Adrian Beltre elected to Baseball Hall of Fame

Make room for another native of the Dominican Republic in Cooperstown, N.Y. Adrian Beltre was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday in his first year of eligibility.

Beltre appeared in the majority of the ballots as the star of the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024. He easily surpassed the 75 percent threshold necessary for election in his first year on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot.

“This is a great day for me,” he said. “I am honored to be in the Hall of Fame. It is something that I have never dreamed of. I can believe I am going to be on the same podium with those guys.” 

The Santo Domingo native became the fifth Dominican elected in the Hall of Fame, and the fourth Dominican elected in the past nine years. The slugging third baseman accompanies countrymen Juan Marichal, Pedro Martinez, Vladimir Guerrero Sr. and David Ortiz into baseball immortality. 

Being close to a unanimous decision – Mariano Rivera is still the only unanimous Hall of Famer – doesn’t subdue the joy that Beltre holds in receiving such an honor. 

Adrian Beltre will be inducted into the Hall on July 21 in Cooperstown. He’ll be joined in the Hall’s Class of 2024 by longtime Twins catcher Joe Mauer, former Rockies star Todd Helton and manager Jim Leyland, who was elected by an Era Committee last month.

“It’s humbling that I just feel proud to be even mentioned close to those guys,” Beltre said. “I was a fan of those guys you mention: I know that I was a decent player.

“I’m proud of the fact that I was able to play for  a long time and compete at the highest level. And whatever came after that I was fine with.“

Adrian Beltre makes it Cinco de Republica Dominicana

Beltre’s playful demeanor on the field will last a lifetime in the hearts of his fans. The four-time All-Star’s ebullience was spread not only to his teammates, but to those around him as well. 

If history is an indication, Beltre’s hometown will be waiting anxiously for his Hall of Fame speech. His fans in Arlington, Texas, Seattle and Los Angeles will eagerly await his induction as well. 

Beltre’s antics on the field will surely give his fans a laugh or two as they reminisce about his career. He’ll be remembered for acts such as mimicking his shortstop Elvis Andrus catching a pop-up, or getting frustrated when his friends jokingly touched the back of his head. 

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Beltre started his career with the Dodgers as a 19-year-old rookie. He spent seven years in Los Angeles before signing with the Mariners in 2005. Prior to his departure with Los Angeles, Beltre hammered a league-leading 48 home runs, 121 RBIs and batted .334 in 2004. 

Beltre spent five years in Seattle. He then spent a year with the Red Sox. After a cameo with Boston, Beltre signed a six-year $96 million contract with the Texas Rangers. The defensive star was a five-time Gold Glove Award winner at third base. He also won two Platinum Gloves.

The four-time silver slugger finished with a .286 career batting average. He had 3,166 hits and 477 home runs. Beltre finished with the second highest WAR (93.5) among players born in the Dominican Republic.

He trails only Albert Pujols, who will surely join Beltre in the Hall of Fame in four years we he is first eligible. Tuesday night, however, belonged to Beltre.