Blazing A Trail to the Majors
Friday, July 30, 2010
(By: Reese Gordon) Those who follow the Rangers minor league system know who the top prospects are. Several have already made their way to Arlington and some are just now starting to blossom in the lower levels of the minors. One promising young talent, 'Riders center fielder Engel Beltre, is starting to show flashes of why so many hold him in high regard.
As the No. 14 prospect in the Rangers system according to Baseball America, Beltre is having a breakout season in 2010. The 20-year-old from the Dominican Republic started this year in High-A Bakersfield where he hit .331 with five home runs and 35 RBI over 68 games. Beltre has continued to impress since joining the Frisco lineup and his blazing speed has caused problems for opposing pitchers once he reaches base.
Beltre says manager Steve Buechele made it very clear as to what he expects from Engel.
"He (Buechele) told me that he expected me to play hard every day and just have fun," Beltre says. "He wants me to play my game."
Beltre, considered to be a "five-tool player", says he has wanted to play in the major leagues since he was a 15-year-old living in the Dominican. It is there where he was discovered by a scout from the Boston Red Sox.
"The scout said I was a good, young kid. He liked my tools," Beltre says. "He noticed I could run, hit, and do it all. We've got baseball in our blood in the Dominican. I used to play baseball in the streets with my friends and that is how a lot of players get discovered by the scouts."
RoughRiders Manager Steve Buechele has been impressed with how Engel has developed on the mental side of baseball.
"He's a very gifted kid, very strong," Buechele says. "I think it's just a part of him maturing and growing up as we are starting to see some of those talents come out now."
Beltre's ability to impact every game in different ways makes him very exciting for the fans and his own team.
"He's (Beltre) been big for us because he's swinging the bat well," Buechele says. "When he gets on base, he's a thrill. As a fan, he would be a blast to watch because you never know what he's going to do next."
When Engel connects for a base hit or draws a walk, he senses that the opposing pitcher is wary of his presence on the base paths.
"When I get to the base, the pitcher may be nervous," he says. "I'm always ready to run."
Beltre stole 10 bases over his time (68 games) in Bakersfield this season and has stolen three bases in his first 25 games with the 'Riders. He knows that using his ability to steal bases and turn singles into extra-base hits will only help him in his journey to the Major Leagues.
As a teenager, Beltre patterned his game after a very speedy outfielder who stole 622 bases over 17 seasons.
"When I was little, one of my favorite players was Kenny Lofton," he says. "As I started getting older and watching more baseball, I liked Ken Griffey Jr. and David Ortiz."
While the Rangers and fans of the organization have plenty of reasons to be high on Beltre, Buechele says that it is imperative for him to continue to develop and cut out some of the mistakes that young players often make.
"You can be tabbed as a young kid for so long," he says. "He needs to start playing this game like a man, which he is. He has a unique skill set and over time he's only going to get better and better."
