Adrian Beltre went 1-4 in the Rangers' game against the Orioles on Saturday, and is now one hit away from 3,000 hits. The 38-year-old has had a Hall of Fame-like career ever since he broke out in the league in 1998 at the age of 19. Regardless, whether Beltre gets into Cooperstown or not, he has had a memorable career. Let's take a look.
Early years as a Dodger
Beltre had two average seasons before breaking out with a 20 home run, 85 RBI campaign at the age of 21 years old. At the age of 25 years old, Beltre had a near-MVP-like season. He led the National League with 48 home runs and had 121 RBIs with a .334 batting average.
Beltre finished with a Silver Slugger that season even though he missed out on the All-Star Game. It was Beltre's last season with the Dodgers.
Moving on to Seattle
Beltre would go on to sign a deal with the Mariners. He would spend the next five seasons in Seattle. In those years, he would win two Gold Glove awards. Beltre would go on to have four straight respectable seasons by totalling 95 home runs and 353 RBIs. Beltre would have a rough season at the age of 30 in 2009. Beltre would only play in 111 games in his last season as a Mariner.
The career years
In his lone season in Boston, Beltre would make his first All-Star Game. Beltre would finish the year with 28 home runs and 102 RBIs, not to mention an American League-leading 49 doubles.
Beltre would leave Boston to sign a five-year deal with the Texas Rangers.
Beltre would find success immediately. In his first season with the Rangers, Beltre would finish the season with 32 home runs and 105 RBIs. He would make another All-Star Game, win a Silver Slugger, and a Gold Glove. The next season he would make another All-Star Game, and win another Gold Glove.
This season featured 36 long balls and 102 RBIs.
He would finish the 2013 campaign with his third straight 30 or more home run season. In 2014, he would make another All-Star Game, and win another Silver Slugger. In 2015, he would only hit 18 home runs, but would finish seventh in MVP voting. Last season, at the age of 37, he hit 32 home runs and drove in 102, while winning a Gold Glove.
Totaling up
In his career, Beltre has hit 454 career home runs, driven in 1,607, hit .286 for his career, won five Gold Gloves, and won four Silver Sluggers. Now, Beltre is set to join an elite club once he collects one more hit. Reaching 3,000 career hits should help Beltre's resume to get to Cooperstown. Even at this age, he shows no sign of slowing down, so who knows what he can still accomplish?
