Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan said he “definitely” missed Nick Punto in the infield this season.

The Twins, who paid Punto $4 million in 2010, didn’t re-sign him. Punto signed a $750,000, one-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals, who went on to win the National League and have split the first two games of the World Series against the Texas Rangers.

“I think every pitcher in our organization can say they missed him,” Nathan said from his home in Knoxville, Tenn. “That’s not a surprise. As a pitcher, to have a guy behind you who can play that type of defense and take away hits and runs – some of the plays he makes are just unbelievable.

“You don’t see even above-average fielders make those plays, and Nicky does it on a daily basis.”

Punto hit .278 in 63 games this season for St. Louis. He is 3 for 6 (.500) with 2 walks in the World Series.

Infielder Brian Dozier has been named the 2011 Sherry Robertson Award winner as the Twins’ minor league player of the year, and right-handed pitcher Liam Hendriks has been named the 2011 Jim Rantz Award winner as the Twins’ minor league pitcher of the year, the team announced Thursday.

Dozier, 24, began the season at Class A Fort Myers and batted .322 with 11 doubles, five triples, two home runs, 22 runs batted in and 13 steals in 49 games with the Miracle. He was promoted to Class AA New Britain on June 6 and batted .318 with 22 doubles, seven triples, seven home runs, 34 RBIs and 11 steals in 78 games with the Rock Cats.

Dozier was the Twins’ eighth-round pick in the 2009 draft out of the University of Southern Mississippi.

Hendriks, 22, began the season at Class AA New Britain and went 8-2 with a 2.70 earned-run average in 16 appearances. He was promoted to Class AAA Rochester on July 19 and went 4-4 with a 4.56 ERA in nine starts. Hendriks had his contract selected by the Twins on Sept. 6 and went 0-2 with a 6.17 ERA in four starts.

Hendriks was signed by the Twins as a non-drafted free agent out of Sacred Heart College in Australia in 2007.

Comeback players picked: St. Louis outfielder Lance Berkman earned National League comeback player honors by putting an injury-riddled 2010 behind him in a big way.

He hit .301 with 31 home runs and 94 RBIs to help the Cardinals earn a postseason berth.

Boston outfielder Jacoby

Ellsbury won the American League award.

Ellsbury played only 18 games in 2010 because of injuries and hit only .192. This season, he set career highs in most offensive categories, hitting .321 with 32 home runs, 105 RBIs, 46 doubles, five triples, 119 runs and 39 stolen bases.

The honorees were picked by the 30 team beat reporters from MLB.com.

Justin Morneau, Ben Revere and Nick Blackburn of the Twins all had surgeries Friday to clean up nagging injuries that were bothering them as the season came to a close.

General manager Bill Smith said all three are expected to be ready for the start of spring training in February. Smith made the announcement late Friday night and said all three procedures were part of their end-of-season physicals.

Morneau had surgery to stabilize the tendon in the back of his left wrist. Smith said Morneau will be in a cast for six weeks.

Blackburn had surgery after being diagnosed with radial tunnel syndrome in his right forearm. His arm will be in a splint for six weeks.

Revere had loose cartilage removed from his left knee.