Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Gregory Halman is one of the most talented Dutch baseball players at the moment and the lone European, who was assigned to the Arizona Fall League to extend his season. The 21-year-old from Haarlem started the first two games in the outfield for Peoria Javelinas going three for eight with a double, three runs scored and a RBI. Together with teammates Austin Jackson and Drew Stubbs he probably is getting most of the starting duties during the fall league and collecting more playing time regarding a promotion to the Triple A team next spring.
In 2008 Halman split time between High A (California League) and Double A (Southern League) with the Mariners affiliates at these levels, batting a combined .272 (OBP .326/SLG .528) with 29 homeruns, 95 runs scored and 83 RBI in 128 games. He also got 31 stolen bases in the year.
It is already his fourth year of minor league ball in the United States. After dominating as a teenager for Kinheim in the Dutch Hoofdklasse, he signed as a non-drafted amateur free agent with the Mariners in 2004 and made his pro debut in the Arizona Summer League in 2005. Since then he is moving up the ladder through the system. Scouts agree that he is a potential five-tool player with raw talent in all categories, but he has to learn the strike zone to find success at the upper levels. In a total of 296 minor league games he struck out 355 times.