Joseph Patrick Mauer
Minnesota Twins — No. 7
Born: April 19, 1983 (age 27)
St. Paul, Minnesota
Catcher
Bats: Left	Throws: Right
MLB debut April 5, 2004 for the Minnesota Twins
Career statistics (through October 4, 2009)
Batting average	.328
Home runs	72
Runs batted in	397
On-base percentage	.408
Slugging percentage	.483
Teams
* Minnesota Twins (2004–present)

Joseph Patrick Mauer was born on April 19, 1983 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He is a graduate of Cretin-Derham Hall high school. Joe was born a natural athlete and excelled in three different sports in high school. Lettering in basketball, football and baseball. In basketball, Mauer averaged more than 20 a game as a point guard for Cretin-Derham Hall. He was also named to the all star game during his final two years on Cretin-Derham’s basketball team. Mauer appeared in a Sports Illustrated issue as a “Face In The Crowd”.
A stand-out in baseball, Mauer struck out only once during his four-year high-school career, and hit .605 during his senior season. Mauer caught for the Team USA Junior National team from 1998 to 2000 and hit .595 during his final year on the team. He was voted best hitter at the World Junior Baseball Championships in Canada in 2000. In 2001, Mauer was voted the United States District V Player of the year. Mauer also had an extremely accomplished high-school football career.

During his senior season as the Raiders’ qauterback, Mauer completed 241 of 288 passes for 3,022 yards, 41 touchdowns and three interceptions. He finished his two-year career as a starter with 5,528 yards and 73 touchdowns, leading the Raiders to two consecutive Class 5A state championship game appearances and winning the title in 1999. Mauer threw seven touchdown passes in a playoff game against the Hopkins Royals. Mauer ultimately turned down a football scholarship from Florida State University to enter the Major League Baseball Draft.Mauer was selected by the Twins as the first overall pick of the 2001 draft.
MLB.Com Bio Highlights
2001
Highlights Hit safely in 7 of 8 games, going 13-29 (.448), July 23-August 4 … was 11-13 (.846) in 3 games, August 22-23 … tied season-high 4 hits, August 23 at Martinsville … Twins’ Minor League Player of the Week, going 14-29 (.483), August 26-September 1 … Twins’ Minor League Player of the Month for August, going 44-107 (.411) … hit safely in 22 of 32 games … threw out 10 of 31 (32%) runners attempting to steal on season … rated top prospect in Appalachian League and top Minor League catching prospect by Baseball America. PROFESSIONAL: Signed by scout Mark Wilson.

2002
Hit safely in 9 of 10 games, 14-37 (.378), April 13-24 … homered in consecutive games, April 14-15 … was 12- 26 (.462) in 6 games, April 30-May 5 … season-high 9-game hit-streak, going 12-28 (.429), May 10-19 … season-high 4 rbi, May 19 vs. Burlington … was 13-21 (.619) in 6 games, June 5-10 … hit safely in 11 of 12 games, June 15-July 3 … was selected to Midwest League All-Star team, June 18 at Lansing … hit safely in 9 of 10 games, going 15-37 (.405), July 11-23 … tied season-high 3 hits, August 24 at Clinton … disabled for remainder of season after surgery to repair hernia, August 30 … had surgery to repair hernia, August 30 … led club in walks, was second in batting, hits and rbi, tied for second in doubles and fourth in at-bats and runs … threw out 45 of 108 (42%) runners attempting to steal … named to Sportsticker’s Midwest League All-Teen Team and league Post-Season All-Star team … named to Topps’ Class A All-Star team … rated top Minor League catching prospect, second best arm strength, third best receiving skills and best defensive catcher in Midwest League and selected to Low Class A All-Star team by Baseball America.

2003
Began season at Ft. Myers … was 12-26 (.462) in 7 games, April 18-24 … hit safely in 9 of 11 games, going 18- 46 (.391), May 3-14 … tied season-high 4 hits, May 14 at St. Lucie … season-high 19-game hit-streak, going 30-73 (.411), May 18-June 6 … Twins’ Minor League Player of the Week, May 24-30 … played in Florida State League All-Star Game, June 14 at Ft. Myers … batted .392 (31-79) with runners in scoring position … was 4-10 (.400) with the bases loaded … promoted to New Britain, June 16 … had 11-game hit-streak, going 16-40 (.400), June 22-July 5 … was 33-77 (.429) in 17 games, July 8-27 … played for United States Team in Futures Game, July 13 at Chicago … Twins’ Minor League Player of the Month for July … named Topps’ Eastern League Player of the Month for July … hit safely in 8 of 9 games, going 13-33 (.394), August 1-9 … tied season-high 5 rbi, August 3 at Bowie … had 9-game hit-streak, going 14-30 (.467), August 16-22 … was 3-8 (.375) with the bases loaded … threw out 36 of 69 (52%) runners attempting to steal on season … led both Florida State League and Eastern League in throwing out runners attempting to steal … led Twins’ minor leaguers in hits, was second in rbi and fourth in walks … was fifth among all minor leaguers in hits and was 11th in batting (.338) … led all minor league catchers in batting … selected to Florida State League Post-Season All-Star Team … ranked Best Hitting prospect and Best Defensive Catcher in Florida State League by Baseball America … named to Baseball America’s Minor League All-Star Team and All-Defensive Team … ranked Best Prospect in Eastern League and Florida State League… named Teenager of the Year by Sportsticker … named Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America and Sportsticker … won Sherry Robertson Award as Twins’ Minor League Player of the Year … played for Team USA in Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Panama.

2004
Made major leage debut and singled off Rafael Betancourt for first big league hit, April 5 vs. Cleveland . . . disabled with medial meniscus tear in left knee, April 7-June 2 . . . had surgery to remove meniscus in left knee, April 8 . . . began rehab assignments at Ft. Myers and Rochester, May 26 . . . hit first major league homer off Esteban Yan, June 6 vs. Detroit . . . was 8-17 (.471) in 6 games, June 9-15 . . . career-high 6-game hit-streak, going 12-22 (.545), June 29-July 5 . . . first career 2-homer game, June 30 vs. Chicago . . . first career 4- hit game, July 7 vs. Kansas City . . . disabled for remainder of season with sore left knee, July 19 . . . won Bill Boni Award as Twins’ Outstanding Rookie.

2005
Hit safely in 8 of 9 games, going 11-36 (.306), April 4-16 . . . hit safely in 5 consecutive games with an at-bat, going 7-18 (.389), April 18-25 . . . had 6-game hit-streak, going 13-25 (.520), April 29-May 8 . . . second career 4-hit game, May 6 at Tampa Bay . . . homered in consecutive games, May 6-8 . . . had 9-game hit-streak, going 10-37 (.270), May 11-24 . . . hit safely in 6 of 7 games, going 10-28 (.357), June 8-16 . . . was 19-46 (.413) in 11 games, July 2-19 . . . third career 4-hit game, August 10 at Seattle . . . had 8-game hit-streak, going 13-31 (.419), August 13-21 . . . was 9-21 (.429) in 5 games, August 27-31 . . . fourth career 4-hit game, September 12 at Detroit . . . tied career-high 9-game hit-streak, going 14-34 (.412), September 9-20 . . . threw out 17 of 48 (22%) runners attempting to steal to up career totals to 22 of 64 (34%) . . . had .993 (6 E, 742 TC) fielding percentage . . . led club in batting and walks, tied for lead in intentional walks, was second in hits and multi-hit games (41), tied for second in stolen bases and was third in doubles . . . was tied for fourth in league in intentional walks (12) and sixth in batting vs. righthanders (.323).

2006
Was 9-for-23 (.391) in six games, April 5-12…hit safely in six consecutive games, going 10-for-22 (.455), April 21-29…had seven-game hit-streak, going 10-for-29 (.345), May 9-17… career-high 11-game hit-streak, going 24-for-47 (.511), May 19-June 1…fifth career four-hit game, May 20 at Milwaukee…hit safely in nine consecutive games, going 19-for-37 (.514), June 3-13…named American League Player of the Week, June 5-11…sixth career four-hit game, June 6 at Seattle…seventh career four-hit game (third of season) and career-high five rbi, June 26 vs. Los Angeles (NL)…first career five-hit game, June 27 vs. Los Angeles (NL)…named American League Player of the Month for July…selected to first career All-Star team, July 11 at Pittsburgh…was 11-for-23 (.478) in six games, July 16-21…had nine-game hit-streak, going 13-for-34 (.382) with two homers and eight rbi, July 31-August 9… went 3-for-4 with two doubles and four rbi August 24 at Baltimore…recorded his 15th game with three-or-more hits on September 8 vs. Detroit, he went 3-for-4 with three runs scored…homered with two-out in the 9th inning to tie Kansas City at 1-1, September 28, the Twins won 2-1 in 10 innings…threw out 17 of 56 (30%) runners attempting to steal to up career totals to 39 of 87 (45%)…was intentionally walked 21 times, the second highest single season total by a Twin (Killebrew, 23 in 1970)…finished the season hitting .347 and won the American League batting title…became the first A.L. catcher to win the batting title and at 23, the youngest batting champ since Alex Rodriguez (21) in 1996…the last catcher to win the title was Ernie Lombardi in 1942 with the Boston Braves…won Dick Siebert Award as Upper Midwest Player of the Year…won Louisville Slugger “Silver Slugger” Award.

2007
Hit safely in eight of nine games, going 12-for-33 (.364), April 2-12…was 15-for-32 (.469) in nine games, April 14-24…tied career-high with three doubles, April 17 at Seattle…disabled with strained left quadriceps, May 6-June 8…began rehab assignment at Single-A Ft. Myers, June 6…hit safely in eight consecutive games, going 11-for-35 (.314), June 19-27…second career two-homer game, June 24 at Florida…hit first career grand slam, June 29 at Detroit…was 9-for-23 (.391) in five games, July 4-8…went 4-for-6 and tied career-high with five rbi, July 6 at Chicago (AL)…recorded Twins first inside-the-park home run since Torii Hunter (July 26, 2001), July 21 vs. Los Angeles (AL)…season-high 10-game hit-streak, going 15-for-40 (.375), July 14-24…had game-winning walk-off single in 9th inning, July 15 vs. Oakland…was 9-for-17 (.529) in four games, August 11-14…threw out 19 of 40 (48%) runners attempting to steal to up career totals to 58 of 127 (46%).

2008
Had 11-game hit-streak, going 16-for-43 (.372), April 15-29…hit first home run of season, June 2 vs. New York (AL)…hit second home run, June 4 vs. Baltimore…was 11-for-20 (.550) in six games, May 2-9…hit safely in nine of 10 games, May 11-21…was 10-for-21 (.476) with two home runs in six games, May 31-June 6…fourth three-hit game on June 6 at Chicago (AL)…three straight two-hit games June 17-19…eight-game hit-streak from June 29-July 9, hitting .397 (11-for-29)…finished the first-half third in the AL in batting (.322), behind Ian Kinsler (.337) and Justin Morneau (.323)…became the first Twins catcher to start an All-Star Game, July 15 at New York (AL), going 1-for-1 with a walk…career-high 16 game hitting-streak from August 4-24, hitting .349 (22-for-63) with one home run, 10 rbi and 13 runs scored…second career five-hit game tying his career-high on August 29 at Oakland, season-high four rbi…had a 12-game hitting streak, going 18-for-47 (.383), September 10-23…11th three-hit game of the season, September 25 vs. Chicago (AL)…recorded 11 multi-hit games in September…his .362 batting average with runners in scoring position ranked seventh in the American League…recorded his fourth triple of the season, matching his career-high…was one of just four catchers to log 1,200-or-more innings behind the plate and ranked second in the league by throwing out 36% of potential basestealers…finished the season four points ahead of Dustin Pedroia (Boston) to win his second batting title in three years (2006)…it was the 13th American League batting title by a Minnesota Twin in the 48 year existence of the team, and he joined Tony Oliva and Rod Carew as the only Twins who won multiple titles…joined Buddy Myer (Washington, 1935) and Joe Cronin (Washington, 1931) as the only players in franchise history to hit over .300, score over 95 runs, record 30-or-more doubles, drive in 80-or-more runs and walk 80-or-more times in a single season…was given the Dick Seibert Award for Upper Midwest Player of the Year and the Carl R. Pohlad Community Service Award by the Twin Cities Baseball Writers Association…won first ever Rawlings Gold Gold Glove Award becoming the second Twins catcher to win the award (Earl Battey in 1961 & ’62)…first American League player to win the Batting Title and Gold Glove in the same season since Ichiro Suzuki in 2004…won Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award.

Bio researched, summarzied, and compiled by Gina and Theresa
Source: MLB.Com