TWINS SPOTLIGHT: Joe Mauer takes center stage

Still waiting to make his big-league debut, the Twins' rookie catcher is already one of the team's most sought-after players by fans and the media.

Twins rookie catcher Joe Mauer faced 15 minutes of questions from young fans during the second day of TwinsFest on Saturday. Such zingers as:

"Have you ever met Ron Gardenhire?"

"What's your favorite food?"

"Joe, will you hit a home run for me on Opening Day?"

For now, the answers are yes, Mom's lasagna and "I'll do my best."

But ultimately, with just four weeks left before pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Fort Myers, Fla., it's clear the questions outnumber the answers for St. Paul's favorite 20-year-old ballplayer these days.

And the reality of some of those questions might just be starting to sink in for all-star catcher A.J. Pierzynski's heir apparent.

"Maybe a little more coming to TwinsFest," he said. "Down there in Florida, you're doing stuff and not really much changed with the trade. But up here, I see a lot of people getting excited about it and getting excited about the Twins. And I'm starting to get excited. Not that I wasn't before, but now it's just around the corner."

Two months after Pierzynski's trade to San Francisco paved the road for Mauer to open the season behind the plate for a two-time defending division champion, the Cretin-Derham Hall graduate has been one of the most popular players at TwinsFest.

And some of the expectations are becoming vivid.

"I've had guys already predict rookie of the year and stuff," he said. "I say, 'I've got to make the team first.' It's fun to see all the people excited."

It's not just local attention, either. ESPN the Magazine sent a reporter to Minnesota to shadow the former No. 1 overall draft pick this weekend.

The spotlight figures to only grow from there, as spring training draws nearer and more national media race to find and anoint baseball's next big thing.

Mauer said he's just trying to stay focused on the job ahead. After the trip home to St. Paul, Mauer returns to his apartment and regimen in Fort Myers on Monday, preparing for the jump from Class AA superstar to major league starting catcher.

"From minor league ball to major league ball is a big step no matter where you're at," he said. "Guys like Albert Pujols, that's the exception."

And Pujols, the St. Louis Cardinals' offensive sensation from the moment he skipped AAA ball to become National League rookie of the year, didn't have the responsibility of calling games for a playoff contender and handling a pitching staff comprised of 20-game winners, rookies and almost everything in between.

"Of course, you go into this year and don't know what to expect," said Twins right-hander Kyle Lohse, who will open his third full big-league season as the Twins' No. 2 or 3 starter. "You're losing a guy that hit like A.J. did and called a great game. But from everything everybody says, he (Mauer) should be able to step in and do pretty good. And I guess he learns quick, so that's a plus."

Mauer, chosen minor league player of the year by Baseball America last season, earned high praise from Twins veteran pitchers the past two spring trainings, including Brad Radke and Rick Reed after he caught them in exhibition starts last spring.

"He should be all right as long as he does his homework," Lohse said. "I was able to trust A.J. quite a bit because he knew the hitters. I'm sure there's going to be an adjustment, getting to know each other and how I approach hitters."

Twins center fielder Torii Hunter, another former first-round draft pick who faced high expectations and outside demands, already has taken Mauer under his wing and promised more guidance this spring.

Not that the hometown fans think much of that will be necessary.

Asked one small boy during Saturday's Q-and-A session: "How many grand slams you think you're going to hit in one game?"

Mauer: "I'd be happy if I could hit one."