Dutch national team player Kalian Sams has been named the MVP of the Quebec Capitales of the independent CanAm League.
After a slow start with the team, Kalian’s batting average rose to a respectable .282. By far Kalian was the best slugger of his team with 16 homeruns. Kalian was also the swiftest player with 32 stolen bases. Kalian is a rare combination of power and speed. He also led his team with doubles (23). Also in batting average, Kalian is one of the best players. His average ranks third behind Cuban legend Yuniesky Gurriel and his fellow countryman Alexei Bell.
The Capitales used Kalian’s speed in a promotion about two weeks ago. Kalian ran the bases vs a horse during a cowboy themed night at Stade Municipale.
Kalian’s time was 13.77, the horse was slightly faster.
Before enlisting with the Capitales, Kalian already had an extensive international career. Like every ball player, he tried his luck in the US first. In July 2006 he signed a deal with the Seattle Mariners. The first team in the Mariners’ organization was the Wisconsin TimberRattlers (A Full Season) in 2007, but later that year he was sent down to the Everett AquaSox of the A Shor Season Northwest League. Kalian played the 2008 season in Pulaski (rookie Appalachian League). In 2009 he started the season in Clinton (A Full Season Midwest League) but later in the season he was sent down to Everett again.
Kalian started the 2010 season in Clinton again, before being demoted to Everett in August. In 2011 the High Desert Mavericks (A Advanced California League) were his first stop before he was sent to Clinton again. In 2012 Kalian played the entire season at the AA Southern League, Jackson Generals before he was hit by the injury bug. Close to the point of return in 2013, the Mariners released Kalian. Still Kalian played for three organizations: the Camden RiverSharks (independent Atlantic League), the Frisco Rough Riders and the Tucson Padres (San Diego Padres organization) and the San Antonio Missions (Texas Rangers). Eventually Kalian was released by the Rangers.
In 2014 Kalian signed with the Camden RiverSharks again, but a nagging injury forced the independent club to release him.
Eventually Kalian ended up in Taiwan that year, where he played for the Topco Scientific Falcons of the Popcorn League.
Kalian started the 2015 season with Corendon Kinheim from Haarlem in the Netherlands before he signed the deal with the Quebec Capitales.
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