Miguel Beltran’s Oklahoma City University teammates have given him the nickname El Gato Grande.
He didn’t get the nickname for anything he did on the field.
“Our catcher Chad Carman gave me that nickname,” Beltran said. “I had a new Twitter account, and I didn’t have a name for it, so I texted him and he said, ‘El Gato Grande,’ and it stuck.”
The OCU first baseman helped the top-ranked Stars to a 4-0 start with two crucial home runs in the team’s opening weekend.
“I think I was leading off both times and I was just trying to get on base and get a rally going for the team,” Beltran said. “Both times it was getting late in the game and I just saw a pitch and I hit it.”
Beltran, a senior from Long Beach, Calif., finished the four-game weekend with a batting average of .600, four runs batted in and two home runs and is this week’s Super Star of the week.
Beltran hit .346 a season ago while driving in 66 runs on 73 hits and 13 homers and says his approach to hitting is simple.
“See the ball and hit the ball,” Beltran said. “I feel like when I’m up there not thinking about anything and just relaxing I hit the ball better than when I’m all tensed up and thinking about stuff.”
According to the 6-foot-3 first-baseman, hitting is not the only thing he works at.
“I take a lot of pride in my defense,” Beltran said. “I feel like if I’m able to do my job, I’m able to help my teammates. I like that the infielders have enough confidence in me to be able to throw the ball anywhere and know that I can make the play.”
The Stars currently sit in the top spot in the NAIA poll, and according to Beltran that is the way he likes it.
“We know that every team we face, we’ll being seeing their number one pitcher and we’re going to have the target on our backs,” Beltran said. “I personally like the feeling of being No. 1 and having everyone trying to catch us and trying to beat us. We know we can go out and compete with anybody, whoever they pitch we know that we can win with our defense our pitching and our hitting.”
Beltran says he ended up at OCU based on a phone call.
“A scout called Keith Lytle, our assistant coach, and asked if they needed a first baseman,” Beltran said. “They did, and that’s why I’m here.”
More on Miguel:
Favorite cartoon character: Speedy Gonzalez
Favorite sports venue: Fenway Park
My nickname: El gato grande
Favorite athlete: Adrian Gonzalez
Reality show I hate: Swamp People
