Beltre’s new year
Engel Beltre found himself at a crossroads last spring.He didn’t have a good season at Double A Frisco in 2011, as he batted .231 and served a 15-game suspension from an incident with fans.What a difference a year can make, though.Beltre, a 23-year-old outfielder whom Texas acquired from Boston at the 2007 trade deadline, has re-established himself as a big-league prospect. He batted .261 with 80 runs and 55 RBIs last season with Frisco, and made the Texas League All-Star Game.Now, Beltre is headed to the World Baseball Classic with Spain. He is from the Dominican Republic, but his father is from Spain which makes him eligible. In a WBC qualifier last September with Spain, Beltre hit .375 as his team advanced from a pool that included Israel, France and South Africa. What does playing in the WBC mean to you? Oh man, it means a lot. To play in those games will help me get more experience. It’s one of the things that I wanted to play in when I was growing up and I have a chance to do it with Spain. How was the qualifying tournament? I was so happy to be there and represent Spain. It was a really good time there. Were you hesitant at all to leave Rangers camp? It came to my mind, but for me it will be a good experience. If I play well there and continue to focus, it’s going to help me get to the major leagues eventually. Did you do anything different last season to have more success offensively? Last year, I was working hard and more focused. I had more discipline at the plate and really tried to stay within my strike zone and swing at good pitches. Finally, do you feel Triple A is a good goal for you to start the season at? Wherever they’re going to put me to start this year is fine. I’m just focused on getting to the big leagues as soon as possible. If they send me to Triple A, that’s fine. I’m only worried about getting to the major leagues.He said it“My mentality is to go out there and throw the living crap out of the ball. I’m not a finesse guy. During the season, I’ll come in for an inning with power stuff so I might as well start that now.” — Reliever Evan Meek on his approach to his first outing todayNumber 86 Career starts by Randy Wells over parts of five big-league seasons. Wells starts today for the Rangers.Injury report DH Lance Berkman (mild right calf strain): listed day-to-day RHP Colby Lewis (flexor tendon surgery July 12): throwing out to 150 feet RHP Roman Mendez (surgery for stress fracture in elbow Nov. 12): throwing out to 150 feet RHP Neftali Feliz (elbow surgery Aug. 12): throwing out to 60 feet RHP Joakim Soria (elbow surgery on April 12): threw 35-pitch bullpen session Friday RHP Justin Miller (elbow surgery on April 12): will throw 20-pitch bullpen session today RHP Matt West (elbow surgery on Aug. 12) : throwing out to 60 feet RHP Wilmer Font (mild shoulder tendinitis): throwing out to 120 feet 3B Adrian Beltre (right calf inflammation): listed day-to-dayVideo of the daySee Ron Washington talk about the start of spring training games, as well as starter Derek Holland talk about his first spring start, on our Rangers blog, Foul Territory, at star-telegram.com/rangers.Drew Davison, 817-390-7760 Twitter: @drewdavison
