Where Are They Now: Wladimir Sutil

TROY, N.Y.Wladimir Sutil, a 5'10 shortstop from Guatire, Venezuela, left his footprint on the Tri-City ValleyCats record books in 2005. The right-hander still has the fourth-highest batting average in ValleyCats history with his mark of .325.

The Houston Astros signed Sutil as a free agent in 2003. In his first season of professional baseball, Sutil hit .298 with 24 stolen bases for Rookie level Greeneville in 2004. Sutil spent the next season as the ValleyCats leadoff hitting, hitting .325, scoring 42 runs and stealing 13 bases. Sutil displayed an outstanding batting eye, walking 22 times and striking out just 12 times. The Astros promoted Sutil to Lexington after the ValleyCats season ended.

Sutil spent the majority of the 2006 season with the Legends, hitting .272 with 20 stolen bases. Sutil earned a promotion to Salem where he finished the season and played in 29 games.

The speedy infielder led off for the Salem Avalanche the entire 2007 season, stealing a career-high 36 bases. Sutil began the 2008 season with Salem, but was soon promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi to play the final 93 games of the season.

An excellent eye, patience at the plate and fast legs has navigated Sutil through five levels of the Houston Astros minor league organization. At 24 years old, Sutil looks to soon be setting the table at the top of the Houston Astros lineup.