Texas Rangers 2017 preseason profile: Adrian Beltre
Throughout the recent success of the Texas Rangers, there has been one constant presence holding things together: Adrian Beltre.
Third baseman Adrian Beltre undoubtedly holds post as the most-recognizable player for the Texas Rangers. He’s the team leader on-and-off the field and players and fans across the league admire what he does. Now the five-time Rawlings Gold Glove winner, four-time Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger winner and four-time All-Star returns for his 20th MLB season and expectations are as high as ever.
How 2016 went for Beltre
On paper, you’d never be able to tell that Beltre is now 37 years old. He started 153 games last season and only DH’d in 12 of them. For the sixth time in his career, Beltre finished with a batting average of at least .300 and he collected 175 hits with just 66 strikeouts.
Time seems to have no effect on the highly-decorated third baseman. He made that evident throughout the 2016 campaign, improving throughout the season. While many players regress throughout a season, he did the opposite. His best one month span came in September and October last season where he batted .347 with a .402 on base percentage and a .633 slugging percentage. He hit seven of his 32 home runs and roped seven doubles in that timeframe.
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Beltre is one of the game’s purest hitters. He hits the ball, he hits it hard and he drives it to gaps for extra bases on a regular basis. His .521 slugging percentage was his best since 2012 and the fifth-best of his career. His 32 long-balls tied his third-highest career total for a season and his 105 RBIs marked his third-best total.
Beltre looked amazing defensively, too. His range factor per game and per nine innings numbers were above the league average, he committed just 10 errors for the year on 415 fielding chances and he finished 2016 with 21 Total Zone Fielding Runs Above Average.
That essentially means he saved 21 runs more than the average third baseman with his glove last season. Considering the Rangers outscored their opponents by a mere eight runs in 2016, that’s a pretty significant contribution.
The man looked like a guy ten years younger than himself last season. There’s no evidence, either to support regression in 2017.
How 2017 will go for Beltre
It will be a treat to watch Beltre play again this season. He’s easily one of the all-time greats at “the hot corner” and will continue to prove so this season. With most players, a drop-off in production across the board is expected. Yet, in the case of Adrian Beltre, that just doesn’t seem possible.
Beltre will play another 150 games this season. He will hit 27 home runs and drive in about 95 runs. His plate discipline will remain unscathed and he’ll draw about 75 bases on balls and finish with an average of around .302 with an on base percentage of .360.
Defensively, his range will drop just a smidge. Over the course of the season it won’t be that noticeable, but the occasional hot grounder will get past him. He’ll still have his cannon of an arm, though and stands a great chance to take home a sixth Gold Glove by season’s end.
Next: Rangers preview: Alex Claudio
And of course, Beltre will remain the clubhouse alpha-male. Next to manager Jeff Banister, he will remain the last line of defense in the dugout and will captain this team in 2017. This team will live or die by his success this season. But that success won’t be defined by his playmaking skills. It will be defined by his heart and his attitude. That’s why the 2017 Texas Rangers are set up for success. That is, as long as they don’t touch his head.