In 2005… Balcom played the 2005 season for the Peoria Chiefs of the Midwest League.

Career Highlights… He spent the 2004 season playing for the Chicago Cubs affiliate the Boise Hawks of the Northwest League. Balcom hit .278 in 60 games for the Hawks, while scoring 37 runs and knocking in another 24. He committed only one error all season in the field.

Balcom was drafted in the 33rd round of the 2003 MLB Amateur Draft by the Chicago Cubs. He spent his first two collegiate seasons playing for the College of Charleston, where he was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American. He started all 52 games that season for the Cougars and batted .322 which tied the school record for highest batting average by a freshman. He also scored a team-high 38 runs and smacked 10 doubles, four triples and four home runs. He also set the school record for base hits by a freshman with 65, and collected a team-high 13 stolen bases.

He spent his junior season playing for the University of Georgia of the SEC. In his final collegiate season, He led the Bulldogs in walks with 24 and was third in the team with 7 stolen bases. Balcom was also drafted in the 42 nd round of the 2000 MLB Draft by the Pittsburg Pirates.