Beltre signed with Red Sox scout Pablo Lantigua for a bonus of $600,000 in the summer of 2006.
During the winter before 2007 spring training, the Baseball America Prospect Handbook rated Engel as the 20th-best prospect in the Red Sox organization.
After moving to the Rangers organization, they rated Beltre as 10th-best prospect in the Texas' farm system in the spring of 2008. And during the offseason before 2009 spring training, they had him at 7th-best in the Rangers organization. In the spring of 2010, they moved Engel down to #14.
In 2008, Beltre was the Midwest League's youngest player at age 18, and he was the league leader in runs (87) and hits (160), he's a fast-twitch athlete with all five tools.
Engel has a playful, confident and electric personality. He is a natural leader and a high-energy performer. He wants to be a great player. But he will have to learn to slow the game down to do that.
Early in June, 2010, Beltre received a 5-game suspension from the California League for being an instigator in the fight that followed his walk-off home run in Bakersfield's victory over visiting Visalia. Beltre had words for Visalia players during his drawn-out home run trot -- which ended when the fight broke out as he rounded 3rd base.
TRANSACTIONS
July 31, 2007: The Rangers sent P Eric Gagne to the Red Sox, acquiring Beltre, OF David Murphy and P Kason Gabbard.
BATTING:
Beltre is an incredibly talented hitter. The comparisons started with Barry Bonds and ended with Darryl Strawberry. And they also included Kenny Lofton.
Engel has five tools. But there are questions about his bat, mostly because he is an undsiciplined free swinger who struggles to make contact, consistently.
Engel has a solid lefthanded stroke with natural loft. His strong hands whip the bat through the hitting zone for very good bat speed. He takes a real big cut at the ball with a natural whip in his swing. He has a loose swing and quick wrists.
Beltre has a lot more discipline at the plate than most young Latin American hitters. He has good bat control and works the count.
However, Engel's stroke can get too long and he is prone to chasing pitches in the dirt. And he can be too aggressive at the plate, not walking enough. He is a bad-ball hitter. He swings at everything, but he hits it. He is ready to hit every pitch.
FIELDING:
Engel has enough speed and quickness to play center field, and enough arm to play right field. He gets good jumps and reads on the ball off the bat and glides to the ball.
Beltre plays shallow and does a fine job of tracking down balls hit over his head. He has good instincts out there.
His arm is both strong ad accurate.
RUNNING:
Engel has very good speed.
Beltre is still learning how to best apply his speed on the bases, learning base-stealing technique and improving how he reads pitchers' moves.
CAREER INJURY REPORT:
Mid-July, 2009: Beltre was on the D.L. through the last week of September.