Adrian Beltre's Got Jokes

Adrian Beltre is a delight. (Unless you touch his head, in which case he will kill you.) That extended to his post-game press conference after becoming the 31st player ever to reach 3,000 hits. 

Beltre responded to the very first question by channeling Marshawn Lynch and telling the assembled press, “I’m here so I won’t be fined.”

The best part of this is Beltre attempting to remain stonefaced, but slowly succumbing to a smile before cracking up.

Despite the 10-6 loss to the Orioles, it was a day of good feelings for Beltre. The Rangers handled Beltre’s 3,000th hit perfectly. As soon as he reached second, his children—son Adrian Jr. and daughters Cassandra and Canila—sprinted out of the dugout toward the warning track. Beltre said he thought they were coming to hug him and was confused when they ran right past.

Beltre’s kids unveiled a 3,000-hit decal on the outfield wall, and then came to greet him, joined by his wife.

Beltre said that moment, seeing his kids run toward him with their arms outstretched, was “the best moment of my life.”

“I saw the joy in their faces,” Beltre said. “A lot of things you do in your career, you do for your family. My kids and my wife have been supportive over the years. This was for them.”

It was a nice little fluke of the calendar that Beltre reached 3,000 on the same afternoon as the Hall of Fame inducted its newest members. He’ll be joining them soon enough.