Former Indian Carlos Beltran Hits 400th HR

SPOKANE, WA - Twenty years ago Carlos Beltran was patrolling the outfield for the Spokane Indians. Now, he's a member of one of baseball's most exclusive fraternities and putting the finishing touches on what should be a Hall of Fame career. The New York Yankees slugger connected for his 400th career home run on Sunday, May 15 against the Chicago White Sox's Zach Duke, joining Mickey Mantle, Eddie Murray, and Chipper Jones as the only switch-hitters in Major League Baseball history to reach that mark.

"It's a great accomplishment," Beltran said. "You mention three great players, and just to be next to them, it motivates me to continue, to finish my career strong and just see what I'm capable of doing."

Beltran also become the fifth player in MLB history to reach 500 doubles, 400 home runs, and 300 stolen bases and just the third Puerto-Rico born player to notch 400 long balls, joining Juan Gonzalez and Carlos Delgado.

"I think it's a Hall of Famer in front of us," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of Beltran. "You look at his body of work, you look at his stolen bases, you look at playing center field, the RBIs, everything together. It's a great moment for him, and it's a great moment for us."

A second round pick of the Kansas City Royals in the 1995 draft, Beltran spent 59 games with the Indians in 1996, hitting .270 with seven home runs, 29 RBI, and 10 stolen bases.

Since reaching the major leagues in 1998 with the Royals, Beltran has been named Rookie of the Year, an 8-time All-Star and has collected three Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger awards. Beltran's 2004 postseason with the Houston Astros, that included a record-setting 21 runs scored and a record-tying eight home runs, is widely consider among the best in baseball history. 

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