Joe Mauer named American League Most Valuable Player

The Minnesota Twins were informed today that catcher Joe Mauer has been named the American League Most Valuable Player.

Mauer, 26, batted .365 (191-for-523) with 30 doubles, one triple, 28 home runs and 96 rbi in 138 games in 2009. He missed the first month of the season with inflammation of the right sacroiliac joint. Mauer led the league in batting, on-base percentage (.444) and slugging percentage (.587), becoming the first player (first catcher) in the American League since George Brett in 1980 to lead in all three categories.

He homered on his first swing of the season, May 1 vs. Kansas City, had a 14-game hit-streak from May 7-21, was named the American League Player of the Week May 18-24 and the American League Player of the Month for May. Mauer batted .414 (41-for-99) with 11 home runs, 32 rbi, a .500 on-base percentage and an .838 slugging percentage during the month.

Mauer became the 10th player in Major League history to win three-or-more batting titles and the first to win back-to-back batting titles since Nomar Garciaparra in 1999 and 2000. His 23 three-hit games led the American League, while his 28 home runs and 96 rbi were both career-highs.

This represents the fifth time a Twins player has won the American League Most Valuable Player Award. Below is a list of the past Minnesota winners.

TWINS’ AMERICAN LEAGUE MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS:

1965 Zolio Versalles, ss

1969 Harmon Killebrew, 1b

1977 Rod Carew, 2b

2006 Justin Morneau, 1b

2009 Joe Mauer, c

Source: Minnesota Twins/ Major League Baseball