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TORONTO - While Toronto FC has spent the year scouring the globe for talent, its surprise player of the season is a local product acquired before the new management regime took over. Rookie midfielder Jonathan Osorio, identified as a player to watch early in training camp by first-year manager Ryan Nelsen, has shown an opportune scoring touch in grabbing the spotlight. Osorio, who turned 21 in June, has started eight games and seen action in 10 more with Nelsen playing him both in centre midfield and on the flank. "Hes one of the absolutely top young talents in this league," said Toronto president and GM Kevin Payne. "I put him at the same level as (Gyasi) Zardes and the other forward (Jose Villarreal) from Los Angeles that everybodys making a big deal about. "I think Johnnys actually probably got a better all-round game than either one of them." Nelsen believes Osorio is a legitimate rookie of the year candidate. "For a guy who you could kind of say is coming out of nowhere in a way, its been an absolutely fantastic year," said the former New Zealand international. "But what I love about Jon is that he only wants to get better and wants to improve every day." Thanks in part to Osorio, Toronto snapped a six-game winless streak last weekend with a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Crew. Osorio scored in the 87th minute to pull Toronto into a 1-1 tie that set the stage for Andrew Wiedemans 94th-minute winner in a torrential downpour at BMO Field. While he had been shifted to the wing recently, the arrival of Spanish winger Alvaro Rey is likely to return Osorio to the middle. Osorios four goals are second only to Robert Earnshaws six on a team where goals have been hard to come by. Toronto has just 19 in 21 games. Top strikers Danny Koevermans (calf) and Earnshaw (hamstring) have both been sidelined of late. Osorio says hes always had "a nose for the (penalty) area." "Im one to always attack the box and I think I do it pretty well. So as long as I keep doing that — thats where more than 50 per cent of the goals happen in football." Osorios goals have all come late. And would have meant more had it not been for defensive lapses. Osorio scored in the 78th minute against Los Angeles (the Galaxy replied in stoppage time for a 2-2 tie), in the 66th minute against Philadelphia (the Union scored in stoppage time for a 1-1 tie) and the 83rd minute against New York (the Red Bulls scored in the 89th minute for a 2-1 win). "Its a great story for our other academy kids," said Payne. "When they see kids actually transition from the academy to the first team and get games and have the opportunities to make impacts, that really helps their confidence. They now believe that Wow if I work hard, there really is a pathway. "That kid is very talented. Johnny Osorio. Hes a tough kid ... He looks like a cool, detached sort of player on the field but he actually has a great deal of emotion within him. He plays with a lot of passion." Osorio didnt spent much time with the Toronto academy. He signed in September after impressing with SC Toronto in the Canadian Soccer League. In February, he was at Toronto FCs camp in Florida and was included in Nelsens his first starting 11, against the Columbus Crew. "You knew it right there, he had confidence in me to play and to be ready to play at a professional level," Osorio said. The young Canadian says he is growing in confidence every week. "I feel really good out there," he said. "Im always hungry to score goals or assists or help the team in any way." Said Nelsen: "Nothing fazes him. Not even bad moments in games. He always tries to do things positively. Instead of going into his shell, he tries to keep doing stuff. And I love that because the game and life in general rewards those people." Osorio took the long road to his home-town club, spending two years at Club Nacional in Montevideo, Uruguay, thanks to his talent and the connections of coach Jorge Amura at the Clarkson Sheridan Soccer Club in suburban Mississauga. He spent two years there, starting in the under-19 ranks before making his way into the reserves before deciding to return home at the end of 2011.China Shoes Outlet . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. China Shoes Wholesale . -- PGA TOUR Canada member Steve Saunders took a three-stroke lead Saturday in the Web. https://www.chinashoesshop.com/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Cheap Shoes From China . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. China Shoes Jordans .05 million next season unless Graham and the Saints subsequently agree on a long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City left-hander Danny Duffy is seeking his 10th straight victory when the Royals conclude a four-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.The Royals are going for the sweep and have won 10 of 12 games against this season against the Twins. Their seven-game winning streak is their best this season.Since June 1, Duffys 10 victories rank second in the majors. He is fourth in strikeouts (109) and seventh in batting average against (.209) during that timetable.Duffy tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief on April 9 against the Twins, but has not started against them this year. He is 4-1 with a 2.33 ERA all-time against Minnesota.The Twins will counter with right-hander Ervin Santana, who has won his past three starts. In that span, he has allowed three earned runs on 16 hits and four walks, while striking out 19 in 19 1/3 innings. Santana threw seven scoreless innings Tuesday at Atlanta, holding the Braves to four hits, while walking two and striking out six.Santana will try to silence the bat of Alex Gordon, who had been quiet most of the year but has erupted with an 11-game hitting streak, including five home runs in the past five games.I hope it lasts the whole year, Gordon said. Weve got a good thing going right now, winning games and having fun. Hopefully I can keep this up and the team can keep it up, too.He homered twice Saturday in the Royals 10-0 victory.Hes dialed in, Royals manager Ned Yost said.Meanwhile, Minnesota Twins manager Paul Molitor is looking to tighten his outfield defense.Theere were two glaring bad plays in the series opener against the Royals, although only one was an error in the box score.ddddddddddddCenter fielder Eddie Rosario committed a throwing error on Thursday with the ball sailing all the way to the screen, while left fielder Robbie Grossman took a bad route to Kendrys Morales double in the eighth inning Thursday.We talked briefly after the game about our defense and the plays that happened are not that uncommon, Molitor said. One of the reasons that Rosario is such an exciting player is that he makes plays, offensively and defensively. We saw last year that his ability to throw runners out was an asset and I think sometimes he takes it a little bit too far.The misread by Robbie, Im not sure what he saw off the bat that got him so far off line in terms of trying to make a play. I dont really relate it to where were at in terms of the season. I think, when you have people trying to play defense it doesnt really matter if youre in your 130th game or in your tenth game. Theres going to be some physical mistakes. Weve had more than our fair share.Robbies not the fastest. He doesnt throw the hardest, but you kind of trust him to make good decisions and be able to make the routine plays. And theres been a couple that have gotten away from him in the last week or so. You start thinking about those things maybe more than you should instead of just going out and playing. ' ' '