All-Star Game notes: Spotlight shifts to Target Field and Mauer

NEW YORK – Twins catcher Joe Mauer ran into David Wright on Tuesday during brunch, and the Mets' All-Star third baseman had a message for him.

"Have fun next year,'' Wright told Mauer, who will be the key player for the team that will be host to the next All-Star Game.

"I have to make it first,'' Mauer replied.

"I said the exact same thing [last year],'' Wright said.

The countdown to the next All-Star Game can officially begin — the game will be July 15, 2014 — and the Twins will get to show off Target Field. The stadium is broken-in after four seasons, but the baseball world will get an up-close look at the facility next year. Mauer already is imagining what it will be like to have an All-Star Game at Target Field, the first in Minneapolis since 1985.

"I think it will be a great venue, right downtown,'' Mauer said. "Downtown and First Av. will be buzzing. It will be a lot of fun. Minnesotans, I know, they will come out. It will be a great atmosphere.''

Twins officials followed Mets officials around Citi Field this week to get a feel for what it takes to organize such a massive event.

"I think Target Field, just the way it is set up, it will be an awesome spectacle,'' he said. "Whether I'm on the team or not, I will try to be around. I look forward to seeing it.''

Tuesday marked Mauer's sixth All-Star appearance, fourth as a starter. Perkins was making his first trip.

So Perkins experienced what it's like to have to autograph everything that the league asks players to during All-Star week.

"There had to be 18,000 balls, 20,000,'' Perkins said with what was believed to be some exaggeration. "It's just a lot. Like a regular game times 100. Instead of 10 media members, there are a thousand. Everything is just bigger and busier.

Mauer was there to help Perkins navigate through all the requests.

• Mauer caught the first six innings for the AL and went 1-for-2 with a fifth-inning single off Philadelphia's Cliff Lee. Perkins did not enter the game.

• Mauer's parents and grandparents traveled to New York for the game. His parents, Jake and Teresa, are celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary this week.

• Perkins enjoyed catching up with former teammates Joe Nathan and Jesse Crain on Monday. "It's funny how you get right back into the old jokes and stuff,'' Perkins said.

Robinson Cano gave the Yankees yet another injury scare.

The sweet-swinging second baseman hobbled off the field soon after being hit on the right leg by a pitch from Mets ace Matt Harvey in the first inning.

"It's a little tight, I came out of the game because I didn't want to aggravate it," he said. "Nothing bad. They told me it's a bruise, and ice the next few days."

When asked if he'll play Friday in the opener of a series at Boston, Cano said, "Yeah, hopefully, yeah."

The five-time All-Star was hit by a 96 mph fastball from Harvey. NL catcher Yadier Molina wrapped his arm around Cano, just in case. Cano was checked out by the trainers. He then went to first base but, following a strikeout by Miguel Cabrera, Cano limped slowly across the infield and heard from Harvey.

"He said 'My bad,' " Cano said. "I said, 'No problem.' He didn't want to hit anybody."

Contains information from the Associated Press.