Mauer is the Twins MVP; Cuddyer is most improved

The catcher won the award for the first time.

By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: October 27, 2009 - 7:29 AM

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Joe Mauer was named the Twins' Most Valuable Player for the first time in his career Monday by the Twin Cities chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Mauer also is a strong candidate for American League MVP honors, an announcement the BBWAA will unveil Nov. 23.

Mauer, 26, won his third career batting title, hitting .365, and led the AL in on-base percentage (.444) and slugging percentage (.587). He also set career highs in home runs (28) and RBI (96).

Besides Twins MVP, the local BBWAA chapter also handed Mauer his third Dick Siebert Award, as Upper Midwest Player of the Year.

Other Diamond Award winners announced by the Twins on Monday:

• Joe Nathan received his second consecutive Joseph W. Haynes Award, as Twins Pitcher of the Year.

• Michael Cuddyer was the winner of the Charles O. Johnson Award, for Most Improved Twin. Cuddyer, after appearing in only 71 games in 2008 because of injuries, batted .276 with 32 home runs and 94 RBI last season. He also won the Bob Allison Award, for leadership on and off the field.

• Lefthanded reliever Jose Mijares, who posted a 2.34 ERA in 71 appearances, received the Bill Boni Award as the team's Outstanding Rookie.

• Outfielder Denard Span was voted winner of the Mike Augustin Award, given to the Twins player who has fostered an excellent working relationship with the media.

The awards will be presented at the fifth annual Diamond Awards dinner Jan. 28, 2010, at the Hilton Minneapolis.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the University of Minnesota's research and patient care focused on ataxia, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). For more information, call 612-33-TWINS.

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