The final peak to climb in the race to 3,000 hits might have felt like the steepest, though Adrian Beltre went from 2,989 to the magical number in only 20 at-bats over five-plus games.
It’s been all downhill in the week since he stamped his passport to the Hall of Fame. He joined 30 others in the 3,000 Hit Club only seven days ago.
“It’s gone by fast,” Beltre said. “It feels like it just happened yesterday.”
But it’s in the past, and the future is now for the Texas Rangers.
Beltre is the most vocal of the Rangers players who insist they remain in the playoff picture.