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Mauer extends season-opening on-base streak to 28 games

Brace Hemmelgarn / Getty Images Sport / Getty

All your bases are belonging to Joe Mauer.

The Minnesota Twins designated hitter continued his torrid start to 2016 with his single off Houston Astros right-hander Mike Fiers in the third inning Wednesday. He's now reached base in all 28 games to start the season, which surpasses Jacque Jones for the second-longest on-base streak to begin a season in Twins history.

Kent Hrbek holds the longest streak in team history when he got on base in 33 straight games to start the 1982 season.

The 33-year-old Mauer has looked a lot more like his old American League MVP self to begin 2016, a refreshing change for the Twins after dealing with concussions and being forced to move out from behind the plate. Mauer is currently leading his team in several offensive categories, and is pacing the AL in walks and on-base percentage.

Mauer's stats during 28-game on-base streak

BA/OBP/SLG H R 2B TB BB K
.316/.445/.432 30 10 6 41 22 10

(Statistics entering Wednesday's game)

For comparison's sake, Mauer hit .287/.361/.370 through his first 28 games of 2015, and had more hits (31) than he does now, but he had already struck out 20 times through 28 games, on his way to a career-high 112 Ks. His season-opening on-base streak in 2015 was shorter too, lasting just four games.

A tough test awaits Mauer if he's to keep the streak going and move closer to catching Hrbek's mark, though, as his Twins are scheduled to face the red-hot Chicago White Sox mound trio of Mat Latos, Chris Sale, and Jose Quintana this weekend.

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