born september american professional baseball baseman major_league_baseball mlb played boston_red_sox baltimore_orioles high school county times state twice southern conference freshman year second team conference regional team drafted junior twins 19th round player overall minors star entered season ranked sixth best prospect twins major league debut twins june named baseman rookie team league led twins rbis led major league assists batted left handed pitching leading american_league ranked slugging percentage minimum plate appearances early life jewish born miami florida parents jewish jewish cuban immigrant converted judaism grew florida raised jewish said people shocked jewish teased jewish teased going hebrew school bar mom happy wished playing baseball looking happy sister pitched star baseball team won florida state championship year pitched hit lightning travel baseball team went won south florida star travel league championship key hitting coaches growing family friend major manager mother high school played shortstop years spanish river high school sharks earned honors junior named team palm times second team state twice junior offensive player year hitting senior hit college dreamed playing baseball program recruit instead went teams offered baseball scholarship freshman year played base batted slugging percentage team leading home runs southern conference freshman year voted second team conference florida sought transfer freshman year offered modest scholarship initially agreed release scholarship later refused placing jeopardy losing year college eligibility rules appealed university committee ruled favor allowing leave preserving eligibility sophomore year played base alongside baseman hit drove runs batting fifth lineup named sophomore year college added pounds night day said awesome florida kid dreams program winning uniforms strength coach facilities completely different summer played base left join farm system replaced base junior year batting slugging percentage hit runs batted rbis games years hurricanes played college world series played seven games summer drafted 19th round draft player overall senior year college begin pro career disappointed draft position said change things goal big leagues matter start finish minor league career professional season played base compiled batting average ninth league fifth twins organization slugging percentage sixth league home runs fourth league rbis games fifth league bats home run named batted playoffs selected midwest league star playing batted teammates nicknamed franchise manager lauded field batted patience plate immediately following star game promoted high earned player week honors batting home runs runs scored rbis week july hit combined rbis assigned miracle half batted league leading league leading hits home runs rbis second league base percentage slugging percentage named helped miracle capture western division half crown director minor leagues twins said expected hit power average promoted twins double affiliate second half season batted home runs rbis teams batted sixth twins system home runs rbis fourth twins system start voted week award week ending batting slugging percentage manager said going special player got electric bat hit doubles season tied twins organization following season played games winter ball phoenix spent spring training twins non roster batting assigned following spring training ranked fifth best prospect twins organization season played promoted triple batted combined home runs rbis teams twins management indicated felt position players future november added twins man roster said trying fill base hole eventually hoping guy played puerto_rico winter league foreign born player cuban heritage caribbean series twins general manager said december credit puerto_rico right playing winter ball trying better want guy somebody step presented opportunity twins scout signed general manager club said think talented player definitely throw worked defense worked extra games knows swing bat entered season ranked twins sixth best prospect began playing base rochester batting games called parent club batted home runs rbis bats triple norfolk slugging percentage ranked second international_league reached minimum number bats major_league career present hitting spring training twins manager said guarantee thing hit fastball sits breaking ball hit june called replace placed list following death father law debut day went july hit grand slam reigning winner record big league homer feat marked time years twins franchise history player major_league home run grand slam game hit performance day twins rookie games hits apiece hit runners scoring position best ahead plate appearances situation defense fifth best fielding percentage season batting average best twins rookie years slugging percentage highest plate appearances came 3rd hits total bases games star break led batting rbis doubles named baseman rookie team baseman league named twins outstanding rookie bill award came voting year second place vote place votes batted home runs team leading rbis led team games played bats led games played base defense led major league assists replaced team everyday baseman mediocre play season placed return twins roster july boston_red_sox hitting home runs twins traded boston_red_sox august minnesota received minor league outfielder return immediately optioned triple affiliate recalled august placed disabled list broken right wrist expected end season sent august recalled september remained major league club rest season appearing games november designated assignment players baltimore traded baltimore_orioles cash considerations days later november recalled triple august batted season slugging percentage batted left handed pitching leading american_league ranked slugging percentage minimum plate appearances eligible arbitration season traded december given starting baseman job hitting games batted bats traded july traded pitcher catcher offseason won salary arbitration case awarded year contract worth million august designated assignment present claimed august debuted team august starting base awards
Danny Valencia