Former Houston Astros standout Carlos Beltran officially began his new role as special assistant to New York Mets general manager Billy Eppler.
Beltran was most recently with the YES Network.
“I feel that when you are in the minor league system, you need love,” Beltran told reporters in spring training. “You need people to care about you and that is why I am motivated. I am motivated because I didn’t have that person and I hope I can be the person for those kids.”
Slightly more than three years ago, Beltran was named the Mets’ manager. But he stepped down in the aftermath of the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal.
The impact of that scandal still follows him.
“I felt like that was a moment that needed to happen and I moved on,” Beltran told reporters of the ramifications of what transpired. “I went home and reflected on what happened and how it happened and that’s it. We grow from moments that are tough, but at the same time we learn a lot from people and people around you, so I am OK with where I am.
“I take away the horrible experience that I went through. In life a lot of times when you are going through a big storm you think that storm will never pass, but time heals. The good thing is the support I have received from people within the game, players within the game.”
When this opportunity came up to work with the Mets, Beltran capitalized.
He wants to learn from the past and keep moving forward.
“I know I went through a moment in my career, it was tough,” Beltran said. “I also know that I have some fans and now I don’t have those fans anymore. But at the end of the day I have to live my life. I have to move on. I have to continue to find positive on negative and to do what I love and being on the field, being in baseball, is what I love.”
More must-reads: