Former Dodgers third baseman Adrián Beltré was elected to the Nationwide Baseball Corridor of Fame on Tuesday, and shall be enshrined in Cooperstown on July 21.
Beltré sailed by his first poll, receiving 366 of 385 votes from the Baseball Writers Affiliation of America, his 95.1 p.c nicely above the 75 p.c required for induction.
Additionally inducted by the BBWAA have been Twins catcher and first baseman Joe Mauer, additionally on the primary poll, and Rockies first baseman Todd Helton.
Beltré's credentials from his 21-year profession are intensive. The five-time Gold Glove Award winner and four-time Silver Slugger has amassed 3,166 hits, good for 18th all-time, and his 636 doubles are eleventh in main league historical past. Beltré's 477 residence runs are the third most by a 3rd baseman in main league historical past, behind solely Mike Schmidt and Eddie Mathews.
On the scorching nook, Beltre has probably the most hits (12 greater than George Brett), probably the most whole bases (5,309), probably the most RBI (1,707; 84 greater than Chipper Jones), the second most doubles (behind Brett), and the third most most runs scored (1,524).
“That is as straightforward a Corridor of Fame vote as they arrive, and a celebration awaits,” Jay Jaffe wrote at FanGraphs in December.
The primary seven of Beltré's main league seasons got here with the Dodgers, who signed him out of the Dominican Republic in July 1994. Beltré was simply 15 years outdated on the time, earlier than he was allowed, however the Dodgers they falsified his beginning certificates to make him. she seems to be a 12 months older. The workforce was sanctioned in 1999 — after Beltré's first two years within the majors — together with closing the Dodgers' facility at Campo Las Palmas within the Dominican Republic for a 12 months.
At 19 years, 78 days, for his main league debut in 1999, Beltré is the youngest Dodger to debut within the final 59 seasons, since Willie Crawford (18 years, 9 days in 1964).
Beltré grew up professionally with Los Angeles, and had potential breakout seasons at ages 20 and 21 in 1999-2000, combining above-average offense with wonderful protection at third base to go three wins over the alternative in every season. The following three seasons noticed offensive regression, averaging 19 residence runs and 26 doubles with a 90 wRC+, however he was nonetheless fairly precious due to his glove. The Dodgers additionally tried to usher in gamers on the commerce deadline in 2002 (Tyler Houston) and 2003 (Robin Ventura) in hopes of spurring Beltré's enchancment. For what it's price, though Beltré didn't lose any actual taking part in time at third base, he did slug over .500 after each commerce that season.
In 2004, Beltré had his breakout season, completely timed simply earlier than free company hit. He led the majors with 48 residence runs, hitting profession highs in hits (200), runs scored (104) and runs batted in (121), main the Dodgers to their first playoff berth in eight years. Beltré completed second within the Nationwide League MVP voting, receiving six of the 32 first-place votes and completed nicely behind leadoff superweapon Barry Bonds and his 1.422 OPS.
Beltré's departure from Los Angeles wasn't as bitter as Mike Piazza's six years earlier, but it surely was extra complicated, and annoying all the identical. Beltré signed with the Mariners for 5 years and $64 million after the 2004 season, phrases the Dodgers, below basic supervisor Paul DePodesta and failed future proprietor Frank McCourt, have been unwilling to satisfy.
“They’d recognized Adrian with the Dodgers and have been enthusiastic about him,” Beltré's agent, Scott Boras, advised Mark Whicker of the Orange County Register in 2017. “They gave us an excellent provide and we advised the Dodgers that was the time, in the event that they. needed to maintain it. They have been too late.”
In 2018, Beltré advised Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Instances, “I feel it was extra the GM than something. … It was a mistake on my half to point out him an excessive amount of, that I needed to remain then. They needed use this towards me within the negotiation.”
Regardless of the purpose, Beltré was now not a Dodger, though he nonetheless had 14 extra years and 70 extra bWAR within the tank. Beltré was underrated in his 5 years with the Mariners, with Safeco Discipline suppressing the offensive numbers of right-handed hitters – sound acquainted? – then signed for one 12 months in Boston earlier than ending his profession with eight years with the Rangers.
Beltré's time with the Dodgers accounted for 1 / 4 of his profession bWAR and 30 p.c of his fWAR. However regardless of the comparatively quick time in LA, Beltré's 25.5 fWAR and 23.4 bWAR are the fifth most with the Los Angeles Dodgers for any participant elected to the Corridor of Fame.
Most WAR with the LA Dodgers by a Corridor of Famer
| Participant | Pos | 12 months Inducted | LA Dodgers bWAR | LA Dodgers fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant | Pos | 12 months Inducted | LA Dodgers bWAR | LA Dodgers fWAR |
| Don Drysdale | SP | 1984 | 59.5 | 58.9 |
| Don Sutton | SP | 1998 | 48.9 | 62.7 |
| Sandy Koufax | SP | 1972 | 47.7 | 49.2 |
| Mike Piazza | C | 2016 | 32.0 | 33.8 |
| Adrian Beltre | 3B | 2024 | 23.4 | 25.2 |
Sources: Baseball reference & FanGraphs
Paired with first basemen Gil Hodges in 2022 and Fred McGriff in 2023, Beltré makes it three consecutive years {that a} former Dodger has been elected to the Corridor of Fame. It’s the first three-year streak in Cooperstown by Greg Maddux, Pedro Martínez and Mike Piazza from 2014 to 2016.
