Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images
Reuters – Seattle Mariners outfielder Greg Halman was stabbed to death in the Nethlerlands today. The Associated Press reports Halman’s 22-year-old brother has been arrested as a suspect.
Rotterdam Police spokeswoman Patricia Wessels says police were called to a home in the Dutch port city early Monday morning and found Halman bleeding from a stab wound.
Halman, 24, played 35 games for the Mariners batting .230 with two home runs and six RBI and was the only Netherlands-born player in the majors.
“All my friends and family are so proud,” Halman said in a June interview with USA TODAY after his call-up to the Mariners.
The power-hitting prospect was the first Dutch player born, raised and developed completely in his homeland. Other players with Dutch passports have come to the majors through programs in the Netherlands Antilles or moved to the USA as youngsters.
Halman’s father was from the Antilles but moved to the Netherlands before Greg was born in Haarlem.
Halman helped his country win a European championship and was MVP and playing in his country’s top league as a teenager.
“Raw talent. That’s what made them sign me,” Halman said of his contract with the Mariners. “I’m playing in that league at 15, hitting with wood. It helped me a lot.”
He hit 33 homers in 2010 in Class AAA Tacoma.
Seriously? This is just awful. Prayers to his family. If his brother is guilty… I just can’t wrap my head around that. So sad.
-bp