Twins’ cornerstone Joe Mauer is symptom-free following injury

According to Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Minnesota Twins GM Terry Ryan is reporting that catcher Joe Mauer, who missed the season’s final 39 games this season due to concussion symptoms, is fully recovered from his injury.

"“I would say ‘symptom-free’ is about the right description. He hasn’t done the baseball activities. He hasn’t done some of the things necessary for him (to play), where once he ramps up and the energy level rises and that sort of thing, but we still have time.”"

Mauer, who is widely recognized as the face of the Twins franchise, hit .324 in 113 games this season, with 11 home runs and 47 RBIs. Over his ten-year career, he is a .323 hitter – so despite the injury, his 2013 season was on pace with his usual hitting dominance. Ryan said that Mauer made tremendous strides towards the end of the season.

"“Shortly after the season concluded, he was pretty close to being symptom-free."

The Twin’s backstop is signed through 2018, and will likely start behind the plate for Minnesota again in 2014, despite rumors of his moving to first base in the future in hopes of increasing his longevity.