Saturday marked the official start of spring training for the Minnesota Twins, as pitchers and catchers reported to Fort Myers, Fla. It's a big spring for many players who suffered injuries in 2011 as they look to prove they're back to full health. Minnesota lost 99 games last year and had many players spend time on the disabled list.
Before the rest of the Twins report prior to the team's first workout Feb. 24, pitchers and catchers were already at work in sunny Fort Myers. FOXSportsNorth.com will track reports from the news outlets already in Florida until March 4, when Tyler Mason will begin covering the team in Fort Myers. A look at this weekend's news:
Mauer at work early: Joe Mauer's spring training was delayed last season due to offseason knee surgery, but Minnesota's star catcher has hit the ground running in Fort Myers this year. Mauer caught three different bullpen sessions Sunday for a total of 88 pitches, according to 1500 ESPN. Mauer caught pitchers Carlos Gutierrez, Jason Marquis and Brendan Wise.
"This is the best I've felt in a long time," Mauer told 1500 ESPN. "It's almost like you want to get out there and do everything the first day, but it's a process. It was good working today, though."
Mauer played in just 82 games in 2011, batting a career-low .287 while slugging .368, also a career low. He missed two months early in the season with bilateral leg weakness and didn't catch his first bullpen session until mid-March last year because of his surgery.
Zumaya throws bullpen: Reliever Joel Zumaya didn't pitch at all in 2011 after suffering a season-ending arm injury in 2010 while pitching for Detroit. But the Twins signed him as a free agent this offseason with the hopes that he'll rebound and be a reliable right-handed option out of the bullpen.
Zumaya threw his first bullpen session of spring training Sunday, throwing 40 total pitches, according to multiple reports.
"I didn't realize I was going to throw a bullpen today, especially at 40 pitches, too," Zumaya told MLB.com. "That was exciting. I'm happy to be back in an organization and doing what I love. To be back on a mound again and doing what I do, it's just a whole other feeling."
Zumaya's injury in 2010 occurred in a game against Minnesota at Target Field. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire saw what Zumaya was capable of when he pitched for the Tigers. Now, the key is keeping the right-hander healthy.
"We want to protect him as much as we can," Gardenhire told 1500 ESPN. "We know health is a big thing. We want to try to keep him for a full year and keep him on the field for a full year."
Liriano also throws: Speaking of pitchers who suffered injuries, Twins lefthander Francisco Liriano threw off the mound to catcher Rene Rivera, according to MLB.com. Liriano missed time in 2011 with a shoulder injury but pitched in his native Dominican Republic this winter.
"Nothing is bothering me right now," Liriano told MLB.com. "Everything feels fine. So I feel a lot better than last year."
No more Dr. Gardenhire: With so many players making their way to the disabled list last season, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire -- and later, trainer Rick McWane -- had to give daily medical updates to reporters. That will change this season, general manager Terry Ryan said. It will now be Ryan and assistant general manager Rob Antony providing injury updates.
"There are a few reasons, but No. 1, that's the way I've always done it," Ryan told reporters from MLB.com and 1500 ESPN in Fort Myers. "Two, I'd just as soon have Gardy manage the ball club and not worry about giving his medical every day. Three, Rob or I will be on almost every trip and certainly at home we'll do it. Four, I don't want any confusion in communication description."
