Mauer on knee injection: 'It's really not that big of a deal'
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FORT MYERS, Fla. -- On Tuesday, Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told reporters catcher Joe Mauer had received at least one injection for his surgically repaired left knee since arriving to spring training.
One day later, Mauer downplayed the headline-nature of a catcher receiving knee injections, saying, "Nothing set me back or anything like that. It was part of the plan, and (I'm) just working my way back."
Mauer said the injections -- the Star Tribune reported them as being Supartz, which is a lubricant that helps cushion the knee joint -- will be administered once a week. He said the plan is to administer two or three more.
"It's not that I need it," said Mauer, who underwent the minor knee surgery in mid-December. "It's more of a preventative thing just to make sure I'm good to go for the season ... It's really not that big of a deal and I kind of wish it wasn't out there but here we are."
Upon finding a group of reporters at his locker prior to Wednesday's workout, Mauer expressed some disappointment that the news was made public.
"I was surprised that it was out there," he said. "Usually a lot of these things happen and you never know about it."
He added, "I guess being a catcher and all that stuff, it might sound a lot worse than what it is."
"I don't think it's really that big of a deal."
Gardenhire said Mauer will not be catching live batting practice or bullpen sessions at the start of full-squad workouts. Mauer also will not catch in at least the first few spring training games.
Of course, last time he entered spring training trying to recover from an injury -- his lower back in 2009 -- Mauer wound up winning the American League MVP Award, despite missing all of April.
