Adrian Beltre, Todd Helton, Joe Mauer, Jim Leyland reach HOF - ESPN

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Texas Rangers great Adrian Beltre set the tone on Sunday as the Baseball Hall of Fame welcomed four new members during the annual induction ceremony at the Clark Sports Center.

Beltre, who finished his 21-year career with 3,166 hits and five Gold Gloves at third base, was enshrined along with Twins catcher Joe Mauer and Rockies first baseman Todd Helton, the latter pair becoming baseball's newest one-team Hall of Famers. That puts the Hall's membership at 273 among those who entered as players.

Also inducted was longtime manager Jim Leyland, who piloted four teams, including the 1997 World Series champion Florida Marlins. Leyland represented the Detroit Tigers, whom he managed from 2006 to 2013 and led to a pair of AL pennants.

Beltre struck a playful tone with many of his remarks, which he said were «maybe 25%» improvised. He was perhaps buoyed by Hall of Famer David Ortiz, who approached Beltre on stage and patted him on the head. Beltre is famously averse to having his head touched.

«That never relaxes me,» Beltre said. «But it was a little c,ue to go back to the days when I was playing, and it's like 'OK, get ready to go out there and do your best with the speech.'»

Beltre, who played with the Dodgers, Mariners, Red Sox and Rangers, is one of only two players to have over 3,000 hits, 400 homers and at least five Gold Gloves. The other was Willie Mays, who was recognized before the speeches, along with the other Hall of Famers who died since last year's induction: Whitey Herzog, Brooks Robinson and Orlando Cepeda.

Beltre is the fifth player born in the Dominican Republic to be enshrined, the last being Ortiz — a member of the 2022 Hall class. As with Ortiz, there was a sizable contingent of