Baseball star Gregory Halman, 24, 'stabbed to death in Holland by his brother after argument over loud music'

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 7:15 PM on 21st November 2011

The U.S. baseball player Gregory Halman has been stabbed to death in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The Seattle Mariners outfielder, 24, died in the early hours of this morning, police and the player's family have confirmed.

Halman's brother has been arrested in connection with the incident.

Dead: Baseball star Greg Halman has been stabbed to death in Holland, police say

It is believed Halman had been with a female friend in an apartment in the Dutch port city when he went to the apartment below - where his brother Jason lived - to complain about his loud music.

This led to an argument, police said.

The female friend called the police at 5.40am on Monday, and officers found the sports star bleeding from a stab wound.

His brother Jason was later arrested 'in the street' and is being questioned by police, according to a police spokesperson.

'A 24-year-old died this morning in a stabbing and we have arrested the 22-year-old brother of the victim,' said Rotterdam sopkesperson Patricia Wessels.

Tragic: Police were called to a Rotterdam home this morning where they found Halman bleeding from a stab wound. They were unable to resuscitate him

'Suspect': Halman's brother Jason, 22, pictured left and right, is also a baseball player in Holland. A 22-year-old brother of Halman has been arrested, police said

'From what we have learned so far there was an argument between the two brothers over loud music being played.

'An investigation is underway to determine exactly what happened.'

No charges have yet been filed in the case.

Following the incident, the house on Jan Sonje street was cordoned off by police tape and forensic experts were seen entering the property.

Gregory Antony Halman was a Dutch national, born in Haarlem, the Netherlands in 1987.

He made his debut aged 16 in 2003 with the Dutch major league team Corendon Kinheim in his home town of Haarlem.

Evidence: A forensic expert leaves the house in the Jan Sonje street in Rotterdam, Netherlands, where Halman was found bleeding to death by police

Questioning: Gregory Halman's younger brother was arrested at the scene

In June 2004, when he was 17 and right of out high school, he moved to the U.S. after signing with the Seattle Mariners.

The outfield player was one of the Netherlands' most successful baseball exports and rose steadily through the Major League ranks before hitting the big time in 2010.

He appeared in 44 MLB games for Seattle and helped the Netherlands win the European Baseball Championship in 2007.

In 2009, the heavily-tattooed star earned the 'best power hitter' tag and 'best athlete' in the Mariners.

When not playing for the team, Halman helped boost baseball in Europe by holding coaching sessions with youngsters.

Deceased: Halman's body was taken away from the property earlier today

Earlier this month, he took part in the European Big League Tour, an initiative in which major leaguers gave clinics to children.

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.'

He was a graduate of Mendel College, Holland, and spoke four languages - Dutch, English, Papiamento and Spanish.

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

Success: Greg Halman debuted with the Dutch national team aged just 16. He moved to the United States a year later after signing with the Seattle Mariners

'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.'

Michael Weiner, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, added: '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. He will be sorely missed.'

Halman's father, Eddy, had played on the Dutch national baseball team in 1979. Originally from the Antilles, he moved to the Netherlands before Greg was born.

Family: Halman found it hard leaving his family for the U.S. He has a sister Naomi, left, a Dutch basketball player. It is believed he has another sister, Pamela, right

Halman's 22-year-old brother, Jason, has also played on the national team and, most recently, for Haarlem's Corendon Kinheim. It is believed he lives in Rotterdam.

His sister, Naomi Halman, is a professional basketball player in Europe.

Loved: After his death, Naomi Halman updated her Facebook profile picture with this image of her brother

Hours after the death was announced, Naomi, who lives in Italy, changed her Facebook profile image to a picture of her brother in his Netherlands uniform.

Halman had previously admitted it was a struggle leaving his 'supportive' family behind to live in the U.S.

'It was hard coming from a big family with love around you,' he said in an interview with Tacoma Weekly last year.

'But playing baseball was always my goal, so when I was feeling homesick I would tell myself this is what I always wanted to do. It was tough but I loved it.'

The 6ft4, 200Ib player was seen as a power-hitting prospect, especially after hitting 33 home runs in 2010 at the team's Triple A team in Tacoma.

Leading baseball magazine 'Baseball America' regards him as the 57th greatest baseball talent at the moment and the greatest talent for the Seattle Mariners.

He played 35 times for the Mariners last season, scoring seven runs and holding a batting average of .230.

Star: Halman, 24, was considered a power hitter and one of Holland's most successful baseball exports. He played 44 MLB games for Seattle

But Halman was never content with being branded a 'power hitter'.

'I don’t want to see myself as a power hitter,' he told the Tacoma Weekly.

'But I do hit the ball out of the park. I want to become the best player I can be, not known just to hit the ball out of park.

'I want to hit good, run the bases good, be the best at stealing bases, and also be the best teammate.

'If I want to become a complete player at the major league level I can’t just do one, I have to be the complete package.'