M's prospect Balentien shines on Futures Game stage

PITTSBURGH — Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins talked Sunday afternoon about how the Futures Game could catapult the careers of the minor-leaguers who were about to take the field at PNC Park.

"This is a big-league stage for them," said Jenkins, who managed the World team. "It could be a stepping stone. There's a lot of scouts in the stands, a lot of executives. They could be in the major leagues in a year.

"How many young players are in the big leagues because of the Futures Game? This can change your life around, take you from a minor-leaguer to a major-leaguer, from X amount of dollars to a lot of dollars."

No doubt those dreams were dancing in the heads of every player in this All-Star Game showcase. That included Seattle prospect Wladimir Balentien — "the Curacao Crusher" — who lashed two doubles and drove in two runs as the World's designated hitter in its 8-5 loss to the U.S. squad.

It's not mere hyperbole on Jenkins' part, either. Francisco Liriano, the Twins' rookie sensation, started last year for the World Team, whose members also included Yuniesky Betancourt and Shin Soo Choo, both now up with the Mariners. Tigers speed-ballers Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya were on the U.S. squad a year ago.

Having turned 22 just eight days ago, and still hampered by a tendency to swing hugely at every pitch, Balentien is not likely to be in the major leagues next year. At least not to start the year.

But the Mariners are enamored with Balentien's power potential, and he is definitely a prospect on the rise. After hitting 25 homers and driving in 93 runs in just 98 games for Class A Inland Empire last year, he has had a mixed season for Class AA San Antonio.

Balentien's power has manifested itself in 14 homers and 19 doubles in 276 at-bats, but he has struck out an alarming 89 times.

That's one whiff every 3.1 at-bats, virtually the same pace as last year, when Balentien fanned 160 times in 492 at-bats. Yet he believes he is learning to modulate his swing.

"Actually, this year is getting better," said Balentien. "I've shortened my swing a little bit, trying to make more contact, and I don't try to do too much. This year I'm getting better in my plate approach."

Balentien speaks three languages — English, Spanish and Papiamento, the Creole dialect of Curacao, a Caribbean island off the coast of Venezuela that's part of the Netherlands Antilles.

He also dabbles in Dutch but has lost his command since signing a professional contract in 2000, two weeks after his 16th birthday. That's when Balentien went off to play in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela before coming to the U.S. in 2003.

"He can be a home-run hitter at the plate, but he can also hit for a high average," Henry Cotto, Balentien's hitting coach with San Antonio, told MLB.com earlier this year. "Power-wise, he can match a lot of guys in the big leagues right now. He just has tremendous power. And he's getting better every year.

"I don't want to just throw numbers around, but he could be a 30/30 guy someday."

If so, Balentien will add to the growing baseball legacy of Curacao, most notably represented by Atlanta's Andruw Jones. Others from the island to play in the majors include Randall Simon, Hensley Muelens and Yurendell DeCaster, a utility man who has been up with the Pirates this year.

"The sport is not too big, but it's getting more popular," Balentien said. "Hopefully, I can help. This was a great day, being in the Futures Game and doing well. I'll remember that for a while. Everyone that comes to the game here may have shot to go to the big leagues. That means a lot."

The Mariners had one other prospect in the game, 22-year-old second baseman Yung Chi Chen of Taiwan, who was recently elevated to San Antonio after hitting .342 with 21 stolen bases in 67 games for Inland Empire. Chen started at second and was hitless in two at-bats.

The U.S. victory was led by, of all things, two Kansas City Royals prospects. Most Valuable Player Billy Butler had a two-run homer and also singled during the U.S.'s five-run third, while Alex Gordon had a double, single and two RBI.

Larry Stone: 206-464-3146 or lstone@seattletimes.com