Guide Note

Adrian Beltre is an All-Star Third Baseman for the Seattle Mariners. He is widely considered as an excellent defensive third baseman. In 2004, he enjoyed an exceptional season with 48 home runs and a .334 batting average. That season he would finish second in Most Valuable Player Award voting, losing to Barry Bonds. He would sign with the Seattle Mariners in 2005, but he would be unable to repeat the numbers he put up during his MVP caliber season with the Dodgers.

Fast Facts

1. Born: April 7, 1979
2. Birth Place: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
3. Birth Name: Adrian Perez Beltre
4. Height: 5'11"
5. Weight: 170 lbs
6. 2004: National League MVP Runner-up

Adrian Perez Beltre was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on April 7, 1979. He would attend high school in Liceo Maximo Gomez High School where he would garner the attention of Major League Baseball scouts. He would be signed to a major league contract at the age of 15. But because of his young age the Dodgers would be disciplined by Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig by suspending their scouting operations in the Dominican Republic for one year.

Beltre would make his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 24, 1998. Beltre would be made the everyday starting third baseman in 1999, and he would steadily improve on his all-around play in the following years. In 2004, he would put up career numbers with 48 home runs, 121 Runs batted in, and a .334 batting average. He would finish second in Most Valuable Player award voting to slugger Barry Bonds. The following season he would sign a lucrative contract with the Seattle Mariners. But he would be unable to repeat the success he had in his last season with the Dodgers. There has been much speculation as to why he has been unable to achieve his potential, experts point to the change in leagues, the fact that his monster season was due to his impending free agency, and even whispers of possible former use of performance enhancing substances. Beltre has been able to deliver with his glove however, winning the Gold Glove at third base in 2007.

• April 7, 1979 : Born
• 1998: Debuts with Los Angeles Dodgers
• 2004: Silver Slugger Award for Third Base
• 2005: Signs with Seattle Mariners
• 2007: Gold Glove Award at Third Base