TWINS SPOTLIGHT: Joe Mauer: Mauer takes center stage

Still waiting to make his big-league debut, the Twins'
rookie catcher is already one of the team's most
sought-after players by fans and the media.

BY GORDON WITTENMYER
Pioneer Press

Twins rookie catcher Joe Mauer faced 15 minutes of
questions from young fans during the second day of
TwinsFest on Saturday. Such zingers as:

"Have you ever met Ron Gardenhire?''

"What's your favorite food?''

"Joe, will you hit a home run for me on Opening Day?''

For now, the answers are yes, Mom's lasagna and "I'll
do my best.''

But ultimately, with just four weeks left before
pitchers and catchers report to spring training in
Fort Myers, Fla., it's clear the questions outnumber
the answers for St. Paul's favorite 20-year-old
ballplayer these days.

And the reality of some of those questions might just
be starting to sink in for all-star catcher A.J.
Pierzynski's heir apparent.

"Maybe a little more coming to TwinsFest,'' he said.
"Down there in Florida, you're doing stuff and not
really much changed with the trade. But up here, I see
a lot of people getting excited about it and getting
excited about the Twins. And I'm starting to get
excited. Not that I wasn't before, but now it's just
around the corner.''

Two months after Pierzyn-ski's trade to San Francisco
paved the road for Mauer to open the season behind the
plate for a two-time defending division champion, the
Cretin-Derham Hall graduate has been one of the most
popular players at TwinsFest.

And some of the expectations are becoming vivid.

"I've had guys already predict rookie of the year and
stuff,'' he said. "I say, 'I've got to make the team
first.' It's fun to see all the people excited."

It's not just local attention, either. ESPN the
Magazine sent a reporter to Minnesota to shadow the
former No. 1 overall draft pick this weekend.

The spotlight figures to only grow from there, as
spring training draws nearer and more national media
race to find and anoint baseball's next big thing.

Mauer said he's just trying to stay focused on the job
ahead. After the trip home to St. Paul, Mauer returns
to his apartment and regimen in Fort Myers on Monday,
preparing for the jump from Class AA superstar to
major league starting catcher.

"From minor league ball to major league ball is a big
step no matter where you're at,'' he said. "Guys like
Albert Pujols, that's the exception.''

And Pujols, the St. Louis Cardinals' offensive
sensation from the moment he skipped AAA ball to
become National League rookie of the year, didn't have
the responsibility of calling games for a playoff
contender and handling a pitching staff comprised of
20-game winners, rookies and almost everything in
between.

"Of course, you go into this year and don't know what
to expect,'' said Twins right-hander Kyle Lohse, who
will open his third full big-league season as the
Twins' No. 2 or 3 starter. "You're losing a guy that
hit like A.J. did and called a great game. But from
everything everybody says, he (Mauer) should be able
to step in and do pretty good. And I guess he learns
quick, so that's a plus.''

Mauer, chosen minor league player of the year by
Baseball America last season, earned high praise from
Twins veteran pitchers the past two spring trainings,
including Brad Radke and Rick Reed after he caught
them in exhibition starts last spring.

"He should be all right as long as he does his
homework,'' Lohse said. "I was able to trust A.J.
quite a bit because he knew the hitters. I'm sure
there's going to be an adjustment, getting to know
each other and how I approach hitters.''

Twins center fielder Torii Hunter, another former
first-round draft pick who faced high expectations and
outside demands, already has taken Mauer under his
wing and promised more guidance this spring.

Not that the hometown fans think much of that will be
necessary.

Asked one small boy during Saturday's Q-and-A session:
"How many grand slams you think you're going to hit in
one game?''

Mauer: "I'd be happy if I could hit one.'

Posted on Sun, Jan. 25, 2004

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