Engel Beltre Stats & Scouting Report

AB	11
AVG	.273
OBP	.273
SLG	.273
HR	0

Full name Engel Manuel Beltre
Born 11/01/1989 in Santo Domingo Centro, Dominican Republic
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 180 / Bats: L / Throws: L
Debut 06/26/2013

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Beltre signed with the Red Sox for $600,000 when the 2006 international signing period opened in 2006, then one year later went to the Rangers along with outfielder David Murphy and lefthander Kason Gabbard in the trade-deadline deal that sent reliever Eric Gagne to Boston. More known for his immaturity than his talent (he was suspended 15 games in 2011 after throwing a trash can into the stands while at Double-A Frisco), Beltre made his major league debut in June, bouncing between Texas and Triple-A Round Rock the rest of the 2013 season. His best tools show up in center field, where his plus speed gives him good range and his plus arm gives him another weapon. He's not as adept at using his speed on the basepaths, as he was only successful on 53 percent of stolen base attempts in 2013. Beltre lacks the bat to be an everyday player. He has a lefthanded stroke and occasional home run power to his pull side, but his swing path leads to a lot of balls on the ground, so he's not a power threat. He has a big leg kick, a long swing and impatient hitting approach, which cuts into his on-base ability. With an iffy bat and good defense, Beltre has a chance to stick around as an extra outfielder. He's on the 40-man roster and out of options, so if the Rangers don't keep him in the majors, he could end up in another organization.
The centerpiece of the 2007 Eric Gagne trade with the Red Sox, Beltre struggled to slow the game down in his first taste of high Class A in 2009. He made big progress in his return last season, taking off after moving to the No. 3 slot in the Bakersfield lineup, where he hit .356/.402/.485. He started fast after a July promotion to Double-A, then cooled off. Beltre has an exciting package of tools, though there are varying opinions about his power potential. Some evaluators say he has plus raw power and envision him developing at least average game power, while others see him maxing out at 12-15 homers per year. He has a quick lefthanded swing and the ability to hit for average. Beltre made a concerted effort to be more patient last year, but at times he still tries to kill the ball, causing him to roll his front shoulder and not see the ball as well. Beltre has plus speed and is very aggressive on the basepaths--sometimes too aggressive. His range and instincts will make him a plus defender in center field, and his arm is both strong and accurate. The Rangers added Beltre to the 40-man roster and he will start 2011 back at Frisco as a 21-year-old. If he continues to refine his offensive approach, he could arrive in Texas sometime the following season.
The Red Sox signed Beltre for $600,000 in 2006 and traded him to Texas along with Kason Gabbard and David Murphy for Eric Gagne at the 2007 trade deadline. Beltre led the Midwest League in runs and hits in 2008, but he hit .227/.281.317 as a 19-year-old in high Class A last year. He's a premium athlete with the most exciting all-around tools package in the system, but his bat is a question mark. Beltre has yet to unlock the raw power potential in his wiry frame, partly because he's a free swinger who struggles to make consistent contact. The Rangers instructed him to focus on seeing more pitches in 2009, and the adjustment seemed to help, but every time he experienced success he would revert to hacking away early in counts. Beltre's above-average speed makes him a basestealing threat and translates into good range in center field, where he plays shallow and has the ability to track down balls over his head. He has a strong, accurate arm and good instincts, and he could be an elite defender as he matures. Beltre is a high-energy player who wants to be great, and he needs to do a better job slowing the game down. Still, he has progressed further than most players his age and has plenty of time to develop into the five-tool star he shows glimpses of now and then. Beltre will return to Bakersfield to start 2010.
The Red Sox signed Beltre for $600,000 in 2006 and sent him to Texas along with Kason Gabbard and David Murphy for Eric Gagne at the 2007 trading deadline. In his first full season with the Rangers, Beltre led the Midwest League in runs (87) and hits (160) despite being the circuit's youngest player. He ranked as the league's No. 6 prospect. Beltre's five-tool package has garnered comparisons to big leaguers from Barry Bonds to Kenny Lofton to Andruw Jones. His wiry-strong frame and quick bat easily generate above-average raw power, and his plus speed is an asset on the basepaths and in the outfield. His arm, which rates as a 55 on the 20-80 scouting scale, and his good instincts could make him a premium defender in center. He's a high-energy player and a natural leader. Beltre is aggressive in all phases and sometimes has trouble slowing the game down. He's a free swinger who must improve his patience and pitch selection. While he can punish balls out of the zone at times, he'll have to force more advanced pitchers to throw him strikes. Beltre remains raw but his development is well ahead of schedule and his upside is enormous. Down the road, he could be a five-tool superstar center fielder. He'll advance to high Class A in 2009 and could reach the majors before he turns 22.
The Red Sox signed Beltre for $600,000 in 2006 and traded him to Texas along with Kason Gabbard and David Murphy for Eric Gagne last July. After shining in his Rangers debut, Beltre reported early to instructional league, where the gifted athlete further impressed by bowling a strike in the first roll of his life during the club's bowling tournament. Scouts drooled over Beltre's legitimate five-tool potential after he signed with Boston, with one even comparing him to a young Barry Bonds. The Rangers liken his wiry-strong frame to that of a young Kenny Lofton, and like Lofton he's an above-average runner who gets good jumps and reads in center field to go along with a plus arm. Beltre has a loose swing and quick wrists and projects to hit for above-average power as he fills out. Though Beltre has good bat control and isn't afraid to work the count, he tends to get jumpy with runners on base. His swing can get too big and he's prone to chasing pitches in the dirt. He's raw in every phase of the game and hasn't yet figured out how to use his speed on the basepaths. Given time and at-bats, Beltre could blossom into a true five-tool superstar, but he's a long way off. He'll likely start 2008 in extended spring training before heading back to Spokane.
Besides all the talent they signed out of the 2006 draft, the Red Sox also are excited about a pair of Dominicans they landed for a combined $1.125 million during the summer: Beltre and shortstop Oscar Tejada. Said one international scouting director of Beltre, who signed for $600,000: "Beltre to me is a young Barry Bonds--all five tools. He can do it all. He's going to be terrifying when he fills into that body." Barry Bonds comparisons are hyperbole at this point for a 17-year-old who has yet to get a pro plate appearance, though another scout likened him to Darryl Strawberry. Beltre's most enticing tool is his power potential. He has a solid swing with natural loft, and his hands whip the bat through the strike zone. He also has more plate discipline than most young Latin American players. Beltre has above-average speed and arm strength. If he doesn't stick in center field, he still profiles well in right field. He spent some of his youth in New York, so he speaks English and is comfortable in the United States. He's years from the majors and needs a lot of physical maturity, but the Red Sox can't wait to see what Beltre does in the Gulf Coast League this summer.

Minor League Top Prospects

Beltre rebounded from a disappointing .227/.281/.317 season with Bakersfield in 2009 to show off his tantalizing five-tool potential the Rangers dreamed on when acquiring him from the Red Sox in the Eric Gagne trade in 2007. Beltre did a better job this year of making contact and hitting the ball with authority. His home run power has yet to develop, but he still has the potential to his 15-20 annually once his body fills out. His defense is more polished than his offense, and Blaze manager Bill Haselman insists Beltre could play center field in the majors today. He covers a lot of ground in center and has a strong, accurate throwing arm. He has above-average speed.
Acquired from the Red Sox in the Eric Gagne trade in 2007, Beltre came to the TL after a strong first-half performance in the high Class A California League, where he consistently hit the ball with authority for the first time in his career. He struggled again with the bat when he faced Double-A pitching. Beltre has gotten bigger and stronger in the last couple of seasons and can put a charge in the ball on occasion. He has the raw power to hit double-digit home runs, but he usually just takes pitches to the opposite field. He struggles against breaking stuff but did a better job this season of cutting down on his strikeouts. Beltre's best tool is probably his speed, which allows him to easily cover ground in center field. He also has a strong arm and should be an above-average defender.
The MWL's youngest player at age 18, Beltre also had the highest ceiling among its position players. The league leader in runs (87) and hits (160), he's a fast-twitch athlete with all five tools. Beltre has a very quick, sound swing that generates easy power, and he has the hand speed to turn around quality fastballs. He's more fluid than Revere in center field and on the basepaths, and he also owns a plus arm. The only question with Beltre is his aggressiveness--he walked just 15 times in 130 games--which may create problems at upper levels when pitchers will feed him fewer strikes. "He's a bad-ball hitter," a second American League scout said. "He was swinging at everything, but he hit it, smoking it everywhere. He's ready to hit every pitch."
The Rangers wouldn't agree to send Gagne to the Red Sox until Boston included Beltre in the deal. He hit just .208 in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League but improved his average 102 points in the AZL. His bat is still raw, as his huge power potential leads him to take big cuts and jump at pitches. League observers agreed that Beltre will hit for a solid average. He has easy power despite his undeveloped frame, with natural whip in his swing. His pitch recognition improved as the year progressed, as he learned which pitches he could drive and which he should hit on the ground and try to beat out with his plus-plus speed. In center field, he glides to the ball and could become a premium defender. When all is said and done, his only below-average tool should be his arm strength. "He made everyone around him better," Rangers manager Pedro Lopez said. "He bought into our plan and got better. It's almost harder for him being 17 and having that power. He'll hit, but whether he'll hit .270 or .300, I don't know."