Are the Atlanta Braves Shopping at the WBC
By Fred Owens
The Atlanta Braves need a right-handed hitting outfielder and a player like that reintroduced himself to MLB teams in this year’s WBC.
The Atlanta Braves have been scouring the waiver wires and looking at roster cuts trying to find a right-handed power bat who plays the outfield. The Dutch team has such a man and no major league team has him under contract; Wladimir Balentien.
When I say he reintroduced himself I mean he kicked the door open and said watch this. In his seven games Balentien is 16 for 26 including four home runs, a double and 12 RBI with four strikeouts. That boils down to a .615/.677/1.115/1.793 line and he’s come through when his team needed it.
Who is this guy?
Wladimir Balentien (pronounced Vladimir BAL-en-teen) signed as an international free agent in 2000 after his 16th birthday. The Curacao native played for two years in the Venezuelan Summer league before beginning his stateside career in the Arizona league in 2003.
He entered 2004 as the Mariners’ number 16 prospect and by the end the season Baseball America moved him up the prospect ranks to number 11. Their post season scouting report ($) had lots of good things to say.
". . . Balentien has extraordinary power to all fields and has the tools to be more than just a slugger. . .His primary 2004 position was center field, though he’s destined for right."
Over the two next seasons he moved quickly through the Mariners’ system hitting home runs all the way; 17 in 2004, 25 in 2005 (A+), 22 in 2006 (AA) and 24 in 2007 (AAA). As you might suspect, his prospect ranking moved up with him and by the end of 2007 he was the M’s number five prospect.
His defense improved as he matured as well. BA’s post 2006 scouting report called him “. . .A right fielder who can play some center, he led the league with 17 outfield assists. . .”
In 2007 he became a full-time right fielder and notched 15 outfield assists. BA also ranked him the best power hitter and best outfield arm in the Mariners’ system,
Like many young power hitters Balentien was an all or nothing hitter who swung at almost everything. When he didn’t respond to suggestions that he change his approach the Mariners traded him to Cincinnati for Robert Manuel.
Balentien had better luck for Cincinnati in 2009 but not enough better to stay on board. The Reds released him following the 2010 AAA season.