Rene Tosoni
Encyclopedia
Rene Michael Tosoni (July 2, 1986, Toronto, Ontario Canada
) is an outfielder
for the Minnesota Twins
. He is six feet tall and weighs 194 lbs. He bats left-handed
, yet plays his position right-handed.
of the B.C. Premier Baseball League
. Although he was selected by the Twins in the 34th-round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
, he did not sign and was subsequently reselected by the Twins in the 36th-round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft
.
to begin the year, he spent the majority of the season assigned to the Twins' advanced A affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle
. With the Miracle, he batted
.325 with one home run
and 17 RBIs in the first half of the 2008 season—helping his team capture the Florida State League
first-half West Division title. Along with teammates Robert Delaney
, Brian Dinkelman
, Jeff Manship
, Wilson Ramos
, Anthony Slama
and Danny Valencia
, Tosoni was selected to represent Fort Myers in the 2008 Florida State League All-Star game, however, a broken leg prevented him from attending. He was assigned to the Miracle's seven day disabled list, and did not play from May 16 until August 26. For the season, his average fell to an even .300 upon his short return from the disabled list at the end of the season, however, his two run home run in the first inning
was the deciding factor in the Miracle's 2-1 victory over the Dunedin Blue Jays
in game one of the 2008 division playoffs.
. He was elected to participate for the World Team at the All-Star Futures Game
at Busch Stadium
in St. Louis, the host location of the MLB All-Star Game
. He appeared as a pinch hitter during the seventh inning and hit a go-ahead double off of Pittsburgh Pirates
prospect Brad Lincoln
. His performance earned him the game's MVP honours.
on April 28, 2011.
Tosoni had a single in his first Major League appearance off of Tampa Bay Rays
starter Jeremy Hellickson
.
He recorded his first RBI in the same game while going 2 for 4 with two singles.
On September 27 Tosoni hit his first Major-League Grand Slam in a 7-4 Victory over the Kansas City Royals.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) is an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. He is six feet tall and weighs 194 lbs. He bats left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
, yet plays his position right-handed.
Amateur career
Tosoni played youth baseball for the Coquitlam RedsCoquitlam Reds
The Coquitlam Reds are a youth baseball team located in the city of Coquitlam, British Columbia. The team was founded in 1977, and joined the B.C. Premier Baseball League in 1999....
of the B.C. Premier Baseball League
B.C. Premier Baseball League
The British Columbia Premier Baseball League, commonly referred to as the BCPBL or the PBL, is a competitive youth baseball league consisting of 13 teams located throughout British Columbia, Canada...
. Although he was selected by the Twins in the 34th-round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
2004 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
, he did not sign and was subsequently reselected by the Twins in the 36th-round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft
2005 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
.
2008: Fort Myers Miracle
Although Tosoni had a brief stint with the Gulf Coast League TwinsGulf Coast League Twins
The Gulf Coast League Twins are the Rookie "A" Level Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. The team plays in Fort Myers, Florida, at the Lee County Sports Complex....
to begin the year, he spent the majority of the season assigned to the Twins' advanced A affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle
Fort Myers Miracle
The Fort Myers Miracle is the Class A Advanced minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club, currently managed by Jake Mauer. Home games are played at the Lee County Sports Complex in Hammond Stadium, which has a capacity of 7,500, and opened in...
. With the Miracle, he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.325 with one home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
and 17 RBIs in the first half of the 2008 season—helping his team capture the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
first-half West Division title. Along with teammates Robert Delaney
Robert Delaney
Robert Delaney is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball. He pitches right-handed, but bats lefty.Delaney attended Pascack Valley High School....
, Brian Dinkelman
Brian Dinkelman
Brian Adam Dinkelman is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Minnesota Twins. Dinkelman was born on November 10, 1983, in Centralia, Illinois. After graduating from Centralia High School in 2002, Dinkelman attended McKendree University and graduated in 2006; he was later...
, Jeff Manship
Jeff Manship
Jeffrey Michael Manship is a right-handed pitcher for the Minnesota Twins. He was the Twins' 14th round selection of the June 2006 Major League Baseball Draft.-Amateur career:...
, Wilson Ramos
Wilson Ramos
Wilson Abraham Ramos is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Washington Nationals. He is 6' tall, weighs 221 lbs., and throws and bats right-handed. He signed with the Minnesota Twins as a non-drafted free agent on July 7, ....
, Anthony Slama
Anthony Slama
Anthony Thomas Slama is a relief pitcher for the Minnesota Twins. He is 6'3", and weighs 207 lbs., and bats and throws right-handed....
and Danny Valencia
Danny Valencia
Daniel Paul Valencia is a third baseman for the Minnesota Twins.In high school, he was all-county three times and all-state twice. In college, he was Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, second-team all-conference, and on his all-regional team...
, Tosoni was selected to represent Fort Myers in the 2008 Florida State League All-Star game, however, a broken leg prevented him from attending. He was assigned to the Miracle's seven day disabled list, and did not play from May 16 until August 26. For the season, his average fell to an even .300 upon his short return from the disabled list at the end of the season, however, his two run home run in the first inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
was the deciding factor in the Miracle's 2-1 victory over the Dunedin Blue Jays
Dunedin Blue Jays
The Dunedin Blue Jays are a minor league baseball team based in Dunedin, Florida. They play in the Florida State League, and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball club...
in game one of the 2008 division playoffs.
2009: New Britain Rock Cats
To begin the season, Tosoni was assigned to the Twins' double A affiliate, the New Britain Rock CatsNew Britain Rock Cats
The New Britain Rock Cats are the Double-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club. They compete in the Eastern League and play their home games at New Britain Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut.-History:...
. He was elected to participate for the World Team at the All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
at Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium is the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, of MLB...
in St. Louis, the host location of the MLB All-Star Game
2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 80th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 14, 2009, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, the home of the...
. He appeared as a pinch hitter during the seventh inning and hit a go-ahead double off of Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
prospect Brad Lincoln
Brad Lincoln
Brad Eric Lincoln is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Amateur career:...
. His performance earned him the game's MVP honours.
2011: Minnesota Twins
Tosoni was called up by the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
on April 28, 2011.
Tosoni had a single in his first Major League appearance off of Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
starter Jeremy Hellickson
Jeremy Hellickson
Jeremy Robert Hellickson is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa and attended Hoover High School...
.
He recorded his first RBI in the same game while going 2 for 4 with two singles.
On September 27 Tosoni hit his first Major-League Grand Slam in a 7-4 Victory over the Kansas City Royals.
Awards
- Appalachian LeagueAppalachian LeagueThe Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
Postseason All-StarAll-starAll-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
(2007) - Florida State LeagueFlorida State LeagueThe Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
All-Star (2008) - All-Star Futures GameAll-Star Futures GameThe All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
World Team - 2009 All-Star Futures Game MVP