Happy birthday Engel Beltre

Happy birthday to Ranger outfielder Engel Beltre, who turns 24 today.

Its weird that a guy who has seemingly been around forever is just 24...Beltre came over in the Eric Gagne trade in July, 2007, along with David Murphy and Kason Gabbard, as a toolsy outfielder with a lot of potential and a lot of work to do.

Beltre's approach at the plate is still so poor that he's probably never going to hit much, but he's an elite defender in the outfield, and as he's out of options now, the Rangers could keep him around to use in a super-defense platoon with Craig Gentry next year.

And another fun fact...Elvis Andrus, who has also been around forever (and who has five full seasons in the majors), is just 14 months older than Engel Beltre.

Kind of mind blowing, isn't it?

Also born today, incidentally, was former Ranger pitcher Ryan Glynn, who is now 39, former Ranger outfielder Gary Redus, who is 57, and Fernando Valenzuela, who is (supposedly) 53.