It wasn't easy when Joe Mauer realized that at 30 years old he could no longer catch for the Minnesota Twins.

"When it finally hit me in the offseason, when I realized I just couldn't do it, it was pretty emotional," Mauer said. "I've put in a lot of work to become the catcher that I was. So it's definitely disappointing, just how it all unfolded.

"I mean, we wouldn't be having this conversation," he says, "if I didn't have that concussion last year."

Mauer took an Ike Davis foul tip off the mask last August. He assured everyone he'd be fine. He was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list, but he would never catch again.

He is working out his play at first base in Spring Training.