Minnesota Twins catcher, Joe Mauer, is considered by many to be the best young catcher in baseball. Mauer finished the 2008 season with yet another breakout performance. Mauer ended the 2008 season winning the American League batting title for the second time with a .328 average, the first time was in 2006 with a .347 average. Mauer also won his very first Gold Glove award, and finished fourth in the balloting for American League Most Valuable Player (MVP), behind Dustin Pedroia, teammate Justin Morneau, and Kevin Youkilis.

Due to a back injury, Mauer will miss the start of the 2009 regular season, but stated that he may be back at the end of April or beginning of May.

Ron Gardenhire was named manager of the Minnesota Twins on January 4, 2002. Under Gardenhire, the Twins have won the American League Central Division championship four times 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006. Gardenhire has been a four time runner-up for the Manager of the Year Award, and has had a losing record just once in 2007. 

In 2008, Gardenhire and the Twins finished second in the American League Central division with a record of 88-75.