Joe Mauer is catching a break.
Mauer, 30, is making the transition from the Twins' starting catcher to starting first baseman. It's about time considering injuries have plagued the six-time all-star over the past few seasons.
"It was different," Mauer said Tuesday in regards to showing up at spring without his catchers' gear. "I think it'll hit me more Saturday. ... It's new to me. The first workouts I think will be a little different. I'm still working out but it's definitely a little weird not being in catchers meetings and things like that."
This was the best off-season move by the Twins. Mauer will not suffer the wear and tear on his body like he did as a catcher while playing first base. His offensive numbers are sure to go up. Entering the 2014 season, Mauer has the highest batting average among active players in Major League Baseball (.323). His average will go up, possibly to .330 this season due to less stress on his body. At his peak, Mauer is a pure hitter. The Minnesota Twins version of Ichiro Suzuki in his prime. There is no telling how great he could be offensively this season, provided he stays healthy. Luckily for fantasy owners, Mauer will still be eligible at catcher for the 2014 season... making him an intriguing selection.
The one question fans will have is, how will Mauer be defensively? Considering he's athletic and in the prime of his career, I'd assume fine. Catchers have been known to make the transition to first base. However the Twins will settle as long as Mauer can catch and throw the baseball. He's not being moved to first base because of any Don Mattingly/Keith Hernandez glove comparisons. Mauer should have two goals this season; hit the ball and stay healthy enough to hit the ball.
Former Twins first baseman Kent Hrbek is a guest instructor for the team at Spring Training. He's been working with Mauer and doesn't believe there will be any problems transitioning from catcher to first base.
"It's just a different thing for what the guys have to go through to get back and play (following concussions)," Hrbek told Mike Berardino of twincities.com. "They're covering their (butt). Whatever. Joe is not going to have any problem over there."
Hrbek also believes there won't be any lingering issues with Mauer previous concussions. Mauer, who suffered a concussion back in August, said he feels better physically now than he has in recent years.
"You know what, if he's going to sit and worry about that, then he's in trouble," Hrbek said about Mauer. "Oh, you know, you bump into people once in a while. That's just part of the game. If somebody runs (Mauer) over and he gets hurt, that's not because he doesn't know how to play first base."
Mauer is going to have a great season offensively. If he stays healthy, expect Mauer to have 210 hits along with 15 home runs. In ten Major League seasons, Mauer has only hit 15+ home runs once, smacking 28 long balls in 2009. Playing first base will cause his body to heal quicker, enabling more power.
"I think 20 more games playing that position, I think my numbers will be better, but I think it's a lot of unknowns, what is going to happen," Mauer told MLB.com. "I'm not going to try to be anything I'm not. I'm going to go out there and just try to have good at-bats and play the game like I always have. It will just be at a different position."
In reality, it doesn't matter how many home runs Mauer hits. The fact is Mauer is going to hit and hit a lot, if you "catch" my drift.
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