It was a show of power that the 24-year-old Beltre's manager Gene Lamont told The Chicago Tribune he wasn't surprised to see.
"If you watch him in batting practice," Lamont told The Tribune, "he`s got some pop."
Beltre was in his second season with time in the majors that year in 1992 and in his ninth season as a pro. He went on to play as a pro through 2000, getting time in the majors in a total of five seasons.
Beltre's career began in 1984, signed by the Expos out of his native Dominican Republic at the age of 16.
He started that year at rookie Calgary, making AA Jacksonville by 1987, then AAA Indianapolis in 1990.
Beltre moved to the Brewers and White Sox systems in 1991. That September, he also arrived in Chicago. In eight games with the White Sox that year, Beltre got one hit in six at bats.
He returned to Chicago for another 49 games in 1992, hitting just .191 with that one home run. Beltre also worked on his defense, The Tribune wrote, learning to temper his throws to first base.
"I don't have to use my arm all the time," Beltre told The Tribune. "I've learned that. 'Manzo' (infield coach Doug Mansolino) told me, 'You don`t need to throw hard every time somebody hits you a ground ball."
Beltre spent 1993 back at AAA with the White Sox, at Nashville. He returned to the majors in 1994 with the Rangers, getting into 49 games. In July, Beltre recorded the second-to-last out in Kenny Rogers' perfect game.
Beltre then got into 54 games with the Rangers in 1995, then 27 with Boston in 1996, ending his major league career.
Beltre, though, continued playing, trying to get back. In 1997, he tried his hand at pitching, working to put that hard-throwing arm to better use.
By 1998, he was back in the infield again, playing at AAA with the Twins. In 1999, he played with the Orioles and White Sox systems, then, finally with the Diamondbacks at AAA Tucson in 2000.
In July 2000, Beltre worked to be a Diamondback, or maybe even to be traded to a team that would bring him up. He just tried to show what he could still do.
"This time of the year, when those guys (scouts) show up, the only thing I think about is doing my job. Whatever happens will happen," Beltre told The Tucson Citizen .
Beltre, though, didn't get traded and he didn't get called up. His career ended without getting called back.
Originally published July 1, 2012
- Chicago Tribune, Aug. 5, 1992: Sox, Beltre (!) Have A Real Blast
- Chicago Tribune, Sept. 5, 1992: The rap on Esteban Beltre
- Tucson Citizen, July 4, 2000: Beltre has eye on prize
More 1990 Minor Leaguers:
- Derek Bell saw 11 ML seasons, then ended with 'shutdown', 4/4/12
- Eric Bell was nervous in first ML start, saw 6 ML seasons, 9/25/13
- Eric Bell was nervous in first ML start, saw 6 ML seasons, 9/25/13
- Juan Bell got more seasoning, then saw bigs over 7 seasons, 3/29/12
- Mike Bell saw 2 seasons with Braves, then tried to get back, 4/10/15
- Clay Bellinger spent decade in minors before making bigs, 11/27/11
- Mike Bell saw 2 seasons with Braves, then tried to get back, 4/10/15
- Clay Bellinger spent decade in minors before making bigs, 11/27/11
- Frank Bellino liked to play every day, saw 8 pro seasons, 9/19/14
- Esteban Beltre showed pop in practice, saw five ML seasons, 7/1/12
- Freddie Benavides saw 4 ML seasons, then coached, managed, 8/3/17
- Esteban Beltre showed pop in practice, saw five ML seasons, 7/1/12
- Freddie Benavides saw 4 ML seasons, then coached, managed, 8/3/17
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