MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota Twins rookie catcher Joe Mauer went on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a sprained left knee.

Mauer, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 amateur draft, tore medial meniscus cartilage and will need surgery.

Right-hander Seth Greisinger was called up from Triple-A Rochester, and right-hander Michael Nakamura was designated for assignment to clear room on the 40-man roster.

The Twins are left with two catchers: veteran Henry Blanco, a career .219 hitter, and Matthew LeCroy, the team’s primary designated hitter.

Mauer, a 20-year-old from St. Paul, was hurt sliding in an attempt to catch a foul ball behind the plate in the top of the third inning of Tuesday night’s game against Cleveland.

Mauer left in the bottom of the inning, when he stopped abruptly while being waved home on a single to right by Luis Rivas. A few pitches later, manager Ron Gardenhire and trainer Jim Kahmann came out to check on Mauer and took him out of the game.

Mauer singled in his only at-bat Tuesday, giving him three hits and two walks in his first six plate appearances in the majors.

AP-ES-04-07-04 1612EDT