Torii Hunter

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Hunter's early years in Minnesota were marked by rapid development and immediate impact. After making his debut as a pinch runner on August 22, 1997, he began starting regularly in 1999, committing only one error in 292 chances. His breakout came in April 2000 before a brief slump sent him to Triple-A Salt Lake, where he revitalized his approach with a seven-RBI game and a 16-game hitting streak upon return. By 2001, Hunter led the league in range factor among center fielders and won his first Rawlings Gold Glove Award. The pinnacle of his early tenure arrived in 2002, when he was selected as an All-Star starter, becoming the first Twin since Kirby Puckett to do so. His legendary catch in that game—robbing Barry Bonds of a home run over the wall at Miller Park—was later voted by fans as the Best Defensive Play of the Year.

In Their Own Story

The 2002 season served as Hunter's coming-of-age campaign, where he posted near-MVP numbers and led the Twins to their first winning season since 1992. In April alone, he hit .371 with nine home runs and 20 RBIs, earning American League Player of the Month honors. That year, he topped all major league center fielders in range factor (3.29) and secured his second Gold Glove. Despite a drop in batting average to .250 in 2003, his defensive prowess remained undeniable as he won his third consecutive Gold Glove. Although he missed much of the 2005 season due to an ankle injury sustained scaling the wall at Fenway Park, he still managed to claim his fifth straight Gold Glove. On the final day of the 2006 regular season, Hunter hit his career-high 31st home run, helping secure the Twins' fourth division title in five years before the team declined to pick up his option for 2007.

Reader's Guide

During his tenure with the Minnesota Twins from 1997 through 2006, Hunter became a cornerstone of the franchise. He was selected to three All-Star Games while playing for Minnesota, including his first selection in 2002. His defensive metrics were elite throughout this period; he won five consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 2001 through 2005 while with the Twins. In 2002, he led the club in home runs, RBIs, and stolen bases, earning the team's Calvin R. Griffith Award as Most Valuable Twin. He finished sixth in MVP voting that year after leading the American League Central to a championship. His final season with the organization concluded on October 10, 2006, when the Twins exercised his $12 million option for 2007, though he ultimately left for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Did You Know?

• Hunter wrote a letter to then-Governor Bill Clinton asking for financial help with his $500 fee for the 1992 U.S. Junior Olympic team.
• In 2002, Hunter caught a ball over the wall in right-center field at Miller Park that appeared to be a home run by Barry Bonds.
• Hunter hit 39 hits in 105 at-bats (.371 average) with nine home runs in April 2002, winning American League Player of the Month.
• On October 10, 2006, the Twins picked up Hunter's $12 million option for the 2007 season before he eventually signed with the Angels.
• Hunter was ejected on June 10, 2015, during his return to the Twins, where he removed his shirt and threw it to the ground.