to work high in the strike zone with a four-seam fastball. He doesn't have an advanced changeup, though he can throw strikes and set up hitters. At this point, his biggest needs are to grow stronger and gain more experience. He has a very projectable body and the Rangers believe he can be an innings-eater.
Minor League Top Prospects
Alfaro and Newman ranked Beltre, 18, the ace of the champion Rangers, the best pitcher in the Southern Division.
"He's very polished for his age," Newman said. "He's primarily a fastball-slider pitcher, but really knows how to work the ball up and down in the strike zone."
"He also knows how to change speeds and hit the corners," Alfaro said. "His changeup is excellent."
Scouting Reports
Alfaro and Newman ranked Beltre, 18, the ace of the champion Rangers, the best pitcher in the Southern Division.
"He's very polished for his age," Newman said. "He's primarily a fastball-slider pitcher, but really knows how to work the ball up and down in the strike zone."
"He also knows how to change speeds and hit the corners," Alfaro said. "His changeup is excellent."
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