When Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre announced his retirement from professional baseball, it was a very emotional day. It was an emotional day for me, that is. Beltre is arguably the greatest third baseman of all time, and if you disagree almost no one would disagree that he is in the conversation.
The announcement did not come as a shock. It is no secret that he has had leg issues over the past three to five seasons. The thing that will be missed the most will be his attitude and his leadership on and off the field. He was truly a joy to watch on the baseball diamond.
Beltre reached a bunch of benchmarks as a Ranger including 3,000 hits. He was always open with the media. He had fun everyday he was on the field, and even in the dugout when he was injured. I personally will miss him, he made the games fun to watch, even when the team was not very good. He and Elvis Andrus always looked like a couple of kids out there playing, which is what they should be like.
The Texas Rangers are not going to be very competitive for a few years, and it would have helped to have a veteran presence like Adrian Beltre out on the field or at least in the clubhouse. I have a feeling that is not the last Texas fans will see of him. I don’t know what his plans are, but the Rangers would be remiss not to offer him some kind of front office position if he is open to taking it.
He will be greatly missed on and off the field, and I wish him well in all his future endeavors. The lone Rangers veteran and only player left that played in a World Series for Texas is now Elvis Andrus. I believe it is now his team, so to speak. I know the majority of Rangers fans agree with me that next season will be different without he and Elvis messing around on the right side of the infield.
