MINNEAPOLIS -- Joe Mauer was hoping to keep his latest health problem hidden. His visibility in the lineup and behind the plate for the first game of the regular season, however, is obviously of utmost importance.
Despite slow recovery from a December operation to remove a chronic obstruction on his kidney, Mauer and the Minnesota Twins are planning on accomplishing that goal.
"We should be good to go," Mauer said Friday evening at the Metrodome, where he joined most of his teammates for TwinsFest -- the annual winter fan gathering.
Due to the public process of revealing rosters for this spring's World Baseball Classic, Mauer was forced to share the news when he took his name off Team USA's list.
Bothered by persistent and debilitating soreness in his lower back that made it difficult to walk and handle everyday activities, Mauer decided to get checked out. Doctors found an abnormality on his kidney that he was actually born with, and surgery was recommended.
"I'm walking fine now," Mauer said. "I'm healing, so that's good. ... We try to keep things under wraps a little bit, but I should be ready to go for spring so I'm looking forward to it."
He hasn't been able to do any conditioning or weightlifting since the procedure, though, so he's behind on getting in shape. The Twins will be extra careful with his workload once workouts officially begin for pitchers and catchers on Feb. 16, so it could be several weeks into camp before he's playing in exhibition games and going full speed.
"Obviously we're going to take it easy with him," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "The goal is opening day. A lot of catchers get a lot of work in spring training, and we're going to have to protect him early. All the bullpen sessions, and all those things. We'll just take it easy on him and see how he feels. Hopefully by mid-spring training, we'll get him in there playing and go from there."
Mauer was relieved by his manager's assurance that it's OK for him to take February and March slowly. The All-Star catcher's injury history has been well-documented, beginning with a torn-up knee that kept him out for most of his rookie season in 2004 and including a bunch of lower-body ailments -- notably a strained quadriceps muscle -- that limited him to 109 games in 2007. His toughness was questioned that year by certain teammates.
"Gardy telling me to take it easy," he said, "makes me feel a lot better."
Skeptics about the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Mauer's durability at such a dangerous, draining position were silenced last year when he played in a career-high 146 games -- including 135 starts at catcher. He said Friday the back pain popped up in September during the stretch run in the division race, but that didn't affect his ability to win a second batting title in three years and play every game after Labor Day except the second half of a doubleheader in Baltimore.
"To be in there gives me a little confidence, and confidence in knowing myself I guess," Mauer said. "Those are the games you want to play in, so I wouldn't miss 'em."
Mauer received medical clearance this week to start throwing and hitting. His desire to build up more upper-body strength was tabled, but the additional break for his legs could help him in the long run.
"It might be a blessing in disguise," he said. "Just taking it easy. It was a long year last year. I caught the most games I've ever caught. Maybe this time resting was good for me."
Notes
- Brian Buscher and Brendan Harris are set to share the 3B job unless an outsider comes in before spring. The Twins have been monitoring free agent Joe Crede, who went unsigned by the White Sox and has had back problems. But what about moving RF Michael Cuddyer back to his original position, as a dual solution to a crowded outfield and an unsettled hot corner? Gardenhire dismissed the chance of that happening. "None. Absolutely none," he said, adding slyly: "That's as of today."
- The Twins are scheduled for nine appearances on Fox's national broadcasts of featured Saturday games. President Dave St. Peter said that's the most in the majors.
- The Twins will wear a commemorative patch on their uniforms in 2009 honoring late owner Carl Pohlad.
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