Over the years that Joe Mauer has played catcher for the Minnesota Twins, he has been a standout hitter and catcher. In 10 seasons with the Twins, Mauer has hit an astounding .323 in the regular season, and an impressive .286 in his postseason career. He has hit consistently at a high level his entire career. Surely that’s not a small contributor to his six all-star game appearances, as well as his 2009 AL MVP award. Mauer has shown his playing ability on the field, and he has proved it off the field. Joe’s celebrity has grown immensely with Head & Shoulders ads (and a few other products) as his impressive stats continue throughout his career.
A key note: Joe Mauer is only great when he is actually on the field.
Unfortunately, due to Mauer’s injury history he is not on the field nearly as much as himself or the Twins would like him to be. Joe had major injuries in 2004, 2009, 2011 and 2013 that sidelined him for multiple games at a time. Sometimes Mauer was even missing months at a time due to these injuries. All of his major injuries were lower-body injuries, except in 2013 when he was suffering from concussions. These injuries are very likely to have all come from the strenuous and painful task of being an MLB catcher.
And that injury risk behind the plate is exactly why the Minnesota Twins are making a huge move for their star’s future; they are moving Joe Mauer to first base.
Mauer has spent 10 seasons behind the plate and it has been too much for him as he has not been able to consistently play game-after-game. Moving him to first base will change so much for Mauer this season. He will have a lot less strain on his legs, and obviously will have a much lower chance of getting a concussion now that he is no longer a catcher. Mauer’s career stats have already been incredible and consistent. Now that he will be able to play more often and with less strain on his body, Joe Mauer could have an unbelievably impressive 2014 season. With less wear and tear this season, Mauer can be expected to hit above his career average. Also, he will get more at-bats with less injuries and that will allow him to make a bigger impact than ever before.
Joe Mauer is an all-star catcher and a centerpiece for the Twins. With this move to first base, the Twins hope that he will remain a major factor in their offense and continue his hitting excellence. Mauer has all the potential in the world this season, and an MVP run may even be possible if he can hold his own at first defensively.
Joe Mauer is going into his 11th season with the Twins, and it could very well be his greatest yet.
