Coco Balentien reaches 32 home run plateau for second time in his career

Wladimir “Coco” Balentien, the slugger from Curaçao reached the 32 home run plateau last weekend, for the second time in his career.

In the game of his Yakult Swallows vs the Chunichi Dragons, Balentien contributed to the 7-5 win with a three-run, game-tying home run, his only hit of the game. 

So far, Coco only has reached this mark during his record-setting season in 2013, when he broke the record of Japan’s legend Sadaharu Oh and hit 60 home runs for the season.

Since his debut in the NPB in 2011, Balentien had four 31-home run seasons (2011, 2012, 2014 and 2016).

Wladimir is having a seasons with ups and downs. Prior to the aforementioned game, he was in quite a slump as his average dropped to .253.

With Balentien playing on a one-year contract, it remains to be seen whether the Swallows will resign him. Compared to last year, his fielding percentage has dropped. Last year he committed four errors in 122 games. This season he committed eight errors in as many games so far. And after last season, the Swallows were in doubt whether to sign him or not as they claimed Balentien made too many errors.