MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Joe Mauer says he plans to hit the ground running at spring training this year.
That means he is taking a far different approach from a quiet spring last season that preceded the worst baseball year of his career.
Pitchers and catchers reported for the Minnesota Twins on Saturday. They will conduct their first workout on Sunday, and Mauer says he plans to be behind the plate with the rest of the catchers.
Last year Mauer was recovering from offseason knee surgery and did not catch a bullpen until well into March. But Mauer played in only 82 games because of various leg injuries and illnesses and the Twins lost 99 games.
The former AL MVP says he is looking forward to putting last year behind him.
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