Remembering Greg Halman

Halman’s Professional Career:

Greg Halman made his professional baseball debut at the age of 16 in the Netherlands, his native country. He played for the Dutch Major League Team Corendon Kinheim in Haarlem. That was in 2003.

Baseball, or specifically Dutch baseball, was a major part of the Halman family. Greg’s younger brother Jason, and his dad Eddy, both also played on the Dutch national baseball team.

When the Dutch played in the World Baseball Classic back in 2009, Greg Halman was starting in the outfield.

On November 21, 2003, Halman was signed by the Minnesota Twins as an amateur free agent. However on April 1, 2004, the free agent contract was voided by the Twins and Halman was signed as a free agent by the Mariners on June 26, 2004.

He spent six years climbing through the Mariners’ farm system, with a batting average typically hovering around .260 with some decent pop and decent speed.

On September 22, 2010, Greg was called up to the Show at the conclusion of the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers season.

Halman played in nine games at the end of the 2010 season. In 29 at-bats he had 4 hits, one a double, and three RBIs. His triple slash was an altogether unimpressive .138/.167/.172.

But it was his first taste of Major League Baseball, and he wanted more.