Torii Hunter Returns to Minnesota

Many fans will remember his outstanding catches. Not only that, but they will remember the many times he would crash into the wall while making those catches. Sometimes, you would wonder if he actually got seriously injured on the play. Torii Hunter is coming back to play for the Minnesota Twins, after signing a one year $10.5 million deal for the 2015 season. He may not be the defensive outfielder he once was, but the 39-year-old veteran will still have a major impact both on the field and in the Twins clubhouse. It is expected that he will play in right field, moving Oswaldo Arcia to left field. Hunter had played 11 seasons previously with the Twins where he batted .271/.324/.469 with 192 home runs, 251 doubles and 126 stolen bases in 1,234 games. He also won seven gold glove awards and appeared in two All-Star games while with the Twins. He left Minnesota to sign a 5-year deal with the Anaheim Angels after the 2007 season. The past two seasons, he spent with the Detroit Tigers. Last season with the Tigers, he batted .286/.319/.446 with 17 home runs and 83 RBIs. For his career, he’s batting .279/.334/.465 with 331 home runs. He’s won nine gold glove awards, all from 2001-2009. He has also won two silver slugger awards (2009 and 2013) and has appeared in five All-Star games. Hunter still has plenty to offer on the field, but he will be a mentor to the Twins young outfielders. Not only that, but he will be an excellent leader in the Twins clubhouse. The price tag might seem to be steep for someone who’s not as good as he once was, especially in the field. However, Hunter offers a lot more to the Twins than what his career stats indicate.   Photo by: Keith Allison