The Rangers are headed to the postseason for the second consecutive season after winning the AL West. As this will be the first time that many fans across the Majors will be focusing on their roster, here's our attempt to learn the origins of slugger Adrián Beltré.
Adrian Beltre, 3B
Born: Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional, Dominican Republic
DOB: 4/7/79
HS: Liceo Maximo Gomez
Minors: Savannah (A), San Bernardino (A+), Vero Beach (A+), San Antonio (AA)
:: Before they were Postseason-bound: Select a player ::
Path to Texas: Beltre signed with the Rangers in January 2011 as a free agent.
Trophy case: Beltre is a four-time Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award winner, as well as a four-time All-Star. He finished second in the 2004 NL MVP Award balloting.
Famous feat: It's impossible not to think of Beltre and immediately think of teammates touching his head. "I've never liked people touching my head. I just didn't tell anyone about it until 2007, when Félix Hernández was messing with my head and I made the mistake of telling him I didn't like it when people rub my head," Beltre said. "And that was all it took."
You might not know: English is Beltre's second language, and he isn't immune to ribbing from teammates or making fun of himself. He admits that for a long time, when he dined out and the waitress asked if he wanted "soup or salad," he always answered yes, expecting a "super salad."
Six degrees of Willie Aikens: Beltre made his Major League debut on June 24, 1998, for the Dodgers, who played the Angels. Starting at first for the Angels that day was Cecil Fielder, father of former Rangers teammate Prince Fielder.
"I always pay attention to what he says," teammate Rougned Odor said. "He's got a lot of years in this game. He knows so many players and so much about this game, and he's always trying to help me. He wants me to do everything right. When I do something bad, he's the first one talking to me about it. He wants me to be a great player. … Everything he says is right."
Offseason hobby: Five or six years ago, former Major Leaguer Richie Sexson invited Beltre and his wife to an event called Life in the Vineyard (food, wine, music) in Napa Valley and they were hooked. Now they go every year in the offseason.
Late bloomer: Beltre didn't start playing organized baseball until he was 13. Before that he and his cousins used a stick and a tennis ball.