Twins Joe Mauer and Rekindling a Fantasy Flame?

By Brad Kelly | Jun 3, 2017

May 29, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins first baseman Joe Mauer (7) singles to center scoring designated hitter Robbie Grossman (36, not pictured) during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports /

Joe Mauer is looking like his vintage self lately for the Twins. But, can fantasy owners take a trip back down memory lane and give him another shot off the waiver wire?

The Twins have plenty of intriguing fantasy pieces, but fantasy owners all know the name, Joe Mauer. This season amazingly marks Mauer’s 14th MLB season. He took the league by storm in his early-20s and is largely revered in fantasy circles for his glory days behind the plate. But, those glory days seemed far in the past heading into 2017, making Mauer much of an afterthought.

But, now what do we do when he looks like his vintage self again.

Everyone should know the case with Mauer by now. Minnesota’s own had one season where everything came together in 2009, .365/28 HR/96 RBI/1.031 OPS. That level from behind the plate won many owners their leagues and it seemed as though he had finally found his power stroke. Unfortunately, that season stands as an outlier in his career as he has only been able to eclipse 10 HR twice since.

More from Fantasy Baseball

In terms of fantasy value for this season, Mauer is wielding a hot bat over the last month. He came out of the gates brutally, posting a .225/0 HR/8 RBI/.275 SLG in April. Twins’ fans and fantasy owners as well, rightfully figured that this was the true end of Mauer after his last three lackluster seasons.

However, Mauer proved that he still has some magic left in his bat in May by posting a .346/3 HR/11 RBI/.973 OPS line. Even though the calendar has changed to June, Mauer already has a homer this month while going four for nine at the plate.

This is easily the best Mauer has looked over the last three years for the Twins. Looking closer at his batted ball data, he is still posting impressive clips, yet with one improvement. He currently holds 24% LD, 43% GB, 33% FB, 51% Med and 37% Hard contact rates.

It is no surprise to see his LD rate stay solid and to see him continually squaring the ball up. But, he is currently hitting a ton more fly balls. His 33% FB rate is the best rate of his career and the highest, yep you guessed it, since his monster 2009.

This is not to stay that he is going to have a power breakout. It is simply an indication that he should exceed his 11 HR from last season. Mauer’s K rate had steadily climbed over the last three seasons, so far in 2017, he has a 10% BB/12% K ratio. Last sabermetric I swear, for the first time since 2012, Mauer is also posting a 91% contact rate.

Now that the analytical approach is out-of-the-way, Mauer is being slotted third in a lineup consisting of the best supporting cast he has had in a while, maybe even ever. With Brian Dozier and Robbie Grossman in front of him, and Miguel Sano and Max Kepler flanking him, his counting stat potential is the best since the days of him being a part of the Micheal Cuddyer and Justin Morneau trio.

Next: Mets: Trying to figure out Robert Gsellman

Joe Mauer will never be the 25+ HR threat that he teased in 2009, yet that does not change the fact that he is one of the best pure hitters that we have seen over the last decade. Fantasy owners should take the chance and rekindle this old fantasy flame as he is hot at the plate, his batted ball data is backing his success and the supporting class is there to exceed.

Make the move.

Home/Fantasy Baseball