Former baseball player Carlos Beltrán, 48, was chosen to be the sixth Puerto Rican inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, with a 20-season career, as one of the most outstanding switch-hitters in the history of MLB hot ball, including his time with the New York Mets and the New York Yankees.
But it will not be the only name to be exalted since Andruw Jones from Curacao was also honored with this distinction, the first baseball player from his country to be worthy of that honor.
«Wow! I can’t explain all the emotions I just experienced. I can’t believe I’m now part of the Hall of Fame. It’s crazy. I think about all the nights of training and the times I doubted myself,” Beltrán celebrated on social networks.
Beltrán obtained 84.2% of the votes of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) and thus joins Puerto Ricans Roberto Clemente (1973), Orlando ‘Peruchín’ Cepeda (1999), Roberto Alomar (2011), Iván Rodríguez (2017) and Edgar Martínez (2019).
«This achievement means a lot to me, but also to everyone who has supported me: my family, my friends and, of course, the fans. Thank you for always being there! “Puerto Rico has its 6th HALL OF FAME,” concluded the former baseball player.
For his part, the president of the Puerto Rico Baseball Federation (FBPR), José Daniel Quiles, congratulated Beltrán after being selected for the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.
«Carlos Beltrán has built a career of excellence. We proudly celebrate his greatness being recognized with immortality in Cooperstown. “This election fills all of Puerto Rico with joy and marks the beginning of a historic year for our baseball,” Quiles said in a statement.
The governor of Puerto Rico, Jenniffer González and the Secretary of State, Rosachely Rivera, celebrated this milestone in the history of Puerto Rican sports.
«A manatieño who magnifies the name of Puerto Rico before the world. Beltrán represents the best of our people. We recognize a career that inspired and served as an example to generations on and off the field of play. That is why we celebrate with his people and we congratulate him for achieving this highest award,” said González.
Carlos Beltrán, in addition to shining for the NY Mets (2005-2011) and the NY Yankees (2014-2016), played with the Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers.
Curaçao power
For his part, Andruw Jones, born on April 23, 1977 in Willemstad and who obtained 78.4% of the votes, showed his talent in the MLB for 17 seasons, in which he hit 434 homers, drove in 1,289 runs and scored 1,204 times, posting a batting average of .254.
The powerful center fielder, who participated in five All-Star games, distinguished himself for his great defensive ability, obtaining 10 Gold Gloves for his work as a center fielder, and won a Silver Slugger.
During his time in MLB, Jones played for the Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers.
It should be noted that among the Latin baseball players, Félix Hernández (46.1%), Alex Rodríguez (40%), Manny Ramírez (38.8%), Bobby Abreu (30.8%), Omar Vizquel (18.4%), Francisco Rodríguez (11.8%) and Edwin Encarnación (1.4%) also appeared in the vote, who did not reach the minimum of 75% necessary to qualify for the temple of the immortals of the Major Leagues.
Beltrán and Jones will be presented to the Hall of Fame along with the American Jeff Kent and will be at the official induction ceremony to be held on July 26 in Cooperstown, New York.
