Mauer has eye on national team slot

Recognition keeps coming Joe Mauer's way.

The 20-year-old St. Paul native, whom the Twins selected No. 1 overall in the 2001 draft, was chosen the 2003 minor league player of the year by Baseball America on Friday and is a strong candidate to be invited to try out for U.S. National Team, which will play in an Olympic qualifying tournament this fall in Panama.

The United States will have to finish in the top two to secure a spot in the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece.

Mauer represented the United States in 1999 and 2000, playing for the under-18 team. He was most valuable player at the 2000 World Junior Championships, going 19 for 34 (.559) with 15 runs batted in.

"I'd look forward to playing for the U.S. team," Mauer said. "This is a pretty important tournament, and there will be a lot of competition with Cuba and the Latin American countries."

Twins minor league pitchers J.D. Durbin and Jesse Crain also are candidates to receive invitations to play for Team USA.

All three Twins prospects are slated to play in the Arizona Fall League; players report Sept. 24. Players invited to Team USA's camp will compete against the other Arizona Fall League teams before the Olympic qualifying tournament.

"You're going to get a chance to play against the top guys in AA and AAA," said Mauer, who hit a combined .339 with five home runs and 85 RBIs while splitting the season between Class A Fort Myers and Class AA New Britain. "A lot of prospects have played in that league, so that is very exciting."

Mauer said the highlight of his season was playing in the Futures All-Star Game at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. Hall of fame catcher Carlton Fisk managed his team.

"That was pretty special, especially since I got a chance to go there with J.D. Durbin, who I have been around since I began playing pro ball," Mauer said.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Mauer has excelled at every level of his minor league career. The only part of his game that has lagged is his power; he has just nine home runs in 2½ years in the minors.

"I've adjusted to the wooden bats," Mauer said. "It's more recognizing which pitches I get that I can drive."

Bartlett sidelined: Shortstop Jason Bartlett, who enjoyed a good season at New Britain, will not be able to play in the Arizona Fall League because of a stress fracture in one of his feet.

Bartlett, the Eastern League's all-star shortstop, will have to wear a cast for four to six weeks. He hit .296 with 48 RBIs and 41 stolen bases this season.

"We knew something was going on the last week or so with Bartlett," said Jim Rantz, the Twins' director of minor leagues. "He was able to play through it without making it worse. Now, he needs to rest. He's really disappointed that he can't play in Arizona. It's a good chance to develop your skills against the higher caliber of competition."

Jake Mauer, Joe's older brother, will replace Bartlett in the Arizona Fall League. Mauer spent the entire season at Class A Fort Myers, where he hit .279.

"Jake had a decent season," Rantz said. "He started four games at first base, 17 at second base, 68 at shortstop, two in the outfield and one at catcher. So if there was ever a utility guy, he's it. He was able to get 340 at-bats this season."