Carlos Beltran

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #1 prospect in 1999
  Beltran spent his first three years in the Royals organization watching the term "tools player" grow steadily in size and strength by his name. The term served as an apology for Beltran's lack of performance, as it does for many young but raw outfielders. Everything changed last winter in the Puerto Rican League. Beltran's physical maturity and knowledge of the game began to catch up with his tools and he won a spot in the league's all-star game. The 1998 season was Beltran's coming out party, as he shot through the high Class A Carolina and Double-A Texas leagues and finished the year playing center field in Kansas City, only 12 months removed from a .229-11-46 season in Class A. The Royals have never had any questions about Beltran's defensive abilities and speed. He has outstanding range in center field and above-average arm strength, and the Royals will move incumbent Johnny Damon to right field in 1999 to accommodate Beltran's abilities. Two things stood out in Beltran's offensive growth in 1998. His walk-to-strikeout ratio improved dramatically, and he picked up 57 extra-base hits compared with 30 the year before. Both are signs that Beltran has started recognizing pitches he can handle and drive. Beltran was impressive in his major league debut in September but will still go into 1999 with just 240 at-bats above Class A. He will have to show that the improvements he made in 1998 carry over. The one skill area that Beltran could use dramatic improvement in is his baserunning. Despite well above-average speed, Beltran is not an aggressive baserunner, either on steal attempts or on balls he hits into the gaps. Beltran was among the Puerto Rican League's leading hitters early this winter, further confirming the Royals commitment to him in center field in 1999. He will enter the season at about the same age and development level as Damon did in 1996. The Royals hope that Beltran's learning curve is higher than Damon's and his ceiling higher.
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #5 prospect in 1998
  Beltran skipped low Class A in 1997 but struggled offensively in the high Class A Carolina League. He rebounded with a strong winter in his native Puerto Rico (.241-3-20 in 162 at-bats for Arecibo) and played in that league’s all-star game. A quality athlete with easy actions, Beltran has the chance to be a five-tool player with increased strength and hitting skills. He is already the organization’s best defensive center fielder and is developing more power in his swing. Beltran’s progress will be dictated by his bat, which has plenty of holes. For one of the fastest players in the organization, he is not an accomplished baserunner and basestealer. Beltran’s success this winter in Puerto Rico will give him a shot at Double-A in 1998 if he has a strong spring showing.
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #2 prospect in 1997
  The Royals were divided on whether to draft Beltran or Juan LeBron with their first-round pick in 1995. They took LeBron but Beltran quickly has become the more favored prospect. Beltran is a five-tool player. He’s a natural center fielder with above-average speed and an exceptional arm. He has such uncanny hitting instincts that he took to switch-hitting in 1996 almost overnight. Beltran gets overanxious and must stop trying to hit the ball out of the park all the time. He needs to refine his bunting ability to take advantage of his speed. Nagging injuries and cold weather hurt Beltran’s performance at low Class A Lansing, but he could skip that step with a strong performance this winter in Puerto Rico.
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #4 prospect in 1996
  Beltran was projected as a first-round pick last winter, but nagging injuries and sporadic performance caused his stock to fall slightly. He’s one of the most complete players the Royals have drafted in years and was more impressive than fellow Puerto Rican Juan Lebron, who was Kansas City’s first-round pick and batted just .177 in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Beltran is a natural center fielder with a very strong arm, above-average speed and great instincts. He won’t have outstanding power, but he should hit between 15-20 homers per year to go with a high average. Switch-hitting is a possibility because his lefthanded stroke is promising. Beltran was the Royals’ most improved player in instructional league. He just needs the maturity at the plate that will come with more at-bats. Beltran will play at low Class A Lansing this year. The Royals expect him to bypass a level, but it will be 1999 before he reaches the majors.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Carolina League #7 prospect in 1998
  Voted the Carolina League’s most exciting player at midseason, Beltran provided plenty of excitement before being promoted right after the all-star break from Wilmington to Double-A Wichita. He was a near-unanimous choice by the league’s managers in two other tools categories: best outfield arm and best defensive outfielder. “He has speed and power and has outstanding range in the outfield,” Salem manager Jay Loviglio said. Winston-Salem manager Chris Cron described Beltran as the league’s top five-tool talent, a center fielder who can hit for power and average and run well to go with his arm and defensive package. The Royals rewarded Beltran with a September callup to the big leagues after his stay with Wichita.
• 
  Ranked Texas League #5 prospect in 1998
  Beltran didn’t even come to the Texas League until July, but he quickly made an impact with Wichita. Like other five-tool outfielders among the league’s top prospects, Beltran flashed a nice arm, good speed and a quick, powerful bat. He made the transition from Class A ball look simple. “It was real easy for him,” Wichita manager John Mizerock said. “He has the physical tools to be a superstar.” “He’s got a real tall, strong body,” Midland manager Don Long said. “He does things easily.”
• 
  Ranked Northwest League #8 prospect in 1996
  Eugene manager Jim Saul said Beltran will be a complete player if he remains healthy. Other managers seconded that opinion of the Spokane outfielder. Beltran has natural center-field instincts to go with a strong arm and good speed. He’s a switch-hitter who should hit for decent power. “He’s a solid outfielder with all the tools,” Southern Oregon manager Tony DeFrancesco said. “He can run and throw, and he has power potential.”
• 
  Ranked Florida Complex League #9 prospect in 1995
  The Royals spent their first two draft picks on Puerto Rican outfielders, but second-rounder Beltran, not Juan LeBron, made the better impression on managers. Beltran has exceptional speed and throws well. Gulf Coast League Royals manager Bob Herold compared him with a young Eric Davis.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #14 prospect in 1999
• Ranked Baseball America's #93 prospect in 1997

• December, 1998 Scouting Report
  Beltran spent his first three years in the Royals organization watching the term "tools player" grow steadily in size and strength by his name. The term served as an apology for Beltran's lack of performance, as it does for many young but raw outfielders. Everything changed last winter in the Puerto Rican League. Beltran's physical maturity and knowledge of the game began to catch up with his tools and he won a spot in the league's all-star game. The 1998 season was Beltran's coming out party, as he shot through the high Class A Carolina and Double-A Texas leagues and finished the year playing center field in Kansas City, only 12 months removed from a .229-11-46 season in Class A. The Royals have never had any questions about Beltran's defensive abilities and speed. He has outstanding range in center field and above-average arm strength, and the Royals will move incumbent Johnny Damon to right field in 1999 to accommodate Beltran's abilities. Two things stood out in Beltran's offensive growth in 1998. His walk-to-strikeout ratio improved dramatically, and he picked up 57 extra-base hits compared with 30 the year before. Both are signs that Beltran has started recognizing pitches he can handle and drive. Beltran was impressive in his major league debut in September but will still go into 1999 with just 240 at-bats above Class A. He will have to show that the improvements he made in 1998 carry over. The one skill area that Beltran could use dramatic improvement in is his baserunning. Despite well above-average speed, Beltran is not an aggressive baserunner, either on steal attempts or on balls he hits into the gaps. Beltran was among the Puerto Rican League's leading hitters early this winter, further confirming the Royals commitment to him in center field in 1999. He will enter the season at about the same age and development level as Damon did in 1996. The Royals hope that Beltran's learning curve is higher than Damon's and his ceiling higher.
• December, 1997 Scouting Report
  Beltran skipped low Class A in 1997 but struggled offensively in the high Class A Carolina League. He rebounded with a strong winter in his native Puerto Rico (.241-3-20 in 162 at-bats for Arecibo) and played in that league’s all-star game. A quality athlete with easy actions, Beltran has the chance to be a five-tool player with increased strength and hitting skills. He is already the organization’s best defensive center fielder and is developing more power in his swing. Beltran’s progress will be dictated by his bat, which has plenty of holes. For one of the fastest players in the organization, he is not an accomplished baserunner and basestealer. Beltran’s success this winter in Puerto Rico will give him a shot at Double-A in 1998 if he has a strong spring showing.
• December, 1997 Scouting Report
  Beltran didn’t even come to the Texas League until July, but he quickly made an impact with Wichita. Like other five-tool outfielders among the league’s top prospects, Beltran flashed a nice arm, good speed and a quick, powerful bat. He made the transition from Class A ball look simple. “It was real easy for him,” Wichita manager John Mizerock said. “He has the physical tools to be a superstar.” “He’s got a real tall, strong body,” Midland manager Don Long said. “He does things easily.”
• December, 1997 Scouting Report
  Voted the Carolina League’s most exciting player at midseason, Beltran provided plenty of excitement before being promoted right after the all-star break from Wilmington to Double-A Wichita. He was a near-unanimous choice by the league’s managers in two other tools categories: best outfield arm and best defensive outfielder. “He has speed and power and has outstanding range in the outfield,” Salem manager Jay Loviglio said. Winston-Salem manager Chris Cron described Beltran as the league’s top five-tool talent, a center fielder who can hit for power and average and run well to go with his arm and defensive package. The Royals rewarded Beltran with a September callup to the big leagues after his stay with Wichita.
• December, 1996 Scouting Report
  The Royals were divided on whether to draft Beltran or Juan LeBron with their first-round pick in 1995. They took LeBron but Beltran quickly has become the more favored prospect. Beltran is a five-tool player. He’s a natural center fielder with above-average speed and an exceptional arm. He has such uncanny hitting instincts that he took to switch-hitting in 1996 almost overnight. Beltran gets overanxious and must stop trying to hit the ball out of the park all the time. He needs to refine his bunting ability to take advantage of his speed. Nagging injuries and cold weather hurt Beltran’s performance at low Class A Lansing, but he could skip that step with a strong performance this winter in Puerto Rico.
• December, 1995 Scouting Report
  Beltran was projected as a first-round pick last winter, but nagging injuries and sporadic performance caused his stock to fall slightly. He’s one of the most complete players the Royals have drafted in years and was more impressive than fellow Puerto Rican Juan Lebron, who was Kansas City’s first-round pick and batted just .177 in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Beltran is a natural center fielder with a very strong arm, above-average speed and great instincts. He won’t have outstanding power, but he should hit between 15-20 homers per year to go with a high average. Switch-hitting is a possibility because his lefthanded stroke is promising. Beltran was the Royals’ most improved player in instructional league. He just needs the maturity at the plate that will come with more at-bats. Beltran will play at low Class A Lansing this year. The Royals expect him to bypass a level, but it will be 1999 before he reaches the majors.
• December, 1995 Scouting Report
  Eugene manager Jim Saul said Beltran will be a complete player if he remains healthy. Other managers seconded that opinion of the Spokane outfielder. Beltran has natural center-field instincts to go with a strong arm and good speed. He’s a switch-hitter who should hit for decent power. “He’s a solid outfielder with all the tools,” Southern Oregon manager Tony DeFrancesco said. “He can run and throw, and he has power potential.”
• December, 1994 Scouting Report
  The Royals spent their first two draft picks on Puerto Rican outfielders, but second-rounder Beltran, not Juan LeBron, made the better impression on managers. Beltran has exceptional speed and throws well. Gulf Coast League Royals manager Bob Herold compared him with a young Eric Davis.