The last time Wladimir Balentien appeared in an MLB game he hit a baseball to the moon
If you've been watching the World Baseball Classic over the last few weeks (and if you haven't, you've missed some very fun times), the name
Since his last appearance in the Majors back in 2009, Balentien has enjoyed huge success in Japan. The outfielder hit 185 homers over six seasons with a .962 OPS -- breaking Sadaharu Oh's single-season NPB home run record with 60 in 2013. Although he's enjoyed his time abroad, Balentien told MLB.com last week that he hopes his WBC performance could earn him a return to the Majors:
"I'm going to show everybody that I still can be that player that I am when I was younger, and at least now I'm getting better as a hitter," Balentien said. "You know, I'm getting older and I'm understanding more of the batting. I think playing this tournament, having success, probably hope it opens a couple more doors for me, maybe, coming back to the States."
Balentien hit just 15 homers with a .221/.281/.374 slash line in 511 MLB at-bats from 2007-09, but he was still in his early-20s and showed signs of massive power. Of particular note was this near 500-foot blast in his final big league game -- arguably the longest in GABP history.
Sure, it would be quite a way to wrap up a Major League career, but we're thirsty for more MLB Balentien dingers. And so is Wlad.
