The Twins’ annual off-season to-do list has included this task in recent years: find a third baseman. Scratch that assignment for the fall of 2010.
Rookie Danny Valencia, who turned 26 on Sunday, looks like he will own the third base job for years to come. He joined the Twins after the season started, playing in his first game on June 3. Since then he’s done nothing but impress in the field and at bat.
Valencia has made four errors in 71 games. His fielding range is big league and although he’s had some throwing errors, Valencia is likely to make his strong arm even more accurate with experience.
It’s hitting, though, where Valencia has really turned heads. He has the best average among American League rookies, hitting .337. At Target Field Valencia is hitting .439. In home and away games he has five home runs and 35 RBI (including 12 this month).
Former American League batting champion Tony Oliva said the Twins organization watched Valencia improve in the minors. The 6-2, 210-pound Valencia hit .300 in the minor leagues and with two different teams in 2007 totaled 17 home runs.
Oliva told Sports Headliners last week he likes Valencia’s skills including his home run potential. Since the time that conversation took place Valencia has hit three home runs in his last five games.
“If you see him hit in batting practice, you can see…he have a lot of power,” Oliva said. “I think a some day when he get comfortable, he learn more about the pitchers, he probably will able to hit the home runs, too.”
The power surge maybe coming faster than Oliva expected.