Twins notes: Mauer's knee passes first test

La Velle E. Neal III
Star Tribune

FORT MYERS, FLA. -- Catching phenom Joe Mauer had a pain-free first day of workouts.

"It was just good to get back on the field with the guys," said Mauer, who missed all but 35 games last season because of left knee surgery. "It was a good first day."

Mauer said he went through every drill Monday, but that might not always happen. The club wants to ease him into the first couple of weeks of camp.

"We'll start doing [drills], blocking balls in the dirt, and we'll just see after each drill how he does and how he comes along," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "The more squatting he does, getting back into it, we'll see how much soreness he has -- if he has any. Everybody's going to be sore. We'll see if the knee reacts. Supposedly he's fine. We'll see."

Mauer was asked why he didn't switch to No. 16 when it became available. "It was the first number they gave me when I got to the majors," Mauer said. "I know [No. 7] wasn't lucky for me last year, but I'll give it another shot. No. 16 was my football number."

Balfour has tender forearm

Reliever Grant Balfour, who was throwing lightly in the bullpen last week, didn't throw Monday because of a tender right forearm.

Balfour, 4-1 with a 4.35 ERA last season, is not expected to fall too far behind the other pitchers.

"Probably throwing a little too much before he got down here or whatever," Gardenhire said. "It's not supposed to be a big deal. It's not his shoulder, it's not tendinitis there, so that's good."

Balfour emerged as a reliable reliever last season, but finished the year despite a slightly torn labrum. He opted not to have surgery during the offseason.

Making it official

Cy Young winner Johan Santana might officially sign his four-year contract worth around $40 million today.

The club is expecting final word on all the tests and interviews he had last week. He was put through a physical while the club arranged for insurance on the contract.

Rowland-Smith?

One obvious question from Day 1: Why is Ryan Rowland-Smith named Ryan Rowland-Smith?

Rowland-Smith, a Rule V draftee from the Seattle Mariners organization, said he found out three years ago.

"I had a great-grandfather named Rowland Smith," he said. "When he died, everyone wanted to keep his name in the family, so everyone changed their name to Rowland-Smith."

Rowland-Smith has been reminded by Twins General Manager Terry Ryan that the last time the club took a chance on a lefthanded Rule V pick, he made the team.

His name: Johan Santana.

A few yet to show

So many position players have reported to camp, it's now a matter of who isn't in camp.

The Soul Patrol outfield of Shannon Stewart, Torii Hunter and Jacque Jones hasn't reported. Infielders Justin Morneau, Andy Fox, Glenn Williams, Juan Castro and Luis Rodriguez aren't in. And outfielders Todd Dunwoody, Armando Rios and Michael Ryan have yet to report. So far, 44 of 55 players have reported.