Twins' Mauer remains positive despite 2015 difficulties

There is no bigger story line in Twins spring training camp than the health and readiness of Joe Mauer, the former catcher who was forced to move to first base after suffering from concussion symptoms at the end of 2013.

Last season saw Mauer record the lowest batting average (.265) and on-base percentage (.338) of his career, but it also featured the most games played of any season of his career (158). But that on-base percentage was still the second-highest mark on the Twins, trailing only Miguel Sano, showing just how valuable Mauer remains to the team.

One very positive part of Mauer's game from last season, which his critics don't report, is that he finished tied for third in the American League in hitting with runners in scoring position with an average of .352 in those situations. He tied 2014 AL MVP Mike Trout and trailed only 2013 MVP Miguel Cabrera and 2015 MVP Josh Donaldson.

The Twins' main concern for Mauer was his health after he missed the final 39 games of the 2013 season, and people close to Mauer have told me that he always wanted to stay behind the plate, but the Twins viewed his health as more important than his position.

So while Mauer has struggled the past two years — hitting .270 with a .348 on-base percentage, compared with a .323 average and .425 OBP his first 10 major league seasons — at least last year he was able to be on the field for most of their games after years of battling injuries.

Mauer also played stellar defense at first base, a position he is still learning. His .996 fielding percentage was tied for fifth in the AL.

Despite the concerns over his statistics, there are positives to look forward to heading into 2016 regarding Mauer. Maybe the fact that the 32-year-old is feeling better and is experimenting with making sure he's seeing the ball well during the day with tinted glasses can make for a much better season overall.

"I got that feeling of playing some winning baseball, some meaningful games," Mauer said. "The season too was a lot of fun to get back in the thick of things and good to get that feeling back. We're going to keep on trying to progress and I'm going to keep on doing that as well as everybody else."

Mauer said that one of his main priorities for this year is continuing to learn how to be a great first baseman.

"It has definitely been a transition for me," he said. "It has been learning a different thing, a different position. I worked so hard at being a catcher for so many years, but baseball is a work in progress and I'm going to continue to work to get better."

Mauer was asked how he was feeling heading into spring training. "I'm excited this offseason, I'm already a lot further ahead at this time in the offseason than I was last year," he said. "Just build on the positive things I was able to accomplish last year and get ready for 2016."

Mauer, who has three years left on his $184 million deal signed before the 2010 season, didn't quite bite when asked if those will be three good years.

Speaking of local athletes having comeback seasons, Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio is having a great season and appears to be over any lingering issues with his ankle after suffering two bad sprains last season.

"I had two bad injuries, but I'm pretty confident that I have a good body and I can play in this league," Rubio said.

Rubio, who has been playing professional basketball since he was 14 years old, said he didn't necessarily feel that he had to prove himself this season.

"I have been playing basketball a long time, I don't have to prove a lot," he said. "But it's something that playing the whole season is going to help with my confidence."

While Rubio has struggled with his shooting early in the season, things appear to be getting better. Entering Saturday, in his previous 12 games he had shot 41.2 percent from the floor, 38.5 percent from three-point range and 88.9 percent from the free-throw line. He was also averaging 8.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals over that stretch.

"It was tough for a second," he said. "It got really bad because losing is not easy. I think we changed our mentality and even if the wins weren't coming we were playing better. Now we've started to win games and that's what we want.

"Winning games makes you feel, not just basketball but life, easier and happy."

One negative aspect of Rubio's game is in that same 12-game stretch he is averaging 3.0 turnovers per game, something interim coach Sam Mitchell addressed Saturday. "I think Ricky thought he saw some things, he just has to be a little more careful with the ball," Mitchell said.

• In the Timberwolves' 104-98 loss to Washington on Wednesday, former DeLaSalle standout Alan Anderson was tremendous, scoring 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-7 from three-point range. Former DeLaSalle coach Dave Thorson was in the front row cheering his player on. Anderson, who has resurrected his NBA career after playing around the globe from 2007 to 2011, injured his ankle in October but made his season debut for the Wizards on Feb. 24.

• David Benedict, the Gophers deputy athletic director who was in charge of the football program in 2012 and 2013 under former AD Norwood Teague, has been named the athletic director at Connecticut. Benedict had been serving as the chief operating officer at Auburn since leaving the Gophers.

• Jake Gardiner, the former Edina hockey star, got the lone goal for Toronto in the Maple Leafs' 2-1 home loss to the Wild on Thursday. The defenseman, who is in his fifth season with Toronto, entered Saturday with six goals and 17 assists in 60 games.