Beltre signed with the Texas Rangers on March 1, 2000. He received a $600,000 bonus, the largest the Rangers have ever given an international player. He was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Rangers, and went 5–4 with a 3.54 earned run average and 44 strikeouts in his first professional season. He improved to 6–3 with a 3.38 ERA and 83 strikeouts for the Appalachian League\'s Pulaski Rangers in 2001, leading his team in both wins and strikeouts.\n', '

After sitting out the entire 2002 season with an injury, he returned to go 3–3 with a 2.39 ERA for the Midwest League\'s Clinton LumberKings in 2003. Having been used primarily as a starter up to that point, Beltre only made five starts in 2003, and made eleven appearances out of the bullpen.\n', '

After going 5–5 with a 2.45 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 46 games (all in relief) with the Stockton Ports in 2004, Beltre earned his first invitation to spring training. When he went to the U.S. embassy in January 2005 to pick up his work visa, consulate officials were waiting. According to the Rangers\' information, consulate officials soon discovered an inordinate number of young minor league ballplayers had been married in a short period of time to women who had previously been denied visas, and it raised a red flag.\n', '

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