Minnesota News Network

  • Home
  • MNN Reporter Team
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Crime & Court
    • Health
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Weather & Natural Disaster
  • Sports
    • Gophers
    • Twins
    • Wild
    • Timberwolves & Lynx
    • Vikings
  • Minnesota Matters
  • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support
You are here: Home / Sports / Mauer, Twins head to Kansas City

Mauer, Twins head to Kansas City

September 13, 2018 By Minnesota News Network

Joe Mauer has been the face of the Minnesota Twins for most of the century.

Mauer, a native of St. Paul who attended Cretin-Derham Hall High School, was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2001 draft and made his big league debut three years later, quickly establishing himself as the hometown hero and one of the best players in baseball.

Now, though, at age 35, Mauer admits the end may be drawing near. Twenty-four hours after hitting his fifth career grand slam Tuesday, Mauer told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that he’s considered retiring after this season — the last under an eight-year, $184 million contract he signed after the 2010 season.

A .306 hitter over the course of a career that’s included six All-Star berths, three Gold Gloves and the 2009 AL MVP award, Mauer is batting .272 this season with six home runs and 43 RBIs. But he’s missed time this season with the third concussion of his career, and he and his wife are expecting their third child later this fall.

“There’s a lot that goes into it than just, ‘Do you want to play?'” Mauer told the newspaper. “There’s a lot of different dynamics that go into it. I owe it to myself and my family to sit down and think about those things.

“It’s interesting. It’s a big decision, and I want to make sure I’m 100 percent about it.”

That conversation, though, will have to wait. Mauer is hoping to finish out the season strong, starting Thursday night when the Twins open a four-game series at Kansas City.

“Not knowing either way, what direction I’m going. It’s been a grind, a lot of things going on this year,” Mauer said. “And I’m just trying to enjoy it.”

Stephen Gonsalves (0-2) gets the start for Minnesota in the series opener and another chance to make a good impression on the Twins coaching staff.

The 24-year-old rookie left-hander has an 11.68 ERA through four big league starts and couldn’t get out of the third inning his last time out, when the Royals tagged him for five runs over 2 1/3 innings Friday.

“Stephen’s still having trouble showing enough command with his pitches to give him a chance to be a little bit more successful,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “The extra baserunners and some mistakes — getting behind kind of caught up with him there, so we couldn’t go too long.”

Gonsalves was Minnesota’s No. 5 prospect when he was called up to the big leagues last month.

“I’ve been battling with my fastball,” Gonsalves said. “It’s just cutting on me and I’ve been inconsistent with it. I’ve been working with (pitching coach) Garvin (Alston) on something new every week. My mind has been more on mechanics than competing and I had that struggle early this year with my mechanics all out of whack. It’s kind of revolving back to that a little bit and I’m kind of searching for myself.”

Heath Fillmyer, Kansas City’s scheduled Thursday starter, struggled in his last outing, which came against Gonsalves and the Twins on Friday. Fillmyer (2-1, 4.75 ERA) lasted 2 1/3 innings and allowed six runs on six hits.

He has started two games against the Twins this season and is fortunate to be 0-0 after giving up nine runs and 11 hits over 5 1/3 innings.

###

Copyright © 2018
TTWN Media Networks LLC

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Sports, Twins

Follow us on Twitter

My Tweets

Gophers add supports staff members to football coaching staff

Three additions have been made to the Minnesota football support staff, head coach P.J. Fleck announced Thursday. Shaq Vann has been named an offensive graduate assistant, while Keegan O’Hara is an offensive analyst and Dennis Dottin-Carter is joining as a senior defensive analyst. A native of South Bend, Ind., Vann comes to Minnesota after two […]

Wild Return Home Tonight

(St. Paul, MN)  —  The Wild are back on home ice for the final two games before they get a break in the schedule for their bye week and the All Star Break.  Tonight, they’ll host the Flyers followed by a Saturday night match up against the Sabres.  Minnesota just completed a four game trip […]

Halldorson honored by Wild with Legacy Award

The Minnesota Wild, in partnership with Minnesota Hockey and Bally Sports North, today announced Laura Halldorson as the 2022-23 State of Hockey Legacy Award winner. Halldorson becomes the first female to receive the honor. “Laura is a true trailblazer for our sport, both within Minnesota and beyond,” said Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold. “Her impressive […]

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Facebook

Copyright © 2023 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC