Mauer named AL starting catcher
Backstop to be joined by teammates Morneau, Nathan
MLB.com
07/05/09 1:45 PM ET

MINNEAPOLIS -- Missing the entire first month of the season hasn't affected Joe
Mauer's swing, as the two-time batting champion continues to hit close to the
.400 mark.

The missed time didn't affect the catcher's ability to earn his second
consecutive start in the All-Star Game, either.

Mauer will be behind the plate for the American League on July 14 at Busch
Stadium in St. Louis after the fans made him the leading vote-getter among AL
catchers.

The 26-year-old beat out other well-known catchers for the top spot, including
Jason Varitek of the Red Sox, Jorge Posada of the Yankees, Victor Martinez of
the Indians and Jared Saltalamacchia of the Rangers.

Joining Mauer on this year's AL squad will be his teammates Justin Morneau and
Joe Nathan, who were both named to the team via the players' ballot.

The year's All-Stars were announced Sunday afternoon as part of the MLB All-Star
Selection Show presented by Pepsi. The 80th Major League Baseball All-Star Game
will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and
Sportsnet HD and televised around the world by Major League Baseball
International, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 7 p.m. CT. ESPN Radio will
provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive
online coverage. XM will provide satellite radio play-by-play coverage of the XM
All-Star Futures Game.

Mauer will be making his third trip to the Midsummer Classic in five full Major
League seasons. He was selected on the players ballot in 2006 -- the season in
which he won his first batting title -- and he earned the fans' vote last
season, giving him his first All-Star Game start.

The Twins catcher, who was also selected first on the players' ballot, entered
Sunday batting .390 with a career-high 14 home runs and 45 RBIs in 57 games
since coming off the disabled list on May 1. Having missed all of April due to
lower back inflammation, Mauer would lead the Majors in batting average, but
when play started Sunday, he'll sit just six plate appearances shy of qualifying
for the league leaders.

It didn't take long for Mauer to make his impact felt once he returned to the
Twins. In May, Mauer became the first Twins player to hit 10 home runs and 30
RBIs in a month when he totaled 11 homers and 32 RBIs.

The other half of the Twins' M&M boys, Morneau, earned his third consecutive
selection to the All-Star Game by putting up MVP-caliber numbers once again at
the start of the 2009 season. His 67 RBIs entering Sunday ranked second in the
AL behind only Red Sox outfielder Jason Bay's 70. Minnesota's first baseman was
hitting .320 with 20 home runs heading into Sunday, putting him fourth in the AL
in batting average and tied for second in home runs.

Nathan will making his second consecutive All-Star appearance and fourth of his
career. The Twins closer was selected by his peers after recording 22 saves
while posting a 1.35 ERA in 35 appearances.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its
clubs.

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