Joe Mauer still experiences blurred vision after 2013 concussion

(AP) In a concerning revelation, Minnesota Twins star Joe Mauer admits he occasionally experiences blurred vision at the plate stemming from a concussion sustained during the 2013 season.

Speaking to the Pioneer Press this week, Mauer linked his symptoms to the concussion he was diagnosed with in August 2013. Mauer began experiencing his original symptoms after absorbing at least two significant foul tips while he was catching. Mauer would go on to miss the final six weeks of that season as a result of symptoms and hasn’t been quite the same hitter since.

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Mauer says bright sunshine is a trigger for the blurred vision because of the additional strain it causes on his eyes. He plans on experimenting hitting with sunglasses during daylight hours when he reports to spring training, hoping it will bring relief and help him track pitches better.

“I’ve always been kind of weird about my routine when it comes to stepping into the (batter’s) box, but it’s something I’ll give a shot this spring and see if it helps,” Mauer said.

The fact Mauer is having to go to these measures is troubling. It reaffirms how sensitive brain injuries can be, and how unpredictable the recovery process can be. It differs from player-to-player and situation-to-situation, though obviously the severity of a single concussion or a person’s concussion history can impact that recovery.

Mauer’s former Twins teammate Justin Morneau is another player who has struggled with post-concussion symptoms. His career was derailed for over three years after taking a knee to head while attempting to break up a double play on July 7, 2010. The former American League MVP sustained another concussion during the 2015 season that cost him over three months.

There’s probably no better current example than WWE wrestler Bryan Danielson — known professionally as Daniel Bryan — who was forced to retire this week after sustaining at least 10 concussions during his career. He was able to bounce back from many of those, but also admitted to hiding symptoms in order to continue performing. There’s a certain responsibility or even pride athletes feel with performing through injuries and being there for their teammates. We know for a fact Joe Mauer is a proud guy, and for him to come forward now seems telling.

“I don’t want that to be kind of an excuse. If I’m out there, I’m out there. That’s just the way I am,” Mauer said. “There are times I’ve gone up to the plate and I just couldn’t pick up the ball. That’s part of the frustration because I’m trying to do everything I can to get back. It just takes time.”

Prior to the 2013 concussion, Mauer was an elite average hitter with three batting championships to his credit. He’s also finished with the AL’s best on-base percentage twice. Since the concussion, he’s hit just .270/.348/.376. Not bad numbers, but not Mauer numbers by any stretch.

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Two years is a long time to get that back on track, especially in a career with a short shelf life like a professional athlete. The Twins have done their part to protect Mauer, not allowing him to catch a single pitch since his 2013 concussion. But Mauer has undoubtedly put himself at risk if his vision was impaired even slightly.

There’s only so much leagues and teams can do when players are not being forthcoming about injuries or symptoms. Here’s hope Mauer feels comfortable doing so now, and that his situation improves, allowing him to return to form.

The Pioneer Press has a lot more on Mauer’s recovery and what he plans to do to keep improving. It’s a good read that perhaps gives a new perspective on how concussions impact baseball.

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