Wladimir Balentien

Infobox MLB player


width = 150px
name=Wladimir Balentien
position=Outfielder
team=Seattle Mariners
number=50
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1984|7|2
birthplace=city-state|Willemstad|Netherlands Antilles
debutdate=September 4
debutyear=2007
debutteam=Seattle Mariners
statyear=2008 season
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.207
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=8
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=28
teams=
*Seattle Mariners (by|2007-present)

Wladimir Ramon Balentien (born July 2, 1984 in Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles) is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Seattle Mariners. He resides in Willemstad, Curaçao with his daughter Jenilee.

Balentien was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Mariners in by|2000. He spent his first five seasons in the minor leagues, playing for the Arizona League Mariners, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Inland Empire 66ers, San Antonio Missions, and Tacoma Rainiers, before being called up in September mlby|2007.

Balentien represented the Netherlands at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

In 2007, Balentien was selected to the All-Star Futures Game in San Francisco, a result of his .328 batting average, 20 home runs, and 66 runs batted in by that point. He was called up to the Mariners on September 4, 2007, and played that very night against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Balentien pinch-hit for Jose Guillen in the 8th inning, and hit a two-run double in his first major league at-bat.

Balentien was invited to spring training with the Mariners in mlby|2008 and signed a one-year deal with the team. However, the starting job in right field went to Brad Wilkerson, and Balentien was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on March 24. When Wilkerson and first baseman Greg Norton were designated for assignment on April 30, Wladimir and Rainiers teammate Jeff Clement were called up to the big leagues for a game in Cleveland against the Indians.

Facing Indians starter Cliff Lee in the top of the 7th inning, Balentien hit a three-run homer over the right field fence to end Lee's streak of 27 scoreless innings pitched.His homer was one of only 12 given up by Lee in 2008.

External links

*
* [http://www.kffl.com/player/11134/mlb KFFL.com player page]