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Justin Morneau was born on May 15, 1981 in New Westminster, British Columbia. At the age of two, Justin picked up his first Wiffle Ball bat and began taking batting practice.
A member of Canada’s Junior World Team, Justin was named the New Westminster High School Athlete of the Year in 1999. Justin was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the third round, 89th pick overall in the 1999 MLB Draft.
Justin began is first of six seasons in the minors in the summer of ’99. The buzz quickly built about the power hitting lefty from Canada.
In 2001, Justin played on the Canadian National team in the World Baseball Championship.
Justin was spent 2002 playing for New Britian and was chosen for the 2002 All-Star Futures Game.
On June 10, 2003, Justin ws called up by the Twins to make his Major League debut. He batted fourth in his debut and picked up two hits in four at-bats.
Justin started the 2004 season with Rochester and returned to the Twins’ everyday lineup when Doug Mientkiewicz was sidelined with a sore wrist. Justin hit .271 with 19 homers and 58 RBIs in less than half a season.
On August 17, 2006 Justin became the first Twin to hit more than 30 home runs since Kent Hrbek, Gary Gaetti and Tom Brunansky in 1987. He ended the year hitting .321 with 34 homers and 130 RBIs. In November, he was named league MVP. In addition, Justin walked away with the Calvin R. Griffith Award as Most Valuable Twin and Louisville Slugger “Silver Slugger” Award.
