Baseball: Seattle Mariners player stabbed to death

Halman was called up by the Mariners from Tacoma Rainiers in September last year (Getty Images)

Seattle Mariners outfielder Greg Halman was stabbed to death today, police said, cutting short the life and career of one of the few Dutchmen to make it into Major League Baseball.

His club and baseball officials hailed the 24-year-old Halman as a young man with a passion for the game and for instilling it in youngsters.

Mariners Chairman Howard Lincoln, President Chuck Armstrong and General Manager Jack Zduriencik paid tribute to Halman on behalf of the club.

"Greg was a part of our organization since he was 16 and we saw him grow into a passionate young man and talented baseball player," they said in a statement. "He had an infectious smile that would greet you in the clubhouse, and he was a tremendous teammate. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Greg's family."

Rotterdam Police spokeswoman Patricia Wessels said police were called to a home in the port city in the early hours of the morning and found Halman bleeding from a stab wound.

The officers and ambulance paramedics were unable to resuscitate Halman.

Wessels said the officers arrested Halman's 22-year-old brother. She declined to give his name, in line with Dutch privacy rules.

"He is under arrest and right now he is being questioned," Wessels told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "It will take some time to figure out what exactly happened."

No charges have been filed in the case.

"The loss of a talented 24-year-old young man like Greg, amid such tragic circumstances, is painful for all of us throughout the game," Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. "On behalf of Major League Baseball, I send my deepest condolences to the entire Mariners organization and to all those whose lives were touched by Greg."

Because he played professionally in the United States, Halman was not part of the Netherlands team that won the Baseball World Cup in Panama last month. The Dutch beat Cuba 2-1 in the final to become the first European team to win the title.

Born in the city of Haarlem, Halman and began his playing career in the Dutch Pro League. He was part of the gold medal winning Dutch squad at the 2007 European Championship and played for the Netherlands at the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Former major leaguer Robert Eenhorn, the technical director of the Dutch baseball association, said he was devastated by the news.

"The only thing I can say right now is we are deeply shocked," Eenhorn, who played for the New York Yankees and Anaheim Angels in the 1990s, told the AP. "All our thoughts are with his family and how they are going to have to deal with this tremendous loss."

Halman was in Europe earlier this month as part of the European Big League Tour, an initiative organized by Baltimore Orioles pitcher Rick Van den Hurk in which major league stars gave clinics to children. Van den Hurk is also Dutch.

Michael Weiner, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, also paid tribute to the slain player.

"Greg was passionate about the game of baseball and generously gave of himself to share his passion with others in an attempt to help grow the sport's popularity across Europe," Weiner said. "He will be sorely missed."

International Baseball Federation President Riccardo Fraccari said Halman's death was terrible news for the sport.

"It's really sad and it's really terrible the way it happened," Fraccari said. "We mourn for him and respect his family's sorrow."

Massimo Fochi, the vice president of the Italian baseball federation, said he met Halman less than two weeks ago at a European Big League Tour event in Parma.

"He was a great guy and the most appreciated by the kids," Fochi said. "His passing away is really painful."

AP