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Wladimir Balentien
From BR Bullpen
Wladimir Ramon Balentien
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 190 lb.
- Debut September 4, 2007
- Born July 2, 1984 in Willemstad Curacao
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Biographical Information
Wladimir Balentien is a former major leaguer who played in the 2004 Olympics. He has beaten up minor league pitching at the Triple A level and made his major league debut in 2007.
2000-2001: The beginning
Balentien started his professional career in 2000, shortly after his 16th birthday, playing in the Dominican Summer League. The next two years, he was in the Venezuelan Summer League. In 2001, he batted .206 with 9 homers for Aguirre (VSL).
2002-2003: MVP one year, a home run record the next
Back with Aguirre the next season, Wladimir hit .279/?/523 and led the VSL with 10 homers. He won the league MVP award. In the playoffs, he hit a 2-run homer in the final game and was also named MVP of the championship series. He was named to the league's All-Star team at DH. In 2003, the teenager was smacking the long balls for the AZL Mariners, hitting .283/.363/.658 with 16 homers, 42 runs and 52 RBI in 50 games. He struck out 55 times in 187 AB. Baseball America named him the Arizona League's #2 prospect after Chris Lubanski. Balentien broke the AZL home run record of 13, set by Luis A. Garcia four years prior. Balentien also made the AZL All-Star team at both outfielder and DH. His 14 outfield assists led the loop, as did his 33 extra-base hits. He led in slugging and was second in RBI, 3 behind Lizahio Baez.
2004-2005: Olympics and A ball
Balentien played his first season in A ball in 2004. He hit .277/.315/.519 for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, cracking 15 homers in 76 games. He batted .289/.357/.474 in 10 games with the Inland Empire 66ers. Baseball America ranked him as the 11th-best Midwest League prospect. He missed time to represent The Netherlands in the 2004 Olympics but only hit .133 in six games for the 2-5 club.
Wladimir returned to Inland Empire in 2005 and had a huge year. He led the Mariners chain in total bases (272), doubles (38), home runs (25), slugging (.553) and strikeouts. He hit .291/.338/.553. He tied Billy Butler for 5th in extra base hits in all of the minor leagues, though he wa salso fifth in strikeouts. He did not make the California League All-Star team, lead the league in anything or get named as one of the top prospects by Baseball America.
2006-2007: Working his way to the majors
Balentien hit 22 homers and drove in 82 in 2006 but struggled otherwise, only putting up a .230/.337/.435 line for the San Antonio Missions in AA. Still just 21/22, he was hampered by 140 strikeouts in 444 AB. He led Texas League outfielders in assists (17) and double plays (6) but also in errors (11), showing a strong but erratic arm. Baseball America rated him the #20 prospect in the TL and as having the best outfield arm in the league. He played for the World team in the 2006 Futures Game at DH and starred, going 2 for 3 with a double, though the USA beat his outfit 8-4.
He hit .268/.342/.572 in the winter leagues for the Lara Cardinals, tying him for second in the Venezuelan Winter League in homers (9).
He worked on hitting more singles and doubles over the winter as well as cutting down on his temper. He opened 2007 with the AAA Tacoma Rainiers and had hits in 17 of his first 18 games, batting .380 with 5 home runs. Balentien continued his hot hitting and delivered a dramatic blow on May 2. With the Rainiers down 3-2 in the bottom of the 9th, they loaded the bases with two outs. On a 3-1 count, Wladimir hammered a blast over the left-field wall for a walk-off grand slam. Overall, Balentien batted .291/.362/.509 with 24 HR and 84 RBI for Tacoma as well as stealing 15 bases in 19 tries. He tied for 10th in the Pacific Coast League in home runs.
In the 2007 Futures Game, Balentien hit third for the World team and played right field. He went 1 for 3 with 2 RBI and a double in the World's 7-2 win.
2007-2009: In The Show
Called up to Seattle, Wladimir debuted as a pinch-hitter for Jose Guillen against Luis Vizcaino. He doubled home Adam Jones and Charlton Jimerson with a shot to center in his first MLB at-bat. He became the 9th Curacao native to play in the majors and the second to debut in 2007, following Jair Jurrjens. Balentien was 2 for 3 for the 2007 Mariners, with a double and a homer, driving in four runs for a phenomenal 531 OPS+.
In the Venezuelan League that winter, he hit only .191/.338/.355 for the Cardenales de Lara.
Balentien split 2008 between the Tacoma Rainiers (.266/.354/.584, 18 HR, 55 RBI in 62 G) and the 2008 Mariners (.202/.250/.342 in 71 G, 79 K in 243 AB). He had similar troubles for the 2009 Mariners, hitting .213/.271/.355 in 56 games. He was then traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Robert Manuel. He hit .264/.352/.427 in 40 games for the 2009 Reds, a significant improvement on his 2008-2009 Mariners performance.
2010: Back in AAA
Despite his good finish to 2009, Balentien spent all of 2010 with the Louisville Bats, producing at a .282/.337/.536 rate with 25 home runs and 12 steals in 13 tries. He was second in the 2010 International League in dingers, behind only Dan Johnson.
2011: Japan
Signing with the Yakult Swallows for 2011 to replace Aaron Guiel, Balentien debuted as the Opening Day right fielder. He went 1 for 4 with two strikeouts as the #6 hitter in a loss to the Yomiuri Giants.
Related Sites
Sources: 2003-2007 Baseball Almanacs, Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database, Honkbalsite.com, MILB.com article about Balentien's 2007 start, Venezuelan League statistics, Balentien's NPB debut
