FRANCIS BELTRAN - RH PITCHER - #62 - (2007-2008)

2007 SEASON

Spent the entire season with Triple A Norfolk after signing with the Baltimore Orioles organization as a minor league free agent during the off-season.

• Fifth among International League relievers with 2.28 walks per nine innings.

• Fanned a season-high three batters three times during the season -- April 7 at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, April 24 at Indianapolis and May 7 at Durham.

• Worked a season-best three innings of relief on May 7 at Durham.

• Combined to post a 2.79 ERA (19.1IP/6ER) in 17 outings during June and July.

• Compiled a 3.97 ERA (22.2IP/10ER) in 21 games following the league’s all-star break...posted a 5.15 ERA (36.2IP/21ER) in 26 outings prior to the all-star break.

• Fared better against lefthanded batters, limiting them to a .226 batting average (26x115)...righties batted .362 (47x130) with Beltran on the mound.

MAJOR LEAGUE CAREER

Spent the entire 2005 season on the disabled list with the Washington Nationals due to an ulnar collateral ligament injury in his right elbow -- underwent right elbow reconstruction surgery on March 15.

Received his first extended major league action with the Chicago Cubs in 2004, before he was acquired by the Montreal Expos as part of a four-team trade on July 31.

• Recalled by the Cubs from Triple A Iowa on April 14.

• Established a career high with five strikeouts on April 26 at Arizona.

• Earned his first major league win on May 16 at San Diego.

• Posted a 1-1 record and 2.25 ERA (12.0IP/3ER) in 10 outings during May.

• Optioned back to Iowa by the Cubs on July 21.

• Assigned to Triple A Edmonton by the Expos following the trade on July 31...recalled by Montreal from Edmonton on August 16.

• Sidelined August 25-September 9 with right shoulder tendinitis.

• Recorded his first major league save on September 18 at Philadelphia after tossing a scoreless inning of relief.

Appeared in 11 games during his three stints with the Cubs in 2002.

• Recalled by the Cubs from Double A West Tenn for his first major league action on June 27.

• Made his major league debut on June 28 at Chicago’s Comiskey Park against the White Sox.

• Optioned back to West Tenn by the Cubs on July 1.

• Recalled by the Cubs from West Tenn on August 2 -- did not appear in a game before being optioned back to West Tenn on August 4.

• Recalled by the Cubs from West Tenn for the remainder of the season on August 13.

• Compiled a 1.50 ERA (6.0IP/1ER) in five outings during September.

MINOR LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS

Opened the 2006 season on the disabled list with Triple A New Orleans in the Nationals organization as he continued to recover from right elbow reconstruction surgery.

• Assigned to the Gulf Coast League Nationals for an injury rehabilitation assignment on August 1 -- appeared in six games before he was reinstated from the disabled list at New Orleans on August 22.

Saw action with both Iowa and Edmonton during the 2004 season -- combined to post a 2.38 ERA (11.1IP/3ER) and seven saves in 11 outings between the two stops.

Limited to 31 appearances with Iowa during the 2003 season due to two stints on the disabled list.

• Appeared mainly in relief for Iowa, compiling a 5-1 record and 3.11 ERA (37.2IP/13ER) in 29 relief appearances ... in his two starts, he went 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA (11.0IP/3ER).

• Selected to the Pacific Coast League’s mid-season all-star squad, but he was unable to participate in the Triple A All-Star Game due to injury.

• Did not allow a run in eight straight outings May 3-19, tossing 13.1 scoreless innings.

• Posted a 4-1 record and 1.42 ERA (25.1IP/4ER) in 11 outings (two starts) during May.

• Sidelined June 25-July 27 with a right shoulder strain -- appeared in two games following his return from the disabled list before being forced back to the disabled list on August 1 with a right shoulder strain.

• Limited righthanded batters to a .211 batting average (26x123) ... lefties hit .317 (20x63) with Beltran on the mound.

• Named the 16th-best prospect in the Cubs organization following the season by Baseball America.

Fourth in the Southern League with 23 saves for West Tenn during the 2002 season.

• Rated as possessing the best fastball in the Southern League by Baseball America.

• Earned a spot on the World Team for the Futures Game held at Milwaukee’s Miller Park prior to Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game -- fanned the only two batters he faced.

• Opened the season on the disabled list with vertigo, keeping him sidelined until May 11.

• Posted a 1-0 record, 1.38 ERA (13.0IP/2ER) and four saves in 11 outings during May.

• Compiled a 0.45 ERA (20.0IP/1ER) and 14 saves during a 19-outing stretch June 16-August 6.

• Finished 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA (13.0IP/1ER) and nine saves in 13 games during July.

• Named the third-best prospect in the Southern League and sixth-best prospect in the Cubs organization following the season by Baseball America.

Spent the entire 2001 season with Single A Daytona, starting a career-high 18 games.

• Compiled a 6-7 record and 4.60 ERA (90.0IP/46ER) in his 18 starts ... appeared in relief three times, posting a 0-2 record and 11.81 ERA (5.1IP/7ER).

• Won four straight starts May 11-26, posting a 1.32 ERA (27.1IP/4ER).

• Finished 4-1 with a 2.23 ERA (32.1IP/8ER) in five starts during May.

• Sidelined June 9-July 24 with a right hand fracture.

• Named the 19th-best prospect in the Cubs organization following the season by Baseball America.

Assigned to Single A Lansing to begin the 2000 season, before being transferred to Single A Eugene on May 27.

• Did not allow a run in six straight outings with Lansing April 25-May 8, tossing six scoreless innings.

• Fanned a season-best seven batters for Eugene on July 21 versus Everett -- matched the high with seven strikeouts
on July 27 at Boise.

• Posted 13.1 consecutive scoreless innings July 24-August 8, fanning 18 batters during the six-game stretch.

• Compiled a 1.89 ERA (19.0IP/4ER) and 26 strikeouts in eight outings during July.

• Did not allow a run in his final eight appearances of the season August 21-September 6, fanning 16 batters in nine scoreless innings -- posted six saves during the stretch.

• Earned a save in both of his outings during the Northwest League playoffs, not allowing a run in 2.1 innings of work.

Split the 1999 season between the Arizona League Cubs and Eugene.

• Sidelined June 20-July 19 with right shoulder inflammation.

Appeared in 12 games with the Arizona League Cubs during the 1998 season, splitting his time between the starting rotation and bullpen.

Made his professional debut with the Arizona League Cubs in 1997, tying for second on the staff with 16 appearances.

Signed by the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent on November 15, 1996.

PERSONAL/MISCELLANEOUS

He, his wife Sophia, daughter Noemi and son Jay reside in Miami, FL during the off-season.

• Appeared in two games with Licey in the Dominican Winter League following the 2001 season.

• Named the eighth-best prospect in the Dominican Winter League by Baseball America after pitching for Estrellas following the 2002 season.

• Compiled a 2-0 record and 2.53 ERA (10.2IP/3ER) in 11 outings for Licey in the Dominican Winter League following the 2003 season.

• Named the Most Valuable Player of the 2004 Caribbean Series as the Dominican Republic edged Puerto Rico for the championship.

• Appeared in three games with Licey in the Dominican Winter League following the 2006 season.

Saturday, April 5, 2008
Rodney's status unclear after unsuccessful bullpen session
Eric Lacy / The Detroit News

DETROIT
-- The future and health status of Tigers pitcher Fernando Rodney is uncertain as he remains on the disabled list with tendinitis in his throwing shoulder.

Rodney's unsuccessful bullpen session Friday at Comerica Park prompted the team to replace him on the active roster with right-hander Francis Beltran, manager Jim Leyland said.

"I'm not going into any detail about it," said Leyland when asked about
Rodney's session. "I'm not going to get into medical stuff. There was nothing (medically related) discovered or anything. It just wasn't good."

Asked to expand on Rodney's status, Leyland, in his office, appeared to express some impatience with the right-hander's lingering shoulder problems.

"Sometimes enough is enough," Leyland said.

The addition of Beltran gives the Tigers 13 pitchers on the active roster
and prompted the team to move outfielder Ryan Raburn to Toledo.

Beltran pitched one inning for Triple-A Toledo this season and didn't give up a run. Beltran reportedly impressed Tigers officials during spring training, which helped lead to the decision to call him up, Leyland said.

Granderson update

Tigers outfielder Curtis Granderson continued to nurse a broken right hand and is expected to receive an X-Ray of the hand Sunday.

Once the results of the test are in, it's unclear when Granderson will be able to resume baseball-related activities. He broke the hand about two weeks ago.

For now, Granderson can only do some elliptical training and manual weight training that doesn't put impact on the hand.

"If it's bad, then I can't do any baseball stuff yet," said Granderson. "If
it's good then I can get going. Until that happens, I can't do anything."

Official Transactions


12/1/07 - Signed RHP Francis Beltran to a Minor League contract and invited him to Spring Training.

1/7/08 - Signed RHP Francis Beltran, RHP Jeremy Johnson, RHP Anastacio Martinez, RHP Marcelo Perez, LHP Jon Connolly, LHP JIan Ostlund, C Dane Sardinha, C Max St. Pierre, INF Caonabo Cosme, INF Henry Mateo and OF Jackson Melian to Minor League contracts.

3/25/08 - Reassigned RHP Francis Beltran and OF Timo Perez to Minor League camp.

4/5/08 - Optioned OF Ryan Raburn to Triple-A Toledo; recalled RHP Francis Beltran from Toledo.

4/5/08 - Optioned OF Ryan Raburn to Triple-A Toledo; recalled RHP Francis Beltran from Toledo.