Updated: Projecting Your Minnesota Twins Opening Day Lineup

Sep 21, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins first baseman Joe Mauer (7) at bat against the Cleveland Indians at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

3. Joe Mauer 1B: Enough about regression, give me Joe Mauer, breakout candidate, for all the money. Last season, Mauer was in his first as the full time first basemen for the Twins. A less documented caveat to his game is that he would have no handle of the current strike zone on a given day prior to stepping in the box. Hitting only .277/.361/.371 on the season, Mauer is a prime candidate for a bounce back year. The power numbers aren’t ever going to be there, but you could do a lot worse than Mauer in the third hole, and I’d expect him back over the .300 mark this season.