5. Danny Valencia
Third Base
Bats: Right
Age: 25
ETA: 2010
Potential: Above average third baseman
2010 outlook: Minnesota Twins 3B (starting in June)
Danny Valencia was the Twins 19th round draft pick in 2006. He’s posted solid numbers throughout his minor league career. In 2007 he had 17 homers and 23 doubles, in 2008 he had 15 homers and 37 doubles. This year he played at AA and AAA. He hit 14 homers, 38 doubles, and 4 triples. His triple slash was .285/.337/.466. In 487 at-bats, he struck out 77 times and walked 39 times. He only walked 8 times at AAA, so hopefully that is just an anomaly.
Valencia tore it up at AAA when he first arrived there this year, hitting .360/.372/.573 in his first 19 games, but he cooled off considerably at the end of the season. He should arrive in the big leagues sometime in 2010, but the big question is when. It doesn’t look like he will be the starting 3B on opening day, but he should get a shot shortly thereafter. Valencia should be the Twins best Twins 3B since Koskie patrolled the hot corner. I think in the coming years, Valencia will provide above average defense, have a triple slash line of .290/.345/.470, while knocking in 15-25 homers a year.
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