Mauer's injury scares Twins but is not considered serious

The catcher will rest a few days after being diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left fibula.

By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune

Last update: March 22, 2007 - 9:31 PM

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. - Twins manager Ron Gardenhire admitted that "it did scare" him when he learned that Joe Mauer, his All-Star catcher and batting champion, needed an MRI on his left leg.

"Any time you get an MRI you get a little nervous," Gardenhire said. "It wasn't the best thing you could wake up to."

Gardenhire felt better by midday, when he was told Mauer has a stress reaction in his left fibula, the bone on the outside of the leg, and should only need a few days of rest. The Twins expect Mauer to be able to play next week, as spring training finishes up, and he should be in the lineup on Opening Day.

"Within the next few days they are going to re-evaluate him," Gardenhire said. "Let him rest and go from there. We should be fine."

Mauer told the club he felt discomfort Wednesday at home following the Twins' 5-3 victory over Cincinnati. He reported that the pain initially was on the inside of the leg but had moved to the outside by the morning. The area in question is the lower fibula, near the ankle.

"The good thing is that he alerted us to the fact that he had some discomfort," Twins General Manager Terry Ryan said. "And we did the MRI and they diagnosed it and, suddenly, we can treat it.

"That's what you hope players do. If something is not right, give us a warning, and all of a sudden we can take care of it before it develops into something worse."

Mauer will be treated with a bone stimulator and physical therapy and will be re-evaluated on Sunday.

A stress reaction, often from overuse, is considered a precursor to a stress fracture.

"He shouldn't miss any meaningful time," Ryan said.

Any injury concerning the St. Paul star likely will never be underplayed. It should be pointed out that, except for a sore hand late last season, Mauer had a pain-free 2006. There was little talk about his left knee, which was operated on in 2004 and limited him to 35 games. In 2004 and 2005, all the concern was if Mauer -- who is listed at 6 feet, 5 inches tall -- could have a long career as a catcher.

Ryan stressed on Thursday that Mauer's current injury shouldn't be used to revive that concern.

"It doesn't matter if you're 5-8 or if you're 6-5," Ryan said. "As a catcher, you are going to have things. But history points out there are many big catchers who caught for years and years and years. I'm not so sure your height or lack of it is the thing that ultimately decides your future.

"If he was playing first base or right field he probably would still have an [fibula] issue."

« It doesn't matter if you're 5-8 or if you're 6-5. As a catcher, you are going to have things. »

Twins GM Terry Ryan on Joe Mauer (above)

La Velle E. Neal III • lneal@startribune.com