Carlos Beltrán: transformational player and person of the year
By Adrian Burgos
How does one measure a ballplayer’s impact? Long debated in baseball circles, the answer changes constantly. Gone are the days of the eyeball test or “you know it when you see it.” New measurements, such as spin rate and perceived velocity for pitchers, and launch angles and exit velocity for batters — better known as advanced analytics — are devised regularly, altering how we satisfy this question.
Even as assessment tools are refined, one thing holds true: Transformational players do more than accumulate stats. A select number of stars positively affect their team’s organizational culture, elevate its collective performance, instill confidence and make teammates more comfortable in the day-to-day baseball grind.
Such impact is not so easily quantifiable. Look no further than Roberto Clemente; his powerful presence in the clubhouse, the community and among his people made him “the Great One” and the standard by which many measure the impact of Latino players, on and off the field.
Meaningful Presence
At La Vida Baseball, four pillars guide how we think about Latinos and baseball:
Who’s Now. Who’s Next. Our Life. Our Legends.
These pillars recognize the relationship Latinos have with baseball; the contributors to game; and the connection between the present and the past. Together, these pillars illuminate the passion we share and how the sport has long represented more than a game.
In 2017, Carlos Beltrán is the person who has best embodied the spirit of La Vida Baseball, through his work inside the game as well as his contributions away from the ballpark. Which is why he is our inaugural La Vida Baseball Awards Person of the Year.
For us, observing Beltrán from spring training through the World Series provided a powerful reminder of how and why we love baseball as Latinos, the game’s special place amongst Latinos, and how players can effectively use baseball as a platform to do good works.
We honor Beltrán for demonstrating throughout 2017 the importance of presence and of sharing one’s knowledge and resources to help others, whether it’s one’s fellow player, neighbor or compatriot.
Seasons of Change
Beltrán’s return to Houston in 2017 was inspired by a desire to aid the Astros in their quest — and his own — for a World Series championship. But he had already come to realize that a significant part of his contribution was not just in-game performance, but presence. He shared this epiphany in Muchas Gracias, Béisbol, his retirement announcement published in The Players’ Tribune in November.
“I started to understand something… that my purpose in this game is not only to hit home runs or to win championships. It is to share what I know with the younger players, like so many other players have done for me.
“It is to give back to the game of baseball.”
He did so from the start, during Team Puerto Rico’s run in the World Baseball Classic.
This was not lost on Edwin Rodríguez, manager of the players who transformed themselves into los Rubios during the 2017 WBC. Rodríguez told La Vida Baseball in Spanish about Beltrán’s vital role.
“The success of los Rubios came from 2013, when we had to play in a difficult group and still won. The presence and leadership of Carlos Beltrán was key in that moment. He was able to transmit that same leadership to the younger players this year.”
The bleached blond squad went on a joyous romp through the WBC, going undefeated until its loss to the U.S. in the gold medal game. And Beltran bookended the season — and crowned his career — with that much-sought-after World Series ring.
Beyond the Playing Field
Beltrán gave back to more than just baseball.
Indeed, his actions in the aftermath of hurricanes that struck both his regular-season home of Houston and his native Puerto Rico reminded us of the important role Roberto Clemente played among Latinos and others: that of humanitarian.
We witnessed Beltrán’s response as hurricanes hit in August and September, and especially as the situation on the ground in Puerto Rico developed into a humanitarian crisis. We saw Beltrán, alongside Astros owner Jim Crane, deliver planeloads of relief supplies to Puerto Rico. And he continues to work on bringing relief during the recovery and rebuilding phase.
Another revelation was Beltrán’s inspired way of how he carried himself at the ballpark and away from the stadium.
Prior to the games, Beltrán enjoyed partaking in the role of sage veteran. All were welcome. He happily chatted with whoever was ready to receive his knowledge. He provided tips to his young teammates, and at times he even aided struggling opposing-team players. This was baseball the Latino way; Beltrán embraced being its disciple.
And lastly, Puerto Rico was always a part of who he was and what he represented.
“As a Puerto Rican ballplayer in Major League Baseball, I feel that I have a double responsibility. I have a responsibility to represent the organization I play for, and a responsibility to represent Puerto Rico,” Beltrán said in 2016.
He bolstered those words with action throughout his last season in baseball. In a year when it seemed all too easy to retreat from the world, Beltrán displayed the heart of a true leader.
In this, our inaugural season at La Vida Baseball, we celebrate Carlos Beltrán’s accomplishment — giving back — and are reminded again that statistics alone don’t measure of a player’s impact. He’s our Person of the Year, very deservingly so.
Featured Image: Justin Heiman / Getty Images Sport