Friday, September 21, 2012

Dominican beisbol player Engel Beltre plays for Spain in WBC

In a scene only seen in those strange citizenship rules of international sports, Dominican beisbol player Engel Beltre is playing in World Baseball Classic qualifiers for Spain. Even though Beltre is from the Dominican Republic, and grew up in his home country and in the United States, at least one of his grand parents was from Spain, so he can represent them in the WBC. For that matter, virtually the entire Spain team is from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, or the United States.

Beltre is one of the seemingly unending pipeline of Rangers prospects. The team protected him from free agency by placing him on their 40-man roster, but he is not with the team. He had a great year in double-A for the Rangers, and won the Texas League player of the month award for July.

It is hard to get on the field with the big league club though. Beltre is a center fielder with a plus arm and fielding ability, and hits for power and average and has plus speed. Despite this, he has a pretty good player in center ahead of him in Josh Hamilton.

In any case, Dominican beisbol player Engel Beltre should see a big league field in the next year or two, whether with the Rangers or another team.
Dominican beisbol player Engel Beltre will play for Spain in the World Baseball Classic,
photo by mikelachance816 on Flickr

3 comments:

  1. Spain might have some serious punch at the 2013 WBC. True home grown talent would be preferred, but the grandparent rule is common in many international sports.

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  2. Yea Spain could be alright, but it is still only guys that could not make the American or Dominican or Venezuelan team.

    I know the grandparent rule is common in international sports, but I do not agree with it. If you identify more with the country of your grandparent, then move to that country and stop 'using' our country to advance your life. It just kind of bothers me people that are only American citizens, but choose to root or play for Mexico or Italy. It should be based on citizenship, and the coaches also should be citizens. IMHO.

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  3. I hear you mate.

    But in Rugby Union for example it makes some weaker national teams stronger, and helps with development.

    There are a lot of people in Australia who like free health care, free social services, religious freedom, and sickness/unemployment benefits, but say how much they hate Australia.

    I don't know a single person who has emigrated to be worse off, yet there are people who are completely ungrateful.

    ReplyDelete

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