After dealing with a range of injuries and illnesses that plagued him during the 2011 season, Joe Mauer said Saturday that his offseason has been going to plan and that he's fully healthy.

Mauer, looking like he's back at his normal playing weight, started baseball activities recently -- he's throwing and hitting off a tee -- and hasn't been bothered by his left knee. He had arthroscopic surgery on that knee last offseason, and tried to come back too quickly, which led to his well-documented case of bilateral leg weakness that forced him to miss 58 games early in the season.

"The knee's been feeling great," Mauer said during a TwinsFest appearance. "The last year and a half, just trying to compensate for that kind of took a toll on my whole body. I don't think it's going to be an issue. I'm feeling good, so I'm excited. This is the best I've felt in a long time. I'm excited about that."