Joe Mauer
From BR Bullpen
Joseph Patrick Mauer
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 6' 5", Weight 220 lb.
- High School Cretin-Derham High School
- Debut April 5, 2004
- Born April 19, 1983 in St. Paul, MN USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Joe Mauer has made a name for himself as a top catcher in the majors at a young age. At age 21, he was already hitting .308 in the majors (in 35 games), at age 22 he hit .294 as the regular catcher for the Minnesota Twins, and at age 23 spent most of the 2006 season sitting atop the American League list of batting leaders. He became the first catcher to win the batting title in the American League by compiling a .347 average to beat Derek Jeter by four points. In 2008 he won a second American League title, although his .328 average was one of the lowest among batting title winners in recent years.
The Wall Street Journal ran an article in September 2009 to the effect that Mauer and Jeter were top candidates for the 2009 MVP award. Sabermetricians were said to feel that Mauer was clearly the top offensive player, but Jeter's team was in front and there was a lot of sentiment for Jeter to win his first MVP award.
Athletic Lineage: He has two brothers, Jake and Bill, who played in the Twins minor league system.
Mauer was also a top high school quarterback. He was selected the Player of the Year by USA Today in 2000 and was slated to play both football and baseball for Florida State University before turning pro.
Mauer was the #1 overall pick in the 2001 amateur draft (though as a local boy, he was considered to be a "signability pick" ahead of Mark Prior and Mark Teixeira). Throughout his minor league career Mauer was considered to be one of the best prospects in the minors and was named the 2003 Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America.
On June 4, 2008, Mauer hit a two-run sacrifice fly, the first of its kind in the majors in over 7 years.
Mauer, despite being taller and much younger than most catchers, has always been considered an elite defender.
One of the most similar players to Mauer, based on similarity scores, is Mickey Cochrane, although Cochrane never won a batting title.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 2003 Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year, Fort Myers Miracle, Florida State League & New Britain Rock Cats, Eastern League
- 2004 Topps All-Star Rookie Team
- 3-time AL All-Star (2006, 2008 & 2009)
- 2-time AL Gold Glove Winner (2008 & 2009)
- 3-time AL Silver Slugger Award Winner (2006, 2008 & 2009)
- 2-time AL Batting Average Leader (2006 & 2008)
