Omar Beltré

Omar Beltre
Pitcher
Born:(1981-08-24)August 24, 1981 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Batted:Right Threw:Right
MLB debut
June 30, 2010, for the Texas Rangers
Last MLB appearance
July 5, 2010, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	0–1
Earned run average	9.00
Strikeouts	9
Teams
Texas Rangers(2010)

Omar Beltre(Born August 24, 1981) is a Dominican formerprofessional baseballpitcher.He played inMajor League Baseball(MLB) for theTexas Rangers.

Professional career

Minor leagues

Beltre signed with theTexas Rangerson March 1, 2000.He received a $600,000 bonus, the largest the Rangers have ever given an international player.He was assigned to theGulf Coast LeagueRangers, and went 5–4 with a 3.54earned run averageand 44strikeoutsin his first professional season. He improved to 6–3 with a 3.38 ERA and 83 strikeouts for theAppalachian League'sPulaski Rangersin 2001, leading his team in both wins and strikeouts.

After sitting out the entire 2002 season with an injury,he returned to go 3–3 with a 2.39 ERA for theMidwest League'sClinton LumberKingsin 2003. Having been used primarily as astarterup to that point, Beltre only made five starts in 2003 and eleven appearances out of thebullpen.

Human trafficking ring

After going 5–5 with a 2.45 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 46 games (all inrelief) with theStockton Portsin 2004, Beltre earned his first invitation tospring trainingWhen he went to the U.S. embassy in January 2005 to pick up his work visa, consulate officials were waiting. According to the Rangers' information, consulate officials soon discovered an inordinate number of young minor league ballplayers had been married in a short period to women who had previously been denied visas, raising a red flag.

Beltre immediately admitted guilt to his involvement in a human trafficking ring, and was assured that he would likely only receive a one-year exclusion, and that he would be able to reapply the following year. As it turned out, he was banned from entering the United States for five years, limiting him to winter ball, theDominican Summer Leagueand international tournaments.

He missed all of the 2008 season and most of 2009 with another injury.

Texas Rangers

On February 12, 2010, he andpitcherAlexi Ogando,who was also involved in the human trafficking ring out of theDominican Republic,were granted visas, and allowed to attend Spring training, arriving in the U.S. on the 16th.After spring training, he was assigned to the triple AOklahoma City RedHawksof thePacific Coast League,where he went 0–5 with a 2.39 ERA in fifteen games (five starts) before getting called up to the majors.

He was optioned to the Triple AOklahoma City RedHawkson July 6, 2010,and never made another major league appearance.

Beltré underwent surgery forspinal stenosisin February 2011.He became a free agent at the end of the season.

External links

• Career statistics and player information fromMLB,orESPN,orBaseball Reference,orFangraphs,orBaseball Reference (Minors)
• Minor League Baseball