Sleeper Watch

Joe Mauer was selected by the Twins with the #1 overall pick in the 2001 draft. Although Minnesota could have chosen Mark Prior (who was picked second by the Cubs), they played it safe by selecting a local hero, fearing they couldn’t afford Prior’s demands. Mauer played for Cretin-Derham High just 8 miles away from the Metrodome. He was one of the top high school prospects in the nation, and also high school football player of the year, making him a coveted QB recruit by Florida State.

With Mauer, you have an athletic catcher, a rare potential five tool player, who has exceptional bat speed. He struck out only once during his four years in high school. Furthermore, the left-handed hitter also has a cannon arm enabling him to shine defensively at catcher. His only disadvantage right now is his lack of experience.

Although Mauer isn’t on the Twins’ expanded roster this year, you should keep an eye on him, as he could easily step into the Twins’ lineup sometime next year. He is as close as you can get to a can’t miss prospect. In keeper leagues, he’s already worth stashing away on your minor league roster, as you won’t find many catchers of his caliber. So although the Twins have found a solid catcher in Pierzynski this year, the situation in Minnesota could become very interesting once Mauer has a bit more minor league experience under his belt.