He's a catcher, so Joe Mauer has learned to live with lingering aches and pains. But when a minor irritation in his abdomen persisted into the offseason, the All-Star decided to have it checked out.
During a visit to the Mayo Clinic, doctors discovered a small blockage in one of his kidneys, a problem Mauer is believed to have lived with since birth. Correcting the problem required surgery, and on Dec. 22, the obstruction was removed.
"They got it taken care of and he should be fine," general manager Bill Smith of the Twins said. "No effects whatsoever."
Mauer is expected to be in camp when Twins pitchers and catchers open spring training on Feb. 14, and the team hopes he will be able to take part in all normal drills and activity.
The surgery probably will cost him a roster spot on Team USA for the World Baseball Classic, however.
Still, the Twins undoubtedly are relieved that Mauer figures to be healthy next season. The five-year veteran, who turns 26 in April, rebounded from an injury-filled 2007 with one of his best seasons in 2008, winning a second batting title and finishing fourth in the American League MVP voting.
Mauer's five-year major league career has included a series of leg injuries, and his long stint on the disabled list in 2007 coincides with the Twins' lone losing record since 2001.
