The Faith of One of Baseball's Best Players: New York Met's Outfielder Carlos Beltran

He is one of the best players in major league baseball. According to baseball experts, outfielder Carlos Beltrán can hit for a high average or hit home runs, is an excellent fielder, has a good throwing arm, and can steal bases. He is one of the highest paid players in baseball, as he signed a 7-year $119 million contract with the New York Mets, becoming only the highest paid New York ever and only the tenth player in major league history to get a contract worth more than $100 million. Despite all of his skills, success, and money, however, Carlos Beltrán says the thing that matters most to him is his Christian faith.

Carlos Beltrán has played for the Kansas City Royals, the Houston Astros, and the New York Mets. He was the American League Rookie of the Year for the Royals in 1999 and the American League Player of the Month for April for Kansas City in 2004. He won the National League Gold Glove when playing for the Mets in 2006 and the same season won the National League Silver Slugger award. He holds the Mets single season record for runs scored with 127 and was a major league all-star three times (2004-2006).

When he played for Kansas City in 2001, Beltrán batted .306, hit 24 home runs, and 101 runs batted in, followed by a .273 average, with 29 home runs, and 105 runs batted in the following year. In 2003, he batted .307, hit 26 home runs, and batted in 100 runs.

After being traded to the Astros, Beltrán was selected for the All-Star game for the American League, but was initially denied the chance to play because of his trade to the National League team. When Cincinnati Reds great Ken Griffey Jr. was injured and could not play, Beltrán took his place. He was the first player ever to be selected for one All-Star team but play for another.

Playing with the Astros, in the 2004 playoffs, Beltrán tied Barry Bonds' single postseason record with eight homeruns.

In the 2006 National League Championship Series (NLCS), Beltrán hit three home runs. His defense was impressive in the playoffs too, although he did strike out as the last batter in the NLCS, as the Mets lost.