Carlos Ivan Beltrán (born April 24, 1977) is a Major League Baseball player for the New York Mets. He was born in Manatí, Puerto Rico. April 24 is the 114th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (115th in leap years). ... 1977 was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1977 calendar). ... Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in professional baseball in North America. ... New York Mets National League AAA Norfolk Tides AA Binghamton Mets A St. ... Manatí is a municipality of Puerto Rico. ...

Beltrán made his major league debut in 1998, playing 14 games with the Kansas City Royals. In 1999, he won a job in spring training as the Royals' starting center fielder and leadoff hitter. By mid-summer, he was displaying surprising power and moved to the #3 slot in the batting order, and he won the American League Rookie of the Year award. See also: 1997 in sports, 1999 in sports and the list of years in sports. Auto Racing Stock car racing: Dale Earnhardt won the Daytona 500 NASCAR Championship - Jeff Gordon Indy Racing League - Indianapolis 500 - Eddie Cheever CART Racing - Alex Zanardi won the season championship Formula One Championship - Finland 24... Kansas City Royals American League AAA Omaha Royals AA Wichita Wranglers A High Desert Mavericks Burlington Bees R Arizona Royals Idaho Falls Chukars The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. ... This year in baseball: 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 Events January-March January 5 - Nolan Ryan, George Brett and Robin Yount are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. ... A Grapefruit League game at the LA Dodgers camp in Vero Beach, Florida In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of exhibition games which precedes the regular season. ... The position of the center fielder A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field - the baseball fielding position between left field and right field (e. ... In baseball statistics, an at bat (AB) is used to calculate other data such as batting average. ... The American League (or formally the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States of America and Canada. ... In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is given to the top rookie baseball player in the American and National Leagues. ...

Injuries caused Beltrán to miss part of the 2000 season and he slumped to .247, losing his center field job to the popular Johnny Damon. After Damon was traded to the Athletics following the season, Beltrán regained his job and recaptured his rookie form, batting .306 with 24 home runs and 101 RBI in 2001, and followed up with .273, 29, 105 in 2002, and .307, 26, 100 in 2003. This year in baseball: 1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 Events January-March January 6 - Major League Baseball officials order Atlanta Braves reliever John Rocker is to undergo psychological testing following derogatory remarks he made in an interview with Sports Illustrated magazine. ... Johnny David Damon (born November 5, 1973 in Fort Riley, Kansas) is an outfielder in Major League Baseball with the Boston Red Sox. ... Oakland Athletics American League AAA Sacramento River Cats AA Midland RockHounds A Stockton Ports Kane County Cougars Vancouver Canadians R Phoenix Athletics The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. ... Batting average is a statistic in both baseball and cricket measuring the performance of baseball hitters and cricket batsmen, respectively. ... In baseball, a home run is a base hit in which the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring a run, with no errors on the play that result in the batter achieving extra bases. ... In baseball statistics, a run batted in (RBI) is given to a batter for each run scored as the result of a batters plate appearance. ... This year in baseball: 1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 Events January-March January 16 - Outfielders Dave Winfield and Kirby Puckett are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in their first year on the ballot. ... See also: 2001 in sports, 2003 in sports and the list of years in sports. Auto Racing Stock car racing: Ward Burton wins the Daytona 500 NASCAR Championship - Tony Stewart Indy Racing League - Sam Hornish Jr. ... This year in baseball: 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 Events January-June April 4 - Sammy Sosa hits his 500th career home run off Cincinnati Reds pitcher Scott Sullivan in the seventh inning at Great American Ball Park, becoming only the 18th player in Major League Baseball history to...

Because Kansas City is a small-market club, and Beltrán is represented by agent Scott Boras, trade rumors followed Beltrán through the 2003 and 2004 seasons, as the end of his contract neared and the two sides failed to negotiate a long-term deal. During a press conference following an interleague doubleheader loss to the last-place Montreal Expos, Royals general manager Allard Baird told reporters that he was preparing to dismantle the team and rebuild it for the 2005 season. While Beltrán's name was not mentioned specifically by Royals management, the high-profile player, who was already eligible for free agency following the season, was considered the most likely to garner interest from other teams. On June 24, Beltrán was traded to the Houston Astros in a three-team deal, with the Oakland Athletics getting closer Octavio Dotel and the Royals picking up three prospects. Scott Boras is an agent for professional baseball players. ... This year in baseball: 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 Events January-June February 15: Alex Rodriguez is traded to the New York Yankees. ... The Washington Nationals is a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in Washington, D.C.. It relocated to Washington from Montréal, Québec, Canada after the 2004 season. ... In Major League Baseball, the General Manager typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players. ... This year in baseball 1995 - 1996 - 1997 - 1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 Calendar July 12: All-Star Game, at Comerica Park, Detroit July 31: Hall of Fame inductions, Cooperstown, N.Y. October 4: Division Series begin October 11: League Championship Series begin October 22: World Series begins... Free agency can be: In Latter-day Saint theology, free agency is the name of the human capacity to make choices for themselves and to choose between right and wrong. ... June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... Houston Astros National League AAA Round Rock Express AA Corpus Christi Hooks A Salem Avalanche Lexington Legends Tri-City Valley Cats R Greeneville Astros The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team based in Houston, Texas. ... Oakland Athletics American League AAA Sacramento River Cats AA Midland RockHounds A Stockton Ports Kane County Cougars Vancouver Canadians R Phoenix Athletics The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. ...

Beltrán was selected to the American League starting outfield for the 2004 All-Star Game, but he was initially denied a place in the game because of his trade to the National League. After NL starter Ken Griffey, Jr. went on the disabled list just before the All-Star break, Beltrán was named his substitute. The American League (or formally the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States of America and Canada. ... An outfielder moves in to catch a fly ball Outfielder is a collective term including left fielder, center fielder, and right fielder, the three positions in baseball farthest from the batter. ... The Major League Baseball All-Star Game is an annual exhibition baseball game between the best players from the National League and the American League. ... This article refers to the American baseball league. ... Ken Griffey, Jr. ...

In the 2004 MLB playoffs, Beltrán tied Barry Bonds's single postseason record with 8 home runs. In Game 5 of the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves, he had two home runs, and he had one in each of the first four games of the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals, including a game-winner in Game 4. This gave him five straight playoff games with a home run, a new record. Bonds at the plate Photo: Agência Brasil Barry Lamar Bonds (born July 24, 1964 in Riverside, California) is a professional baseball player for the San Francisco Giants; he is most famous for his home run hitting. ... In Major League Baseball, the National League Division Series (NLDS) determine which two teams from the National League will advance to the National League Championship Series. ... Atlanta Braves National League AAA Richmond Braves AA Mississippi Braves A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Rome Braves R Danville Braves Orlando Braves The Atlanta Braves are a Major League Baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. ... In Major League Baseball, the National League Championship Series (NLCS) determines who wins the National League pennant and advances to baseballs championship, the World Series. ... St. ...

Beltrán became a free agent for the first time after the 2004 season and was touted as the biggest free agent on the market. After being courted by several teams, including the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Houston Astros, he signed a 7 year - $119 million contract with the New York Mets, the biggest contract in Mets history. It was also only the tenth contract in Major League Baseball history to be worth more than $100 million. Boston Red Sox American League AAA Pawtucket Red Sox AA Portland Sea Dogs A Wilmington Blue Rocks Greenville Bombers Lowell Spinners R Gulf Coast Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Boston, Massachusetts. ... New York Yankees American League AAA Columbus Clippers AA Trenton Thunder A Charleston RiverDogs Tampa Yankees Staten Island Yankees R Gulf Coast Yankees The New York Yankees are a Major League baseball team based in The Bronx, New York City. ... Houston Astros National League AAA Round Rock Express AA Corpus Christi Hooks A Salem Avalanche Lexington Legends Tri-City Valley Cats R Greeneville Astros The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team based in Houston, Texas. ...

Reaction to the signing was met with enthusiasm by many, though some felt the Mets may have overpaid. Beltrán is what scouts call a "five-tool player," with good fielding skills, a good throwing arm, ability to hit for average, power, and steal bases. He bolsters an already potent Mets roster that includes future hall of famer Mike Piazza, young sensations Jose Reyes and David Wright, and recent free agent signing Pedro Martinez. At 27, he is thought to be entering the prime years of career. However, critics have expressed that his skills may be overrated. They cite that prior to the 2004 season, he never hit 30 or more home runs and that he is only a career .280 hitter. Those critics may be correct, too. Beltran has not even come close to reaching the numbers he posted in 2004 with his new team. In baseball a player is called a five-tool player if they exhibit mastery of the five main non-pitching skills in baseball. ... Batting average is a statistic in both baseball and cricket measuring the performance of baseball hitters and cricket batsmen, respectively. ... In baseball, a slugger is a powerful batter with a high percentage of extra base hits, but may not have a high batting average. ... The all-time stolen base leader, Rickey Henderson, swipes third in 1985 In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate. ... Mike Piazza in episode 3 of The Apprentice 2, promoting Crest toothpaste in NYC, with competitor Elizabeth Mike Piazza (born September 4, 1968 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA) is a U.S. Major League Baseball player. ... José Reyes (born June 11, 1983 born in Villa Gonzalez, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball shortstop who has played for the New York Mets since 2003. ... David Allen Wright (born December 20, 1982 in Norfolk, Virginia) is a Major League Baseball third baseman who has played for the New York Mets since 2004. ... Pedro Martinez warming up in right field of Fenway Park before a game, June 22, 2004. ...

See also

• Players from Puerto Rico in MLB

This is an alphabetical list of 214 baseball players from Puerto Rico which had played in Major League Baseball between 1942 and 2004. ...

External links

• Baseball-Reference.com (http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/beltrca01.shtml) - career statistics and analysis
• MLB and Minor League Statistics at TBC (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/profiles/BE/tbc928.asp)