"Everything has gone really good. Catching, bullpens and hitting on the field," Gardenhire said. "He feels great. He wants to push the envelope. He wants to go."

Although the team has declined to give a timetable for the return of the two-time All-Star, Mauer's recent change in mind-set suggests a return in the near future.

"We were saying, 'We want you to go' and he was saying 'Whoa, whoa, whoa,"' Gardenhire said. "Now it's just the opposite. Once he finally started feeling good and no pain, now he's ready to go. He wants to up the program and we're just telling him, 'Let's take it easy. Let's get you to where we need to get you."'

Mauer is a career .317 hitter. He won his second AL batting title last season with a .328 average. In 2006, he batted .347 to lead the league.

In other news, the Twins should get a boost Wednesday when projected opening day starter Scott Baker is expected to make his season debut after starting the year on the disabled list with a stiff right throwing shoulder. Baker, who was 11-4 with a 3.45 ERA last year, pitched seven innings on Friday in a rehab start with Class-A Fort Myers and pronounced himself ready.

"Everything went good," Gardenhire said.

Baker is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Sunday morning in Florida, then fly to Minneapolis later that afternoon.