Adrian Beltre

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #2 prospect in 1998
  Beltre was the Florida State League's top prospect after contending for a triple crown. The Dodgers, who have often rushed their position prospects, have shown unusual patience with Beltre, letting him spend two full years in Class A. Beltre may be the most gifted player in the minors. All his tools are at least above-average. His hitting and power are on par with Paul Konerko's. He has above-average speed and the strongest arm in the organization outside of Raul Mondesi. Any weakness in Beltre's package would be a matter of comparison with his own tools. He hasn't shown any weaknesses in two years of minor league ball. Beltre would be considered the top prospect in just about any organization. The most likely scenario is for Beltre to take over third base in 1999 with Konerko at first.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #4 prospect in 1997
  Beltre’s first season in the United States was impressive. He was named the top prospect in the South Atlantic League and ranked No. 9 in the California League, where he was the youngest player. Beltre is a four-tool player with everything except above-average speed. He has an outstanding arm, great hands and hits for average and power. His instincts and physique remind some of Raul Mondesi. Speed and experience are the only thing missing in Beltre’s game. The former isn’t a necessity and the latter will come as he progresses through the system. Beltre will probably start the season with high Class A Vero Beach. If he has a good first half, he’ll move to Double-A San Antonio.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Texas League #1 prospect in 1998
  Beltre began the year in San Antonio and quickly showed why he was the preseason favorite for the Minor League Player of the Year. He feasted on the Texas League pitchers and ran well. His weakest area might have been his defense, but he showed improvement there. “He’s got all the tools,” Tulsa manager Bobby Jones said. “He’s got a chance to be a good fielder. And he was hungry when we played them.” Beltre was promoted in June, not to Triple-A Albuquerque, but to the Dodgers. “He can do just about everything,” San Antonio manager Lance Parrish said. Last year, Beltre was the No. 1 prospect in the Florida State League, where he led the league in home runs and RBIs and finished fourth in average.
• 
  Ranked California League #1 prospect in 1997
  Don’t take Beltre’s full season in the league as a sign there’s something wrong with his game. There isn’t. Beltre was the star of the Florida State League, battling for the triple crown with league highs in homers and RBIs to go with the fourth-best average. “There was no room for advancement and he actually benefited from playing the whole year here,” said his Vero Beach manager John Shoemaker, who also watched Beltre last season when he was the South Atlantic League’s top prospect. “He was able to show he could be consistent even when teams tried to make adjustments. He became a more patient, better hitter.” The Dodgers weren’t in a rush to move Beltre. His tools--all but speed are well above-average--make one of baseball’s elite prospects. His defense can be just as impressive as his bat. His range is excellent, though he sometimes gets to balls and forces errant throws from his powerful arm. “He just has to get more consistent with throwing,” said another manager. “He has a great arm. He just has to control it.”
• 
  Ranked California League #9 prospect in 1996
  At 18, Beltre was the youngest player in the California League. He made the jump at midseason after starting the year in the South Atlantic League, where he was voted the No. 1 prospect. Beltre offers pretty near a complete package. He hits for both power and average, and he has a strong glove and arm at third base. His running is the part of his game that needs the most work at this point. “He’s young and strong and has great bat speed,” his San Bernardino manager Del Crandall said. “He’s going to be a good one.”
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #1 prospect in 1996
  Prospect watchers came for the offense and stayed for the defense. Beltre showed four tools with Savannah and projects as an improved runner. Managers loved Beltre’s aggressiveness at the plate. They also rated his arm as the best among South Atlantic League infielders. “Adrian adjusted as if he had been playing professionally for several years,” Savannah manager John Shoemaker said. “He was ready to hit every kind of pitch thrown to him. Of all the tools he has, his maturity may have been what stood out.”

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #3 prospect in 1998
• Ranked Baseball America's #30 prospect in 1997

• December, 1997 Scouting Report
  Beltre was the Florida State League's top prospect after contending for a triple crown. The Dodgers, who have often rushed their position prospects, have shown unusual patience with Beltre, letting him spend two full years in Class A. Beltre may be the most gifted player in the minors. All his tools are at least above-average. His hitting and power are on par with Paul Konerko's. He has above-average speed and the strongest arm in the organization outside of Raul Mondesi. Any weakness in Beltre's package would be a matter of comparison with his own tools. He hasn't shown any weaknesses in two years of minor league ball. Beltre would be considered the top prospect in just about any organization. The most likely scenario is for Beltre to take over third base in 1999 with Konerko at first.
• December, 1997 Scouting Report
  Beltre began the year in San Antonio and quickly showed why he was the preseason favorite for the Minor League Player of the Year. He feasted on the Texas League pitchers and ran well. His weakest area might have been his defense, but he showed improvement there. “He’s got all the tools,” Tulsa manager Bobby Jones said. “He’s got a chance to be a good fielder. And he was hungry when we played them.” Beltre was promoted in June, not to Triple-A Albuquerque, but to the Dodgers. “He can do just about everything,” San Antonio manager Lance Parrish said. Last year, Beltre was the No. 1 prospect in the Florida State League, where he led the league in home runs and RBIs and finished fourth in average.
• December, 1996 Scouting Report
  Beltre’s first season in the United States was impressive. He was named the top prospect in the South Atlantic League and ranked No. 9 in the California League, where he was the youngest player. Beltre is a four-tool player with everything except above-average speed. He has an outstanding arm, great hands and hits for average and power. His instincts and physique remind some of Raul Mondesi. Speed and experience are the only thing missing in Beltre’s game. The former isn’t a necessity and the latter will come as he progresses through the system. Beltre will probably start the season with high Class A Vero Beach. If he has a good first half, he’ll move to Double-A San Antonio.
• December, 1996 Scouting Report
  Don’t take Beltre’s full season in the league as a sign there’s something wrong with his game. There isn’t. Beltre was the star of the Florida State League, battling for the triple crown with league highs in homers and RBIs to go with the fourth-best average. “There was no room for advancement and he actually benefited from playing the whole year here,” said his Vero Beach manager John Shoemaker, who also watched Beltre last season when he was the South Atlantic League’s top prospect. “He was able to show he could be consistent even when teams tried to make adjustments. He became a more patient, better hitter.” The Dodgers weren’t in a rush to move Beltre. His tools--all but speed are well above-average--make one of baseball’s elite prospects. His defense can be just as impressive as his bat. His range is excellent, though he sometimes gets to balls and forces errant throws from his powerful arm. “He just has to get more consistent with throwing,” said another manager. “He has a great arm. He just has to control it.”
• December, 1995 Scouting Report
  Prospect watchers came for the offense and stayed for the defense. Beltre showed four tools with Savannah and projects as an improved runner. Managers loved Beltre’s aggressiveness at the plate. They also rated his arm as the best among South Atlantic League infielders. “Adrian adjusted as if he had been playing professionally for several years,” Savannah manager John Shoemaker said. “He was ready to hit every kind of pitch thrown to him. Of all the tools he has, his maturity may have been what stood out.”
• December, 1995 Scouting Report
  At 18, Beltre was the youngest player in the California League. He made the jump at midseason after starting the year in the South Atlantic League, where he was voted the No. 1 prospect. Beltre offers pretty near a complete package. He hits for both power and average, and he has a strong glove and arm at third base. His running is the part of his game that needs the most work at this point. “He’s young and strong and has great bat speed,” his San Bernardino manager Del Crandall said. “He’s going to be a good one.”