Wladimir Balentien Named Rookie Of The Year
Published on August 28, 2007 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1) News Release
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Pacific Coast League today named Wladimir Balentien of the Tacoma Rainiers the 2007 Rookie of the Year, an honor annually chosen by the League's managers and media representatives in recognition of a player's outstanding achievement during his first year at the Triple-A level.
Balentien has hit for a .295 average with 24 home runs, 23 doubles, and 80 RBI during the 2007 campaign thus far. Hailing from Willemstad, Curacao, the capital of the Netherlands Antilles, he is in his seventh professional season with the Seattle Mariners organization and was a member of the 2004 Dutch Olympic baseball team. Balentien, 23, was also rated as the sixth overall 'top prospect' in the Mariners organization by Baseball America.
Created in 1998 when the PCL expanded to 16 teams, previous PCL Rookies of the Year include Bobby Crosby, then with Sacramento, Jeremy Giambi with Omaha, Felix Hernandez with Tacoma, and the 2006 winner Howie Kendrick with Salt Lake.
Other PCL players receiving votes for this year's honor were Colorado Springs's Joe Koshansky, Salt Lake's Terry Evans, and Nashville's Yovani Gallardo.
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 28, 2007
- Sidewinders Stave Off Late Rally, Beat Beavers 4-3 - Tucson Sidewinders
- Late Rally Falls Short - Portland Beavers
- Cubs Big Inning Dooms âBirds - Memphis Redbirds
- Zephyrs Jump Past RedHawks in Standings - Oklahoma City Comets
- Three-run Seventh Propels Express - Round Rock Express
- Z's beat Oklahoma - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Sounds Win Again, Take Down Royals 7-3 - Nashville Sounds
- Sidewinders Welcome Hawk Nelson On Faith Night - Tucson Sidewinders
- Fresno Grizzlies Announce Home Schedule For 2008 Season - Fresno Grizzlies
- Royals Name Minor League Pitchers And Players Of The Year - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Oklahoma RedHawks game notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- Royals Game Notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Showdown For Division Crown Coming To The Lab - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Wladimir Balentien Named Rookie Of The Year - PCL1
- Houston Duo Set to Pitch for Express - Round Rock Express
- League Ruling Awards Victory To Iowa - PCL1
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
