In what might be the final week of his MLB career, Joe Mauer started it off on a positive note breaking a Minnesota Twins record.
Mauer’s single to start the game in the first inning put him on base for the 3,073rd time in his career, passing Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew for the top spot in Twins history. Mauer tipped his helmet to cheering fans as Target Field acknowledged his accomplishment on the video board.
“You mention Harmon and you mention Kirby (Puckett) and mention Tony (Oliva) and some of the other greats, to be up there with them is very special and humbling,” Mauer said, via the Twins. “It kind of really didn’t hit me until the second half. It was a nice moment.”
Mauer’s eight-year, $184 million contract expires after the season and he’s on record saying he’ll take some time off once the season ends on Sunday before deciding if he’ll retire.
Mauer said the Twins gave him the first base bag and the ball from his record-setting at-bat. He plans to keep the ball while giving the Twins the base.
“It’s kind of fun to get some of these mementos from these days,” he said.
Mauer finished the game 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored. The Twins lost to the Tigers, 4-2.
