I wonder if the Minnesota Twins truly believe that Jake Mauer has the right stuff to become a coach or manager in the Major Leagues some day.

They say they do, but do they mean it?

The Twins had a chance to promote Mauer this year when Paul Molitor succeeded Ron Gardenhire as the manager of the big club in Minnesota, yet they assigned Mauer to Cedar Rapids as the Kernels' manager for the third straight year.

Terry Ryan, the Twins General Manager, told the Metro Sports Report in an interview last year that he thinks Mauer could manage the Twins some day. They wanted him in Cedar Rapids in 2013 for the first year of the new agreement between Cedar Rapids and Minnesota and sent him back here again in 2014, but now he's coming back for a third year.

Mauer, always a team player, would never complain publicly, but he's told the MSR that he won't be patient forever if he feels his managerial career has hit a dead end with Minnesota and a better offer comes along from a different team.

Mauer, 36, grew up in Minnesota and loves the Twins. This will be his 15th straight year in the organization, including five years as a player and now approaching his 10th year as a coach or manager. He reached as high as Double-A as an infielder, but he's never gotten beyond the High-A Florida State League as a coach or manager.

He's compiled a 417-384 record in seven years as a minor league skipper, including a fine 161-117 record in two years with the Kernels and two trips to the Midwest League playoffs, but that's an awful lot of bus trips. His stated goal is to reach the Minnesota Twins as a manager or coach, especially if he can get there while his brother Joe is still playing for the Twins, but the brothers are not joined at the hip.

Jake Mauer is an outstanding baseball guy in his own right. He's smart, an excellent teacher and knows the game as well as anyone. He has the right temperament for the game, being firm yet even-keeled. He's popular with players, fans and the media, always cooperative and willing to talk about the game and explain his decisions.

The Kernels are certainly delighted that he's coming back for a third year, because he helps them market the team and is easy to work with. For his part, Mauer has enjoyed working in Cedar Rapids because it's only 4 1/2 hours from his home in Minnesota. He and his wife, Rachel, have two young children, so it helps to live fairly close to their own extended families.

One possible strike against Mauer in terms of reaching the Major Leagues is that he's never been there before. Major League teams tend to hire former Major Leagues players and coaches for their staff. Mauer does not have that experience on his resume and he won't until somebody gives him a chance.

An arm injury ended his playing career after the 2005 season after he had reached Double-A, ending his chance of reaching the big leagues as a player. He's been trying to get there ever since as a coach or manager, but now another season will come and go with him toiling in the low minors again.

It's unlikely that Mauer could jump from the Kernels to a major league staff with another organization, but he knows a lot of people and has a lot of friends in the business. Maybe another organization would offer him a spot with a Double-A or Triple-A team next year, with a chance for advancement after that.

There's also a chance Mauer could switch to college coaching. He'd be a natural at the collegiate level, and he'd probably make a lot more money than he is now in the minors. He'd be a great fit at the University of Minnesota some day, although he might prefer a warmer climate for college ball.

It would be a shame if Mauer has to abandon his dream of working for the Twins in Minnesota, however. After 14 years in the organization, he knows all of the key people and has coached most of the top prospects.

Mauer undoubtedly will do another fine job with the Kernels again this year, getting as much out of the talent as possible. He'll teach them well, keep smiling and keep plugging away.

For his sake and for the sake of Minnesota Twins fans everything, let's hope he gets a chance to climb the ladder before it's too late and he goes somewhere else.