MINNEAPOLIS — Joe Mauer has added another position to his resume — right field.
Luke Hughes has an embarrassing story to tell his kids someday.
Mauer was in the lineup in right field for the Twins for Thursday’s game against the Yankees, the first time he has played there in the majors. The first time, actually, since he was an amateur.
“Maybe a couple games in town ball,” Mauer told The Associated Press, “but that’s about it. It’s been an interesting year.”
Mauer found out about four hours before the game. Hughes, recalled from Triple-A Rochester to join the short-handed Twins, missed his flight to Minnesota.
“He smiled and asked me if I was serious,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “I said, ‘Absolutely I’m serious.’ He said he’ll do whatever we need to do. I said, ‘Good, you’re in right field.’ “
Hughes, an infielder, arrived in Minneapolis around game time, and he was in the dugout by the second inning.
“I think he was at Gate A2, and he was supposed to be at Gate B2,” Gardenhire said. Seriously? “He really did. He was at the wrong gate.”
