CULIACAN, Mexico -- After a summer of discontent, Kansas City Royals center fielder Carlos Beltran says he's finally healthy and ready to return to the form that helped him earn American League Rookie of the Year honors in 1999.
|  | | Carlos Beltran, right, helped his team win the first game of the Carribean World Series on Friday. |
Beltran is in Mexico playing in the Caribbean World Series with the Caguas Criollos, champion club of his native Puerto Rico, where he played into form this winter in order to enter spring training with a clear head.
"Last year was frustrating, in many ways", Beltran, who in 1999 was the first 100 run-100 RBI rookie since Fred Lynn in 1975 and batted .293 in in 663 at-bats. "I really was trying to do too much and I was playing hurt."
Beltran, who in '99 played in 156 games, was out almost two months with a sprained knee in 2000. Upon his return, the second-year player refused to accept a rehab assignment to the minors, a decision that put him in the Kansas City doghouse for some time. As a result, his production plummeted to a .247 average and his home run output went from 22 in '99 to seven in 2000.
"I really was trying to defend my rights. I still believe I was right, but that's water under the bridge now. I met with management and we got everything all clear. I decided to play winter ball to rehabilitate and go to spring training in shape and now everyone is happy," Beltran said.
While playing in Puerto Rico, Beltran saw limited action on the field, but took extra batting practice with the Bayamon squad to work his knee back into shape. According to the speedy outfielder, his knee problem was aggravated when he shifted his weight in his swing when batting left handed.
Looking forward to 2001, Beltran feels Kansas City's acquisition of reliever Roberto Hernandez in the three-team trade that saw Johnny Damon go to Oakland and Ben Grieve to Tampa Bay is a step in the right direction for the Royals.
Beltran, who benefits directly since the center field job is now his to lose, said Hernandez, who is also from Puerto Rico, fills a huge void in the bullpen, which he says faltered last year.
"We have offense and runs will come with or without Johnny Damon. Now we have a stronger bullpen".
The Royals are returning their two main run producers in Jermaine Dye and Mike Sweeney, who avoided arbitration by signing a two-year $13 million deal last week. The two combined to drive in 262 of the Royals' 879 runs last season.
"If I can stay healthy, and now I know that is the biggest challenge, I can contribute to that," Beltran said. "I feel pretty good about our team, I really do."
Notes from the Caribbean World Series
Free-agent outfielder Luis Polonia, playing in the Caribbean Series with the Dominican Republic's Aguilas Cibaeñas, said he's still listening to offers to return to the major leagues, but did not discard playing in Japan this summer. In 13 big-league seasons with six different teams, the last being the New York Yankees, Polonia is a career .293 hitter who is not about thinking of retiring. "There's way too much baseball in me. As long as I keep hitting, something will come along".
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Elmer Dessens, Mexico's most prized pitcher since the days of Fernando Valenzuela, was scheduled to start for the Mexican League champion Hermosillo Naranjeros. Dessens, however, will leave Culiacan after the game to get ready for his trip to Florida for spring training.
Former Seattle Mariners second baseman Joey Cora has been a success as a front office man for Puerto Rico's Caguas Criollos. Cora took over as GM for the 1998-99 season and built a champion out of a team that hadn't won a title in 14 years. Now he will try his luck in the Chicago Cubs farm system, where he got a boost from Sandy Alomar Sr., who was Caguas' manager this season.
Frankie Rodriguez, who will seek a shot in the Cincinnati Reds' starting rotation this spring after an off year with the Seattle Mariners, started for Puerto Rico's Caguas Criollos in the opening game of the Caribbean World Series, pitching 6 1/3 innings, allowing one run and striking out five.
Javier Maymí is a writer for ESPNdeportes.com | |
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