Wladimir Balentien: 60 homers in Japan in 2013. How come he's not playing in MLB?

And Balentien hit one last night, and fourth of the tournament, for the Netherlands against Puerto Rico in the WBC semi-finals.

Japanese season home run record now held by four players. Thursday, September 12, 2013

Sadaharu Oh - ethnic Chinese, born in Japan

Tuffy Rhodes - American

Alex Cabrera - Venezuelan

Wladimir Balentien - Curacaon

Interesting mix.  Balentien just tied the record with his 55th home run and he still has many games to play.   These posts address the subject:

Friday, September 6, 2013

Juiced baseballs and the season home run record ... in Japan.

many of Balentien's HR were hit with the juiced baseball
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Balentien went on to hit 60 home runs in 2013 in only 439 At Bats (AB) and, yes, some were hit with juiced baseballs. But after the baseball issue had been addressed by the Japanese leagues, in 2014 and 2016 in Japan Balentien has hit 31 HR each season in these AB: 366, 457.

Position: Outfielder
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-2, 220 lb
Born: July 2, 1984 (Age: 32 and 262 days) in Willemstad, CW

Balentien played in MLB for Seattle and Cincinnati: 559 PA, .655 OPS. Not terrible. Balentien played in the USA most recently in 2010 in AAA: 452 PA, .873 OPS.

AAA: 1,271 PA, .886 OPS

2016 in Japan: 537 PA, .885 OPS; 31 HR in 457 AB

So, what the heck, why not try the guy?

Teams have turned away from one dimensional players and are reluctant to do anything different. This is part of the current do something different thing, aka conventional wisdom. They're such chickens.