Ryan said the Twins decided to make Mauer their No. 1 pick three days ago, though they kept the news a secret to Mauer and his family. They had reached an impasse in negotiations with Southern California pitcher Mark Prior. He's a left-handed hitting catcher with lots of size. Friends, family and teammates gathered at the Mauer home Tuesday morning. Joe slept in fairly late while others were buzzing in anticipation.
Nothing rattles that guy.
A family friend called the Mauers first, having discovered on the Internet that the Twins had selected Mauer. The official call came soon after. Teammates high-fived each other. There was a long, emotional hug between Joe and his father, Jake Sr. It was an unbelievable feeling.