Wladimir Balentien #14

Wladimir (VLAD-im-eer) Ramon Balentien (bal-en-TEEN)...resides in Willemstad, Curacao with daughter Jenilee...on provisional Netherlands roster for the 2006 World Baseball Classic...represented Dutch national team in 2004 Athens Olympics.

2009

Earned a spot on his first Opening Day roster...began the season with the Mariners and appeared in 56 games before he was designated for assignment on 7/25...four days later was traded to the Reds for RHP Robert Manuel...when traded ranked among the American League leaders with 5 outfield assists...for Sea made 47 apps and 37 starts in the OF...for Cin made 40 apps and 28 starts (17 GS in LF, 11 GS in RF)...on 5/3 vs Oak produced a career-high 3 hits...on 7/18 at Cle tied Sea's club record for a left fielder with 8 putouts...for the Reds produced a career-high 7-game hitting streak from 8/4-8/12 (.417, 1hr, 5rbi)...on 9/8 at Col was ejected by HP umpire Rick Reed for arguing balls and strikes...was bothered late in the season by a sore right ring finger...when he joined the Reds was assigned uniform number 64...on 8/13 switched to 28...following the season played for Magallanes in the Venezuelan Winter League (23 G, .226, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 1 SB) and in 20 winter league post-season apps hit .392 (1 HR, 11 RBI).

2008

Appeared in 71 games, making 65 starts (LF-5, 25-CF, 32-RF, DH-3) including 35 of the final 50 games after being recalled for the second time on Aug. 5...Hit .196 (21x107) with 12 runs, 4 doubles, 4 home runs and 9 RBI in his first stint (April 30-June 14) with the Mariners and .206 (28x136) with 11 runs, 9 doubles, 3 home runs and 15 RBI in his second stint (Aug. 5-Sept. 28)...Made season debut April 30 at Cleveland and went 2x4 with a three-run home run off Cliff Lee...recalled from Tacoma (AAA) prior to the game...Recorded consecutive multi-hit games May 5-6 vs. Texas...Recorded a 4-game hitting streak, May 9-12 (.250/4x16)...Notched 5th career home run in 16th career Major League game...one of only five Mariners to record at least five home runs in their first 20 games of a career (also Alvin Davis-9, Greg Pirkl-6, Bucky Jacobsen-6, Justin Leone-5)...Game-winning 3-run homer with two outs in 12th inning off Angels' J. Speier, Aug. 13...Hit in a career high six consecutive games, June 13-Aug. 8, batting .318 (7x22) with 2 runs, a double, home run and 3 RBI...Reached base safely in 17 consecutive games, May 8-29 (12 hits, 9 walks)...Recorded 6 outfield assists in only 68 games...ranked 3rd among AL rookies and 3rd on the team in OF assists...Hit a three-run HR (HR#2) May 5 vs. Texas off Kevin Millwood in the third inning...In Tacoma, batted .266 (62x233) with 49 runs, 20 doubles, 18 home runs and 55 RBI with 18 multi-hit games in 62 games...Hit minor-league career-high 3 home runs, April 28 vs. New Orleans, including inside-the-park home run (3x6, 3 HR, 5 RBI)...also hit a pair of homers, July 11 at Las Vegas...First MiLB homer of the year April 9, Grand Slam vs. Fresno's Matt Palmer in 5th inning...Named the Pacific Coast League Player of the Week on July 21...earned the award by hitting .429 (12x28) with 12 runs, 6 home runs and 14 RBI during an 8-game stretch, July 11-20...hit home runs in four consecutive games, July 14-20.

2007

Recalled from Tacoma (AAA) to Seattle on Sept. 4...hit a 2-run double in his first ML at-bat Sept. 4 at New York (off Luis Vizcaino)...first ML home run Sept. 26 vs. Cleveland (G1), solo shot in the 7th off Fausto Carmona...named the Pacific Coast League Rookie of the Year...among all Mariners farmhands ranked T3rd in RBI (84), 4th in home runs (24) and 9th in average (.291)...recorded career-high 17-game hit streak, April 6-24, batting .403 (27x67) with 9 runs, 4 doubles, 5 home runs, 15 RBI and 4 stolen bases...streak was T-9th longest in the PCL...walk off grand slam off Colorado Springs pitcher Mike Gallo May 2...on disabled list with dislocated finger (5th digit) on his left hand, Aug. 11-22...recorded 17 multi-RBI contests...member of World squad in 2007 Futures game at the All-Star game in San Francisco...recorded RBI double in the 7th inning.

2006

Balentien spent the entire season at Double-A San Antonio. He hit .230 for the Missions with 22 home runs and 82 RBIs in 444 at-bats. Balentien also struck out 140 times. He hit just .214 after the All-Star break.

2005

Spent first full season at high-A Inland Empire... Led club in doubles, triples, home runs and extra-base hits (71)...Set career highs in batting average, games, at-bats, runs, hits, doubles, triples, HR and RBI...Hit .310 with runners on base, and .318 with MISP...Named to the Cal League mid-season All-Star Team...Hit .354 (51x144) from Aug. 1 to the end of the season.

2004

Started season with Wisconsin...named Midwest League Player of the Week twice, May 17-23 and June 28-July 3...on disabled list from May 6-13...still led team with 15 home runs...had 19 multi-hit games, including a season-high four hits on June 14 at Dayton...hit a grand slam on June 17 vs. Dayton...promoted to Inland Empire on Aug. 27...hit .429 (9x21) with five runs scored, four doubles, two home runs and six RBI in 10 post-season games with IE...played for the Dutch Olympic Team in Athens, Greece in the 2004 Summer Olympics, appearing in six games (2x15/.133, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB, 6 K)...named Wisconsin's Most Valuable Player by the Seattle Mariners.

2003

Appeared in 50 games with Peoria...led the league in home runs (16), slugging percentage (.658), extra-base hits (33) and finished second in RBI (52)...hit safely in 33 of 50 games, including 16 multi-hit games...ended the season with a seven-game hitting streak...named Peoria's Most Valuable Player by the Seattle Mariners.

2002

Named Venezuelan Team's Most Valuable Player by Mariners organization...batted .283 (54x191) with 10 home runs and 39 RBI in 58 games.

2001

Hit .206 in 53 games with Aguirre of the Venezuelan League.

2000

Played in the Dominican League.