C’s Chat – 2026 Vancouver Canadians 2B/SS #7 Manny Beltre – C's Plus Baseball

C’s Chat goes to the middle of the diamond with 2026 Vancouver Canadians infielder Manny Beltre.

Born in Invivienda in the Dominican Republic, Manuel Beltre Jr. in his sixth season in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. He signed as a free agent with the Jays on January 15, 2021, turning down an opportunity to attend Florida International University after receiving a $2.35 million signing bonus. It was a dream come true for Manuel Beltre Jr. and Manuel Beltre Sr. as the elder Beltre is a Blue Jays fan.

Manny’s professional debut came with the Dominican Summer League Blue Jays in 2021 and he put up 15 extra-base hits in 53 games while compiling an on-base percentage of .391. The highlight of that year was winning DSL Player of the Week honours for August 2-8 when he batted .500 with two doubles, a home run, five runs batted and three stolen bases in five games. That set the tone in an August that saw Beltre bat .317 with a .518 OBP and a .467 slugging percentage.

Beltre’s US debut in 2022 started with a bang as he belted a two-run homer in his first at-bat with the Florida Complex League Blue Jays against the FCL Phillies on June 6. He later added an RBI double and finished a triple shy of the cycle. After a .351 OBP and nine stolen bases in 45 games at the Complex, Beltre got his first taste of Florida State League baseball and he made it count by getting at least one hit in all five contests to end his season. He had three straight two-hit games that produced his first home run as a Dunedin Blue Jay at Tampa on September 4 and batted .381 over his five contests.

A full season with the D-Jays followed in 2023 which saw Beltre hit 22 doubles with six homers, 50 runs batted in and 12 stolen bases in 98 games with an OBP of .335. He stood out defensively when Baseball America tabbed him as the best defensive infielder in the Blue Jays minor league system. Beltre went to Instagram to extend his gratitude to the Jays organization and his family.

MLB Pipeline filed this scouting report about Beltre after the 2023 campaign.

“The Blue Jays have challenged Beltre to increase his exit velocities and start impacting the baseball more consistently. The early reviews are positive, as Beltre has put on nearly 15 pounds, but we’ll need to see if that can translate to power in actual games. Thirty home runs isn’t the goal here, but if the Blue Jays can get Beltre to drive the ball, some of those will start sneaking through the infield and some singles could turn into doubles. He has impressive zone control, so if there’s any power to come, he should have no trouble getting to it. Beltre is not a flashy defender, but he could stick at shortstop. This projection is all about his power, frankly, because Beltre’s entire profile is being a solid, across-the-board prospect otherwise. If the ball starts leaving his bat at 100 mph more often, his ceiling could change.”

The 2024 season featured a walkoff homer from Beltre in the season’s first week as his decisive blast produced a win over Lakeland on April 7. He had a five-hit game at Palm Beach on June 7 but he topped that effort with a six-RBI performance in which he went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a stolen base, needing a double for the cycle at Clearwater on August 22. In 107 games, Beltre had a .334 OBP with five homers, 16 doubles and two triples. He also racked up 23 stolen bases in 28 tries.

In 2025, Beltre had his best month in April when he slashed .309/.407/.433 and homered in Trey Yesavage‘s first win as a pro against Clearwater on May 1. He had 26 extra-base knocks and 26 stolen bases while posting a .303 OBP. A trip down under was next for Beltre as he joined the Perth Heat of the Australian Baseball League. In 19 games, he had two doubles, two homers and seven RBI while batting .264.

After 316 games in a Dunedin uniform, Beltre got to don the red and white of the Vancouver Canadians to begin 2026. He homered in just his second game with Monty’s Mounties against the Tri-City Dust Devils on April 5 and helped the C’s complete a comeback from a 6-0 deficit with a two-run single in the ninth to walk off the Hillsboro Hops on May 2. Beltre hit his first home run on Canadian soil to cap off a win against the Everett AquaSox on May 17.

C’s Plus Baseball spoke with the 22-year-old Beltre during the team’s mid-May homestand against Everett. This interview has been edited for clarity.

CPB – I wanted to ask first off, do you remember who was your signing scout or who approached you about signing with the Blue Jays?

Manny Beltre – So when I was in that process of getting signed, the first person who saw me from the Blue Jays organization was (Director of Latin American Operations) Sandy Rosario. And I think the one that told me, ‘I think you’re going to be a Blue Jay’, was (Vice President, International Scouting & Baseball Operations) Andrew Tinnish. So those two are the two scouts who mainly I talked to before I signed and after I signed too.

CPB – How exciting was that for you to sign with the Blue Jays? What do you remember about that?

MB – It was amazing. Went a little bit longer than I expected because of COVID. But the moment that it happened, it was just a lot of mixed emotions and just feeling that I made the first part of my dream, you know?

CPB – Was there anybody who was with you, like family or friends for the signing ceremony?

MB – Yes, because it was a year next to COVID. It was not a lot of people out. So it was just Mom, Dad and my little brother who was with me on the signing day.

CPB – You got your first taste of baseball in your home country, the Dominican Republic. You won a Player of the Week award your first season. What was that like?

MB – That was amazing, It was, first off, professional baseball. I learned a bunch of stuff that I probably didn’t do before I played pro. First time playing so many games at once. Even though it was just like 50 games, but it was still a lot for myself. And just realizing that baseball is a sport of failure and you’re going to fail more than when you’re a success. So you got to be used to it and be OK with failing. You just got to understand what you’re doing wrong so you can be better the next time you get the opportunity.

CPB – You went on to Dunedin and after that you spent a bit of time there. I think a little bit longer than you would have liked. But going through that experience, what was that like playing ball in the United States?

MB – It was amazing. It was amazing. Like you say, it was a little bit longer than what I expected. But you always have a plan and I just trust Him with all my faith. In the time that I was over there, I feel like I did (get better) and I’m getting better here though. It’s been a little bit up and down for the whole team. But I feel like we have a really good team to make it to the finals and maybe win the championship.

CPB – What is it that you worked on during the offseason?

MB – Oh, there was a lot of stuff. But mainly the thing that I worked on the last offseason was, well, I went to Australia. (The organization talked) to me about my arm. If I want to be in the middle infield or at least in the left part of the infield, I need to work on my arm. Something that I did and I feel like it’s helping me a lot lately. That’s why you see I’m making a lot of diving plays because I’m not afraid of throwing or using my arm. And the other thing is just hitting the ball hard. I feel like I’m doing a very good job this year doing that. Sometimes I’m not as lucky for them to fall. But I feel like I’m doing really good stuff for the team. Moving the runners, scoring when I have to score and just be there when they need me.

CPB – You mentioned Australia. What was that like playing down under?

MB – It was a lot different. It was just a different experience, you know. I feel like when you’re a pro, when you get to a pro level, there’s a lot of people that say that everything is about you. And just whatever you do doesn’t matter to the team. I feel like going over there refreshed me of how winning as a team feels. So whenever I got back here in spring training, it was like I’m going to do everything I can in my power to help the team win. And I feel like that’s why this year has been such a better year than other years because it’s just the team. It’s all I’m developing. It’s just the team, helping the team win and what can I do to make the team win today.

CPB – On your social media account, you made a visit here to Vancouver (in the offseason) and I guess that was your first time. What led to that trip? You just wanted to see what Nat Bailey Stadium was like?

MB – Yeah, so I was in Seattle doing some work with Driveline (Baseball Training Facility). And I was off on the weekend. I didn’t find a lot of stuff to do in Seattle. And I was like, you know what? I want to play in Vancouver and Vancouver is like two hours and a half from Seattle. Let’s just make a quick trip to see how the field and everything looks like. And I fell in love right away. Everything was closed and I saw everything from outside but it was just an amazing view. It was just amazing. Like a kid going to a big league field for the first time.

CPB – I wanted to ask you about the Player Development Complex. I don’t know if you’re big into analytics, if you’re concerned with exit velocity or launch angle, that sort of thing. But was there maybe anything you learned about yourself?

MB – Yes. I feel like I’m still learning every single day. There’s a lot of new stuff going on. And there’s a lot of new stuff that you can learn from. And I feel like I’m learning my body every single day. Learning how I can hit the ball harder. Learning what move I can make to make everything look easier and still hit the ball harder. There’s a lot of stuff. And I feel like the Player Development Complex that we have helped me a lot with that. Knowing the Trajekt (pitching machine) or all the stuff and media and all the videos that they can get of you. It’s just amazing. It helps me a lot, too. I know they have major league pitchers simulated in this Traject machine. I believe Gerrit Cole is one of them.

CPB – Who else did you get to see?

MB – So in spring training, it depends on who’s pitching for the other team. Mainly it’s Gerrit Cole. Because nowadays there’s a lot of (fastball) ride or carry pitchers. But if I’m facing somebody who throws a sinker, I’m facing, let’s say a guy who throws a split, I’m facing Gausman (Kevin Gausman). Those type of (pitchers). I’m just getting ready for whatever I’m going to face that day.

CPB – So you finally got the word you’re going to Vancouver. What was that like for you?

MB – Yeah, when I saw the roster. it was a mix of emotions because I’ve been trying to get here for the past two years, I’m going to say. And seeing that I was able to finally make it out of spring training. And being here on Opening Day, it was just amazing. Just playing in Nat Bailey Stadium, it’s something different. Something I haven’t experienced in a long, long time. And I’m really enjoying my time over here.

CPB – This season, you got your first home run out of the way early in Tri-City. I know the series didn’t go the way you wanted but what was that like, your introduction to Northwest League pitching?

MB – Everything was a little different than back in the day. The weather was a lot different the first day. I remember on Opening Day, it was like low 50s. And I thought I was just going to die the first day. I feel like I’m getting used to that. And the pitching is just a little bit different than over there. The pitchers here, they know what they’re doing. And they know where to spot the pitches. They’re still going to make mistakes but the mistakes that are made are a little bit less than in the lower levels.

CPB – What is your plan when you step into the batter’s box? Do you have a certain game plan that you follow?

MB – I do. The only thing I can say is, try to hit it to the big side of the field. Whenever I think hit it to the big side of the field, the rest just comes naturally. I don’t think to pull it. I don’t think to hit it on the other side. Just straight to the middle. And then if I catch it up front, I’m going to catch it up front. If I catch it late, then it’s going to be on the second baseman’s head.

CPB – How big a challenge is it hitting here at Nat Bailey Stadium? I mean, it is considered a pitcher’s park. You’ve got the big wall in right field but what’s the challenge of hitting here?

MB – I don’t see it as a challenge. I don’t put that on my mind too often. I just try to do the best I can when I step into the (batter’s) box. I feel like it’s a fight between me and the pitcher. I don’t think that I have to hit it this way in order for it to be a hit or a homer. I feel like if I hit it hard, good spot, and I swing on my pitch, the ball is going to land. And if I hit it good enough, it’s going to go over the fence.

CPB – I wanted to ask as well, as far as with the glove. We’ve seen you at second, at short and third base. Do you have a preference when it comes to your position?

MB – I like short. But like I said, it doesn’t matter. As long as I’m on the field, I can help the team win the ballgame, I’m there. It doesn’t matter where it is though.

CPB – How do you prepare when you know you’re going to be at second base one day or at short or third?

MB – I’m not going to say it’s very different. Let’s say I’m playing second that day. I know the throw is a little bit shorter, so I can get more distance. And because my arm is getting a little bit better from a couple years ago, I can make that throw. From short, I know I have to be a little more quicker. Sometimes it’s a longer throw and, you know, sometimes (hitters) hit it to the holes and I have to throw that a little bit quicker. And whenever I play third, it’s just a bang, bang type of thing. I just got my reaction time to be better than short and second. And whenever I catch the ball, it’s just I don’t have a lot of time to throw to first base.

CPB – I wanted to ask you as well about the running game. Earlier in this home stand, we saw you come into pinch-run and wind up stealing second and third. Is that a dimension you really like to add to your game? I guess the legs were feeling good that day.

MB – Yes. Yes. I’m not going to say I’m the fastest guy on the team, but I feel like all the levels and season that I’ve played already helped me a little bit to know when I can run and when I cannot. And I feel like that helps me to be a little bit more of a danger on the bases. I’m not super quick. I’m not going to say I’m super fast, but I know how to steal bases and know where I can go and where I have to stand.

CPB – What would you say, looking back, has been your best moment of the season? You drove in a game-winning run (against Hillsboro), what would you say has been your best moment in Vancouver?

MB – That’s hard to replace. I really enjoyed hitting the walk-off that day because it was a game that – it was 6-0. I felt like everybody felt that we were just going to give up, and we started scoring one, then two, and I don’t know, we’re in the last inning of the game. The game was tied with a base runner. I didn’t try to do too much, and I put the ball in play. I got the hit, and we won that game. I think that’s one of the best experiences I have had here at Nat Bailey Stadium. We did it again on Tuesday, which it was crazy too. I was not the one who hit it, but I was still super happy that we did it. Yeah, I think those are two of the best moments that I have here in Vancouver so far.

CPB – Now I’m going to ask you, as far as your teammates, who would you say is your funniest teammate here in Vancouver?

MB – I would say for the English speakers, I would say it’s Jay Schueler. They just come up with random stuff, and Spanish speakers, I would say it’s Chirinos (Kendry Chirinos). People who know them, they know what I’m talking about.

CPB – I’ve done three interviews so far, and I believe everybody’s has said Kendry Chirinos. Now you have your walk-up music, but your other teammates, whether it’s pitchers or batters, is there another song that maybe caught your attention?

MB – Oh, I like Carter Cunningham, the first walk-up song (“Nobody” by Counting Crows + Matthew West) that he had. I can’t remember who sang it, ‘I’m just Nobody. I’m trying to tell everybody.’ I like Tucker’s (Tucker Toman‘s) song and there’s a few pitchers I like their songs too. I like Sharp’s (Jacob Sharp’s) song as well.

CPB – How important is it, you know, when you select your music, how important is it that it kind of puts you in the right frame of mind when you’re stepping up to the plate?

MB – I feel like you have to put the right one in order of how you want to feel on the box. Like, I like to be really calm. That’s why I have a Bob Marley song to step in. It’s either that or I have a Christian song that reminds me that God sits in control of everything. I know there’s a lot of people that like to be hyped up, and they put really some rap music and stuff like that, so that’s cool with them. But I feel like it’s really good for the type of player that you are. If you like to be hyped up, you put something that can help you up, or if you want to be calm, just put something that calms you down to get on the box.

CPB – Who was your favoruite major league team and player growing up?

MB – When I was growing up, it was the Blue Jays, they had a lot of Dominican players in one year. I remember one time it was like eight Dominican players in the lineup or something like that. (My favourite) baseball player growing up, it was Robinson Cano. I switched it to Francisco Lindor when Cano just got out of the league, but those are the two main players that I follow up. (Both) switch-hitters.

CPB – My final question. The Canadians have lots of different uniforms. “The Nat” uniform you wore the last couple of nights, red, black, gray, blue, white. Do you have a favourite?

MB – I do. I like the retro one, the blue one. I really like how that one looks. I like the red. I like the white. I like how we mix the letters of the (blue) jersey. I like that one. That’s my favourite so far.

Manny Beltre File

Born – June 9, 2004, in Invivienda, Dominican Republic
Height/Weight – 5’10”, 155 pounds
Bats/Throws – Right/Right
Uniform Numbers – Wore number 9 for the Dominican Summer League Blue Jays in 2021. Wore number 22 for the Florida Complex League Blue Jays and number 7 for the Dunedin Blue Jays in 2023. Wore number 7 in 2023, wore number 1 in 2024 and number 23 in 2025 for Dunedin. Wore number 34 for the Perth Heat of the Australian Baseball League.
Instagram – @manuel_beltre09
Twitter – @manuel_beltre09
Walkup Music – “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” by Bob Marley and the Wailers.
Professional Debut – July 12, 2021, for DSL Blue Jays vs. DSL Padres. Drew walk against Miguel Mendez in first pro at-bat.
First Professional Home Run – July 12, 2021 for DSL Blue Jays vs. DSL Padres off Adrian Luna.
C’s Debut – April 4, 2026, at Tri-City Dust Devils. Singled off Tyler Bremner in first Northwest League at-bat.
First C’s Home Run – April 5, 2026, at Tri-City Dust Devils off Keythel Key.
First Nat Bailey Stadium Home Run – May 17, 2026, vs. Everett AqauSox off Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman.
Fun Fact – Manny and his younger brother Enmanuel Beltre have a YouTube channel called “Beltre Brothers“. Enmanuel is considered to be a player who will be generating some buzz in a future MLB Draft.