Wladimir Balentien

Affectionately known as Wlad, sometimes in all caps with an exclamation point (WLAD!), Wladimir was born in Willemstad, Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles, known mainly for Andruw Jones, on July 2, 1984.

Wlad has to this point been mainly a high power, high K's prospect with not too much else to offer. He began to walk more in AA in 2006, but that dropped his batting average about 50 points and his on-base percentage stayed the same, while his slugging percentage dropped over 100 points. So far in 2007 he has hit for a high average, while still retaining his power and strikeouts but seeing a drop in his walk rate from last year. Whether this is a permanent change or just a good month remains to be seen.