Hall of Famer Adrian Beltre cheered for Lee Jung-hoo (27) of the San Francisco Giants, Kim Hye-sung (26) of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Kim Ha-seong (30) of the Tampa Bay Rays, who are active in Major League Baseball.

Beltre participated in the 'MLB Legends Mentoring Day' held at SSG Futures Field in Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, on the 11th and 12th, and visited the Futures team at the invitation of Choo Shin-soo, who currently serves as an assistant to the owner and head of player development for SSG Landers, to share his insights and experiences with future prospects.

Beltre recorded a batting average of .286 over 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (1998-2018), playing in 2,933 games with 11,068 at-bats, 3,166 hits, 477 home runs, 1,707 RBIs, 1,524 runs scored, 121 stolen bases, and an OPS of .819, becoming one of the most beloved third basemen in Major League Baseball. Known for his consistent performance, Beltre became eligible for the Hall of Fame last year and was inducted with 95.1% of the vote in his first year on the ballot.

Selecting 3,000 hits as the most meaningful record among his numerous achievements, Beltre noted, "I believe that 3,000 hits is a record that can only be achieved by staying healthy and consistent throughout one's career. I consider it a testament and a gift to show to the teammates, family, and friends who have supported me along the way, which is why I cherish that record the most."

Beltre has a lot of ties with Choo Shin-soo. When Choo made his Major League debut in Seattle, Beltre was also playing in Seattle, and they played together on the Texas Rangers from 2014 to 2018. "Choo was truly a great teammate and a close friend," Beltre reflected, stating, "Even though I was a young player during our time in Seattle, Choo was much younger. I think that made it easier to approach him. From what I saw on the field, Choo had an excellent batting eye and remarkable patience. He was incredibly focused on the game, so even as a teammate, I truly respected him."

Beltre is from the Dominican Republic. Like Choo Shin-soo, who headed to Major League Baseball from Korea, Beltre spent a long career in the league as a foreign player. The Major League Baseball, where the best players in the world compete, features top talents from numerous countries. Consequently, it has developed a culture that is increasingly open to foreign players. Nonetheless, it is clear that playing in a foreign country comes with its own challenges.

"Everything was difficult," Beltre said. "The culture was different, the language was different, and the food was all different. Even among people from the same country, personalities and preferences vary greatly, so adapting was really tough when everything was different in America. Choo must have felt the same way. So, even though we had different languages and our food preferences didn’t match, we were able to understand each other better. Despite the language barrier, we knew what each other was saying and what we wanted to express. That’s how we grew closer."

Currently, players like Lee Jung-hoo, Kim Hye-sung, and Kim Ha-seong are active in Major League Baseball. Beltre said, "I can’t say it’s an easy thing," adding, "It’s tough, but being able to go from far away in Asia to America means they are mentally and psychologically prepared. If they work hard, the results will follow. I will always be cheering for them."

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