PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Twins first baseman Joe Mauer remains set to make his Grapefruit League debut on Wednesday against the Pirates, but manager Paul Molitor is debating where Mauer will bat in the lineup this year.
Mauer, who turns 34 on April 19, started off strong last year, but faded late with a lingering quad injury that plagued him the last two months of the season. The six-time All-Star and former American League Most Valuable Player hit .261/.363/.389 with 11 homers, 22 doubles and 49 RBIs in 134 games. He did that while starting 66 games batting third, 54 games batting second and eight games batting first.