Joe Mauer, Ron Gardenhire Helped Recruit Zach Parise, Ryan Suter to Minnesota Wild

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Jul 5, 2012

Joe Mauer, Ron Gardenhire Helped Recruit Zach Parise, Ryan Suter to Minnesota WildThe Wild received a little help from their Minnesota sports fraternity brothers.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire and catcher Joe Mauer helped recruit Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, who signed 13-year contracts with the Wild on Wednesday, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Gardenhire and Mauer were reportedly asked by the Wild media relations staff to help with a quick recruiting video for Parise, a native of Minnesota who has visited the Twins before and has taken batting practice with the team twice over the years. The pair were more than happy to do so, with Gardenhire waving a $5 bill in front of the camera.

"I don't think he needs the $5, but I definitely sent him a video," Gardenhire said. "I offered him about 18,000 rounds of batting practice. So I'll take credit for him."

Mauer said he took part in videos for both Parise and Suter, telling them that they'd look good in green, a bit of advice they clearly took.

Gardenhire reportedly even has a signed photo of Parise hanging on his Target Field bulletin board, and it's been there since before the former Devils star became a free agent.

Parise may never use up all of the 18,000 rounds of batting practice he was promised, but it's safe to say both he and Suter will probably be hitting up Target Field more often going forward.

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