Danny Valencia wins praise at Twins Caravan

SIOUX CITY – Minnesota's Twins might again finally have a top-notch third baseman.

At least that's what longtime Twins radio announcer Dan Gladden, a former two-time World Series winner, believes.

Danny Valencia, who was in Sioux City Monday morning on the Twins Caravan, hit .311 and knocked in 40 RBIs in just 85 games for the Twins last season after being called up from the minors in June.

“I got called up for four days and it turned into four months,” said Valencia.

Gladden noted that Valencia was third in the American League Rookie of the Year voting and appears to be the strong third baseman the Twins have been looking for since the hard-hitting Corey Koskie left the team in 2004.

Valencia, the former University of Miami standout from Boca Raton, Fla., was drafted by the Twins in 2006. He said last season was “the best summer of my life.”

And, Valencia hopes for more ahead. He thinks the Twins again are the “team to beat” in the Central Division.

As far as beating the Yankees, who have eliminated the Twins in the playoffs the last two years, both Valencia and fellow infielder Matt Tolbert, who was also on the Caravan, said they can't pinpoint why the Yankees seem to have their number.

But maybe the Twins are ready to make another run as they are happy to retain veteran designated hitter Jim Thome, starting ace Carl Pavano, all-star reliever Joe Nathan and all-star first baseman Justin Morneau this season.

Thome and Pavano signed contracts last week, while Nathan is coming back from Tommy John surgery and Morneau is returning from a concussion.

“Nathan was really ready to play late last season,” said Gladden. “I think he's in better shape than he has been normally. And we learned a lot from (Francisco) Liriano, who also had Tommy John surgery.”

Morneau, meanwhile, has been working out in Arizona, Gladden said, and he is ready to get to spring training and see how things go there.



(siouxcityjournal.com)