New York Mets: Five best center fielders in franchise history
3. Carlos Beltran
Most fans remember Beltran for the called strike 3 that he watched go by in the playoffs. However, in his time with the Mets he became one of the better and more clutch players on the team. The Mets signed him after a huge playoff run as a member of the Astros and he played well. He arrived in 2005 posting 155 hits and driving in 78 runs. That was the first of three straight All-Star selections and four total as a member of the Mets.
The next three years saw Beltran go over the 100 RBI mark. From 2005-2009 Beltran never posted less than 100 hits in a season. His on-base percentage is .350 and his best with the Mets was .388 in 2006. Beltran wasn’t just a talented hitter, he was also a clutch hitter that, prior to the looking strikeout in the playoffs, could be counted on for a hit when the Mets needed one.
Beltran was a top-flight center fielder during his time. He won three Gold Gloves from 2006-2008. There was a particular play that sticks out in extra innings against the Houston Astros when Beltran had to run up the hill in the field of play to make the catch and keep the game alive. He was a star with the glove and a wonderful hitter.