Beltré, Pudge share their Hall of Fame journeys on Latino Legends Panel

Adrian Beltré and Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez stepped onto the stage at the "Unfiltered: Texas Rangers Latino Legends Panel Discussion" to a roar of applause from the fans who saw them cement their legacy. That same love they felt from Rangers fans made Texas feel like their home away from home early in their careers.

Their journey from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic to Texas was more than just a career move -- it was a leap of faith fueled by dreams and determination.

“When I was 7 or 8 years old, my goal was to come to this country and become a big leaguer,” Rodriguez said. “At the age of 16, that dream came true and I came over here. The support I had with the players at the time gave me the opportunity to feel comfortable in the organization.”

“Growing up in a humble beginning and watching Latino players become stars in the big leagues,” Beltré said. “Then seeing that you want to be there. Knowing that you have a chance to be that guy too. … You understand why you can do it for the Latino community as a person, as a baseball player and putting your country in front.”

The panel was part of MLB’s All-Star Week festivities, with the intent of spreading awareness to its fans about the stories behind the journey of these Latin American players. It was moderated by MLB’s director of talent development and diversity Jesse Sanchez, a Fort Worth, Texas native and former Rangers beat reporter.

Beltré and Rodriguez opened up about some of the adversity they faced when they first entered the country, like navigating through the language barrier.

As a catcher, Rodriguez took learning English seriously since his position made him the field general, having to relay different messages and signs to players and coaches. He took advantage of the mandatory night classes the Rangers offered during Spring Training.

Beltré learned English by offering a teammate $1 a day to teach him a new word. He would feel extra motivated to perfect the language whenever someone laughed at a word he mispronounced.

Twenty years later, their English is now fluent.

“It feels uncomfortable,” Beltré said. “Because you want to be part of the conversation because it looks like it’s funny, but you laugh but you have no idea what they were saying. It was awkward but it pushed me to learn the language.”

The pair of Rangers legends pushed past adversity and lived up to the lofty expectations they set at a young age. It’s evident by their Hall of Fame careers, with Rodriguez being inducted into Cooperstown in 2017. His selection was a significant milestone, as he became the first Puerto Rican catcher to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“I started to cry,” Rodriguez said about the day he was elected. “The reason that happened to me is when you get that call, you get that news and they tell you ‘Welcome to Cooperstown, you’re in the Hall of Fame,’ a lot of things come to yourself. From starting at the age of 7, doing all the hard work, learning English and everything that has to happen to get there pays off.”

Beltré will join the Hall of Fame this year and was elected in his first year on the ballot, with 95.1% of the vote. His charismatic personality and on-field antics made him a fan favorite not just with the Rangers, but around the league. He said he finished the speech he will deliver on July 21.

The four-time All-Star is one of five Dominican players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, an honor he carries proudly because of the meaning of baseball in his native country.

“The first thing you do before speaking or walking is grab a stick and a ball,” Beltré said. “We breathe baseball. We have a lot of baseball players, which is amazing thinking we only have five Hall-of-Famers. To be part of this group from the Dominican Republic in the Hall is incredible.”

These stories of perseverance and the power of community support inspire future generations of Latino players, showcasing the extraordinary impact of following one's dreams.

“I always feel that the support the Latino fans have for us is more personal,” Beltré said in Spanish. “They understand who we are, where we’ve come from and the love we have for the sports. We’re always proud of you and thank you for rooting for us.”