According to Richard Durrett of ESPN Dallas/Fort Worth, Omar Beltre will be called up to start for Texas on Wednesday and Colby Lewis will receive two extra days off and make his start on Friday. Despite an 0-5 record , Beltre has pitched very well in AAA Oklahoma City, pitching 37.2 innings with 44 SO/ 18 BB and a 2.39 ERA to go along. He's allowed just one home run all year as well. He began the year in the bullpen, but has been making the transition to starting, making five starts striking out 24 in only 21.2 IP and holding opponents to a .203 BAA as a starter.
More on Beltre including video after the jump.
Beltre will turn 29 in August and is a bit old for most to get excited about. However, like Alexi Ogando, his visa was rejected for five years after being involved in a human trafficking ring and fraudulent marriages in 2004. He arrived back into the United States this past spring and has reestablished himself as a legitimate prospect despite his age. Jim Callis noted earlier this year that Beltre had been as high as No. 12 on the Rangers prospect rankings back in 2002.
Beltre has a repertoire suitable for starting with four potential pitches. His fastball sits low to mid 90's, as well as a slider and changeup and a sinker that induces lots of ground balls. AAA Oklahoma City pitching coach Terry Clark has been more than impressed by Beltre this year, saying as much as:
"When he's down, his sinker is so good that he gets ground ball after ground ball early in the count, so he doesn't throw a lot of pitches."
Clark said Beltre may be the most Major League ready of all the pitchers on his staff. While all three have shown they can relieve, Beltre is also turning himself into an option as a starter.
"We put him into the starting rotation, and he's settled down and thrown the ball real well his last two outings," Clark said. "I think his biggest asset is he can start."
Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News posted this video of Beltre from this past Spring in Arizona.
Adam Morris at Lone Star Ball has some thoughts on move to call up Beltre as well as what it will mean for the subsequent roster moves to correspond.