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“Danny is going to be a special Player, he has an electric bat,” said former New Britain Rock Cat Manager Tom Nieto of his then star third baseman Danny Valencia in 2009. This is the the same Danny Valencia that hit the clutch homerun Sunday that sunk the scuffling Red Sox in Fenway and completed the resurgant Jays sweep in Beantown. The Blue Jays acquired him in 2014 in a trade with for Liam Hendriks and utility catcher, Eric Kratz. Many keen Jay observers were scratching their head wondering why Jays would complete this move? Additionally Valencia was in an arbitration year and was asking $1.675 Million, which the Royals thought was too rich. Turns out they were wrong as #23 on the Jays not only won his arbitration but is finding his way with the streaking Blue Jays. The former starting 3B at the MLB level for various teams has played 4 games at 1B, 2 games at 2B, 4 games at 3B and 20 Games in the outfield this season for the Blue Jays. To survive at the MLB level Danny has had to find room by becoming a Utility man. Interestingly, he led the AL in 3B assists in 2010 for Twins and is a good defensive 3B. Unfortunately, his experimental outfield play has been shaky at best but don’t sell him short just yet. He has his own motto, “does not matter where you start…it’s where you finish.”
Best way to understand his predicament-great bat and questionable defence is to look at his past development as a professional baseball player. Born in Miami, Florida on September 19, 1984, Danny was raised Jewish and it remains an important part of his life. He excelled hit .575 as a High School Senior with .868 Slugging Percentage. All impressive but not enough talent to be recruited by his choice, University of Miami. Instead he went to UNC and excelled in their program. After racking up big average and power numbers and a Southern Conference Freshman of the Year Award, he finally got a transfer opportunity to the Hurricanes program in Miami, Florida. Guess who their 3B was? How about Ryan Braun! Danny did not quit and after Braun left the program his opportunity finally came. Playing with grit and determination at being overlooked, he raked. Hitting .312 and 124 RBI in 122 Games with a .475 Slugging Percentage. His goal was to be a professional Baseball Player and he passed on his Senior Year and made himself eligible for the 2006 MLB Draft.
He was drafted but not as high as he hoped or based on his College numbers, expected. The Minnesota Twins drafted Valencia in the 19th Round and a long grind in the Minors seemed inevitable…and so it turned out. From 2006-2008 Danny played for Elizabethon Twins, Midwest A Beloit Snappers where his teammates called him “The Franchise” and the AA New Britain Rock Cats. Everywhere he played, he was a star. Big average, big power numbers and big slugging percentage. That is up until his leveler, AAA Rochester Red Wings where the number were still good at .285 with 14 Homers and 70 RBI but a wall was starting to form . Doggedly determined not to give in, Valencia played everywhere to continue to refine and improve his skills. Not only did he play Winter ball in Puerto Rico he even went to Alaska for the Anchorage Glacier Pilots? Finally in 2010 the Twins gave him his shot as the everyday MLB 3B. He led all 3B in assists defensively and he made the 2010 Rookie All Star Team. As a emerging platoon right handed hitter, he hit a torrid .371 versus left hand Pitchers and as always, slugged a storm at .639 Percentage.
In 2011 things went slowly south with Twins as his play became medicore, even sub-standard. Now he was hitting only .246 with a shift to power. His 15 Homeruns and team leading 72 RBI were not enough for Twins to ignore their new prospect Trevor Plouffe and Valencia lost his job somewhat unceremoniously. The Twins completed the demotion by sending him to Boston in 2012. Used sporadically in Boston, Danny still managed to hit .304 Part Time with .304 Batting Average and his usual jacked .639 Slugging Percentage. Royals like what they saw and traded for him in 2013 and declared him the starting 3B. Best laid plans…only lasted 110 at bats and the .282 with reduced power numbers made him expendable again. His career at a crossroads, could not hold a starting 3B job due to inconsistency. As power went up, average went down.
Blue Jays knew the history but also at 30 still could realize his potential, hence the trade. In 2013 it looked like a mistake. In 2014 At Bats only 4 Homeruns, slugging down at .371 and a .258 Batting Average.Expectations were not high in 2015 and management made it clear that if he wanted to play he would need to be more versatile. With the newly acquired Jish Donaldson at 3B this was ever so obvious. But remember Valencia is the same guy that had Ryan Braun in front of him at the U. This Season he has been clutch and productive and has played 1B, 2B , 3B and Left and Right Field. His real strength comes at bat. He has hit .322 with 15 RBI in just 90 At Bats. As is his history he is hitting .397 versus Left Handers. Not exactly “The Franchise” but certainly an “Electric Bat” in the line-up. The question remains however, great start-up can it last? Also can his defensive liability in the Outfield be limited or hidden? Will be interesting, challenges not uncommon for “Danny Boy”.