| Wladimir Balentien | |
|---|---|
| Tokyo Yakult Swallows — No. 4 | |
| Outfielder / Designated hitter | |
| Born: July 2, 1984 Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles |
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| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Professional debut | |
| September 4, 2007 for the Seattle Mariners | |
| statistics (through 2009 season) |
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| Batting average | .221 |
| Home runs | 15 |
| Runs batted in | 52 |
| Teams | |
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Wladimir Ramon Balentien (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈvlaːdɪmɪr baːlənˈtin]; born July 2, 1984 in Willemstad, Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles) is a Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
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Balentien was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Mariners in 2000. He spent his first five professional 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 2007.
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 José Guillén 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 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.
On July 25, 2009, Balentien was designated for assignment by the Mariners after struggling to make consistent contact. He hit .213 with 4 home runs and 13 RBIs in 155 at bats to that point in the season. Michael Saunders was called up to take his place on the big league roster.
On July 29, 2009 the Mariners traded Balentien to the Cincinnati Reds for reliever Robert Manuel. In his final game with the Reds against Pittsburgh Pirates on October 3, Balentien hit the longest home run of that major league season, midway up the upper deck in left field with an estimated distance of 500 feet.
It was reported on November 16, 2010 that Balentien signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in Japan.[1]
Balentien represented the Netherlands at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
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