OAKLAND -- Consider Adrian Beltre among a growing contingent of Matt Chapman fans.
The Rangers third baseman and future Hall of Famer offered extensive praise of Chapman, the A's star defender at the hot corner, before their teams squared off in Monday's series opener at the Coliseum.
"From what I've seen and heard, the guy might be the best third baseman in the game," Beltre said. "Just based on how he plays the game, how quick he learned how to play the position and how comfortable he feels in the big leagues already."
Beltre, a five-time Gold Glove Award winner, is nearing the conclusion of his 21st Major League season. He's been around some of the game's best during that span, acting the part himself during much of it.

"For me over the last 10 years, between [Manny] Machado and [Nolan] Arenado would be the best third basemen," Beltre said. "I can't say [Chapman] is better than Machado right now, but he's making a case because he's playing third base like I haven't seen in a long time, so it's good to see a young kid like that. And he seems like a really good kid, so that makes me more of a fan of him.
"We play them 19 games a year, but what I see is he's comfortable. He makes every play: in, back, fly balls in left field. Diving to the left, diving to the right. He has a really good, strong arm, and it seems like he's really fluid. I view it as a reaction position, and he plays it really well."
Chapman, 25, has drawn much deserved attention for his play this year, though he never seeks it.
"I like the fact that he's good at it but he doesn't act like he's good at it," Beltre said. "I like that. He's not a cocky guy. It's been his first full year, but what I've seen from him I really like, and I'm a big fan."