Danny Valencia awarded with rookie honor

MINNEAPOLIS -- Twins third baseman Danny Valencia earned recognition earlier this month for his stellar rookie season when he finished third in the American League Rookie of the Year Award balloting.

Now Valencia has been honored once again for his impressive 2010 campaign by being named the third baseman on the 52nd Annual Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team.

Valencia, who turned 26 on Sept. 19, batted .311 with seven home runs and 40 RBIs in 85 games for the Twins in 2010. While he didn't begin the season with the club, he certainly made his impact felt after earning a callup in early June. Valencia had a .351 on-base percentage and a .448 slugging percentage while providing a solid glove at third base.

In addition to Valencia, the following players earned the postseason honor: 1B Gaby Sanchez (Florida), 2B Neil Walker (Pittsburgh), SS Starlin Castro (Chicago), OF Austin Jackson (Detroit), OF Mike Stanton (Florida), OF Jason Heyward (Atlanta), C Buster Posey (San Francisco), RHP Stephen Strasburg (Washington), LHP Jaime Garcia (St. Louis) and CL Neftali Feliz (Texas).

The Rookie All-Stars will each have a trophy on their 2011 trading card in Topps Baseball, with Series One due out in early February.



(mlb.com)