Mauer takes his best shot vs. kids at FanFest
ANAHEIM — At age 13, it’s about as close as you can get to playing baseball with a Major Leaguer.
Even before the 2010 All-Stars got going in their morning news conferences Monday, Twins catcher and four-time All-Star Joe Mauer was on his game. The cover boy of MLB 10 The Show on Playstation 3 was at the Playstation Patrol Truck at 8 a.m. PT, getting the day’s FanFest off to a quick start.
About 20 youths from the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Ana played The Show on high-definition TVs, and a few of the best got a chance to play Mauer himself.
“I’m actually a little nervous, because I’m sure these guys are pretty good,” Mauer said. “I play the game, but I’m sure they got all the little ins and outs, so I’m a little nervous about competing against them today.”
Raymond Santana, a 13-year-old from Santa Ana won a Home Run Derby contest against his Boys and Girls Club peers, slugging out 10 homers with Alex Rodriguez. To Santana, Mauer’s a top-of-the-line player, but his heart is in the Bronx.
“My dad’s from New York, and that’s why my whole family’s Yankees fans,” said Santana, who was excited when his Boys and Girls club was looking for participants for the event a week ago. “I think Mauer’s a great play