Francis Beltran

Francis and his wife, Sophia, have two children, daughter Noemi and son Jay.

2006

Missed the first 4 months of the year while recovering from surgery the previous season...Returned in August with Washington's affiliate in the Gulf Coast League and did not allow a run in 6 of his 7 appearances...Was transferred to AAA New Orleans in mid-August and finished the season with the Zephyrs...Did not allow an earned run in his first 2 appearances, pitching 1.0 inning in each game...Worked 2.0 innings in his next 2 outings, allowing a total of 3 runs...Made 3 relief outings for the Licey Tigers in the Dominican Winter League, allowing 4 ER in 2.2 IP.

2005

Acquired on waivers in June...Went 3-6 with a 4.98 ERA with the Nationals...In his last three starts, Drese has given up 12 runs in 15 1/3 innings...Missed the month of September because of a shoulder injury.

2004

Pitching for CHI and the Expos, spent majority of season in the big leagues for the first time...started the season with Triple-A Iowa, but was recalled 9 days later for first big league stint since 2002...was acquired by Montreal one minute before the July 31 trade deadline in 4-team mega deal that sent, among others, Orlando Cabrera to BOS and Nomar Garciaparra to CHI...SS Alex Gonzalez and INF Brendan Harris were other players acquired by Montreal in the mega deal...reported to Edmonton after the trade...was recalled by Montreal on August 16th for the remainder of the season...was placed on 15-Day DL on August 26-retroactive to August 25-with right shoulder tendinitis...missed 14 games before being reinstated on Sept. 10...combined to go 2-2 with one save and a 5.47 ERA (30 ER/47.1 IP) in 45 games for CHI (34) and Montreal (11)...all 5 decisions and all 5 holds came with CHI, but first (and only to date) big league save came while pitching for the Expos on September 18 at PHI...worked a scoreless 14th inning to earn the save in the Expos' 6- 5 win...struck out 48 batters in 49.1 innings pitched, or 8.8 per 9 innings...8 of the 11 home runs he allowed were of the solo variety...stranded 15 of 19 runners inherited...pitched 2.0-plus innings 6 times...retired 28 of 45 first batters faced...9 of 11 homers allowed came in his first 11 pitches...started slowly (6.35 ERA in April), but settled in by going 1-1 with 2 holds and a 2.25 ERA in May...posted a 1.23 ERA (2 ER/14.2 IP) in 12 contests from May 4-June 9...allowed a run in 7 straight appearances from July 18-August 24...was placed on the 15-Day DL on August 26 with right shoulder tendinitis...returned to action on September 11...went 0-0 with one save and a 4.91 ERA (4 ER/7.1 IP) in 7 appearances thereafter...the Expos were 4-7 when Beltran pitched...CHI went 17-17 in similar instances. In minor leagues/Winter ball: Went 0-0 with 7 saves and a 2.38 ERA (3 ER/11.1 IP) in 11 Pacific Coast League appearances for Iowa and Edmonton...began the season by posting 3 saves in as many days, April 8-11 vs. New Orleans...terrific start prompted April promotion...became Triple-A Edmonton's closer after being acquired by the Expos...posted 3 saves in 5 games with the Trappers. Game-By-Game Highlights: With CHI: Logged first major league win May 16 at SDP...tossed 1.1 scoreless innings in relief of Glendon Rusch in CHI's 4-2 win...earned his 2nd win on June 29 vs. HOU, again in relief of Glendon Rusch...fanned a career-high 5 on April 26 at ARI...With Montreal: Made first appearance in an Expos' uniform on August 16 at San Francisco...wore No. 39 until club returned from West Coast roadtrip when jersey was switched to No. 55.

2003

Francis was on the Cubs' roster June 15-June 16, although he did not see any action ...spent the rest of the season at Iowa (AAA), where he went 6-2 with 4 saves and a 2.96 ERA in 31 games.

had a pair of stints on the disabled list due to a strained right shoulder (June 25-July 27 and August 1-end of season).

prior to his first trip to the injured list, he had been selected to participate in the Triple-A all-star game.

2002

Francis pitched in his first 11 major league games during three stints on the Cubs' roster ... was in the majors June 27-July 1 (appearing in 2 games), August 2-August 4 (no appearances) and August 13 through the end of the season.

made his major league debut June 28 against the White Sox, working 0.1 innings.

pitched 2.2 scoreless innings August 22 at Houston, striking out 3 batters ... also had a 3-strikeout outing September 25 vs. Cincinnati.

spent most of the year at West Tenn (AA), where he went 2-2 with 23 saves and a 2.59 ERA in 39 bullpen appearances ... in 41.2 innings of work, he allowed 28 hits and 2 homers while striking out 43 batters.

was scored upon in only 7 of his outings -- including a June 11 affair at Tennessee in which he gave up 4 runs, 4 hits and 3 walks in 0.2 innings.

opened the year on the disabled list due to vertigo ... did not see any game action until May 11.

over his final 21 Double-A appearances, he allowed only 3 runs and 9 hits in 22.0 innings.

after returning to West Tenn following his first stint with the Cubs, he was 1-0 with 11 saves and a 1.50 ERA in 17 games (3 ER/18.0 IP).

did not surrender a hit over an 8-game/9.0-inning span July 19-August 5.

pitched for the World Team in the All-Star Futures Game in Milwaukee -- and struck out both batters he faced.

was selected as the Southern League's 3rd-best prospect by Baseball America in that publication's annual end-of-season survey of league managers ... also was named to The Sporting News' second-team all-prospects team.

after the campaign, he pitched for Licey in the Dominican Winter League -- and went 1-0 with 5 saves and a 1.13 ERA in 15 outings ... was ranked as the leaguebs 8th-best prospect by Baseball America.

2001

Francis spent the entire season at Daytona (A), appearing in 21 games (18 starts) and going 6-9 with a 5.00 ERA.

his starts, innings pitched (95.1) and strikeouts (72) totals were career highs.

had a 4.60 ERA in his starts (46 ER/90.0 IP) ... gave up 7 earned runs in 5.1 innings in his 3 relief outings.

had his best stretch of the campaign from May 11-June 1, going 4-0 over a 5-start stretch with a 1.32 ERA ... over the 34.0-inning span, he allowed 5 earned runs and 22 hits while striking out 30 batters.

fractured his right hand in a June 6 start at Ft. Myers ... was on the disabled list June 9-July 24.

after returning to the active list, he went 2-3 with a 6.34 ERA in 8 games (23 ER/32.2 IP).

2000

Francis combined to see action in 41 games out of the bullpen for Lansing (A) and Eugene (A) ... allowed just 1 homer in 61.1 innings while striking out 68 batters.

had the best success of his young career at Eugene, recording 8 saves and a 2.68 ERA in 25 outings.

struck out 52 batters in 43.2 innings and held opponents to a .178 average (28-157).

1999

Pitched for both Mesa (Rookie) and Eugene (A), appearing in 23 games.

1998

Spent the season at Mesa (Rookie), pitching in 12 games (5 starts) and going 1-1 with a 5.55 ERA.

1997

Began his pro career at Mesa (Rookie) and was 0-1 with 1 save and a 3.42 ERA in 16 relief outings.