Twins C Mauer undergoes surgery

Jan 3, 2009 - 1:48 AM MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Minnesota Twins catcher and reigning American League batting champion Joe Mauer underwent minor surgery last week to eliminate a kidney obstruction, according to multiple reports.

The procedure, which was performed at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, removed an obstruction Mauer has had since childhood that had recently become bothersome.

"The club has no issues or concerns about it," Twins general manager Bill Smith said. "Everything went fine, and he will be 100 percent ready for the start of Spring Training."

Mauer, 25, captured his second batting title in 2008 - hitting .328 - and finished fourth in the AL MVP voting.

Unquestionably the best American catcher in the game, there has been no word as to whether the surgery would prevent Mauer from appearing in March's World Baseball Classic.