ARLINGTON — Elvis Andrus was a 21-year-old shortstop coming off his second season in the big leagues when Adrián Beltré signed with the Texas Rangers as a free agent on Jan. 5, 2011.
Beltré was an established slugger, 10 years older than Andrus, joining a Rangers clubhouse that had just reached its first World Series.
It didn't take long at that first spring training for Andrus and Beltré to become fast friends.
"Not even a week," Andrus said after Beltré held a press conference at Globe Life Field on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after being elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Andrus, along with more than a dozen former Rangers teammates, including Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, Shin-Soo Choo, Derek Holland and Robinson Chirinos.
Andrus was playing Winter Ball in Venezuela when he heard Beltré was joining the Rangers.
"I was like, 'Oh my God, we’re back in the World Series because you knew what kind of player he was and what he could bring to the team," he said. "We had Michael, [Josh Hamilton], [Nelson Cruz] … so many weapons and great hitters on our team so I think it helped him relax and enjoy the game. When you have that much talent and that much experience, the Hall of Fame was his destiny."
Andrus thrived as the annoying little brother to Beltré, who in turn, saw his younger self in Andrus.
"He’s always been so nice since Day 1 to me. He wanted me to be the best. That’s why you saw him so mad at me sometimes because, like a big brother, he always was trying to make me be the best version of me," said Andrus, who spent the 2023 season with the Chicago White Sox after being traded by the Rangers to the Oakland Athletics before the 2021 season.
Andrus is hoping to work it out in his next contract so that he can attend Beltré's induction ceremony on July 21.
"It means a lot to me. He’s been like a big brother to me. He’s been my mentor, and he still is. He’s like family," he said. I can’t wait for July. I'm going to do whatever possible with my new contract to be there that day."
Picking out one moment with Beltré is impossible, Andrus said.
"Pretty much every day, it was something new. Just being in the dugout. I’m very sorry for you guys who were unable to hear us talking," he said. "For eight years, it was a lot of fun."
In the two weeks before the Hall of Fame announcement, Andrus pestered Beltré with text messages, assuring him that he was a lock.
It started annoying Beltré, just like old times. Beltré was in Andrus' wedding. The pair vacation with their wives and families together. Andrus is the Godfather to Beltré's son A.J. It's a deep friendship that endures and something Andrus misses.
"It’s a nice bromance. I still miss that. That’s the toughest part for me still playing, not having him next to me," Andrus said. "It gets me sad. I know he’s still pulling for me and we talk every single day. I loved it, man. It’s not as fun because I’m on the other side now. I’m the older player now, and I’ve got guys annoying me. I loved [annoying him]. It was so much fun, and to this day, he still hates it. I’m going to keep doing it as long as we’re alive."
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