BALTIMORE -- Carlos Beltrán has been turning back the clock in his 19th season in the Majors, and he showed off his power for the first time in a Texas uniform in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Orioles.
The 39-year-old sent a 2-0 fastball into the right-field seats in his first at-bat of the night after going hitless in his Texas debut Tuesday.
"The fact that I got my first hit here, it's good," Beltran said. "It's good to get it out of the way."
The blast, which left the bat at 101 mph and traveled an estimated 376 feet, according to Statcast™, marked his 23rd homer of the season. It's the first time he's eclipsed 22 home runs in a season since he hit 24 in 2013.
What has enabled him to have a power surge so late in his career?
"I feel like I've been healthy for the most part, and I think the [designated hitter] also has been helping a little bit honestly, because being in the outfield can wear you out when you play every day," Beltran said. "So the fact that I'm just worrying about hitting and keeping my body fresh has allowed me to have success."
Before the Rangers acquired Beltran, they had received little power production from the DH spot. Texas' 10 home runs from DHs ranked last in the American League.
While Beltran recorded his first homer with the Rangers, their new-look lineup has scored a total of just three runs in the first two games since Monday's non-waiver Trade Deadline.
Manager Jeff Banister knows the production is just a matter of time, though.
"It was nice to see Beltran really get a good swing off," Banister said. "This is a quality lineup, and they are going to hit. They are going to put runs on the board."