Jump to content
Twins Daily
  • Create Account
  • Twins News & Analysis

    Torii Hunter is Returning to the Twins

    Seth Stohs

    By Seth Stohs

    According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Minnesota Twins have won the Torii Hunter sweepstakes. The long-time Twins outfielder will return to the Twins on a one-year contract. Further reports indicate it is worth $10.5 million. (More details to come, but feel free to discuss.)

    Image courtesy of Andrew Weber, USA Today

    Twins Video

    The Minnesota Twins have apparently agreed to terms with 39-year-old outfielder Torii Hunter on a one-year contract.

    The outfielder was the Twins #1 draft pick in 1993 and made his debut with the Twins in 1997. He stayed with the Twins until he became a free agent after the 2007 season. He signed a five year, $90 million deal with the Angels. After that contract, the Tigers signed him for the past two years.

    Last week in a 1500 ESPN interview with Patrick Reusse, new Twins bullpen coach Eddie Guardado acknowledged that he and his family was in Texas and had dinner a couple of nights in a row with Hunter and his family. He said at that time, "I'm trying!"

    Hunter is likely being brought in for veteran leadership, or at least that's what will be the mantra we are likely to hear. Though he has been arguably the worst defensive right fielder in baseball (statistically) the last two seasons, he has hit well. In fact, in 2013, he won a Silver Slugger Award.

    Darren Wolfson pointed out last week that he heard that if the Twins signed Hunter, he would play right field with Oswaldo Arcia moving back over to left field.

    Seth Stohs has been blogging about the Minnesota Twins since May 2003. A founder and owner of Twins Daily (including Brewer Fanatic, North Side Baseball), Seth has been a Twins fan for 40 years and has a passion for covering the minor leagues and prospects. #GirlDad
    Follow Seth Stohs on Twitter: sethtweets

    Follow Twins Daily For Minnesota Twins News & Analysis

     Share
     Share
    Go to articles

    Recent Twins Articles

    Recent Twins Videos

    Community Blogs

    • Twins Win Green Glove For Earth Day
    • Minnesota Twins Re-Instate Royce Lewis from 10 Day IL and make a flurry of roster moved

    Forum Topics

    • Twins (Woods Richardson) vs Rays (Scholtens): 4/26/26, 12:40pm
    • Red Sox Purge Coaching Staff

    Twins Top Prospects

    Marek Houston

    Cedar Rapids Kernels - A+, SS
    The 22-year-old went 2-for-5 on Friday night, his fourth straight multi-hit game. Heading into the week, he was hitting .246/.328/.404 (.732). Four games later, he is hitting .303/.361/.447 (.808).
    View All Top Prospects
    The Ultimate Fan Guide to Target Field

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments



    Featured Comments

    Otto von Ballpark

    Otto von Ballpark 20,382

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    4. The Puckett to Hunter dynamic exists;

    Much like the Hunter to Span dynamic didn't actually manifest itself at all in Span's performance until after Hunter left, Torii Hunter didn't really click as a viable MLB hitter until the year 2000.  From what I know of Puckett's life after retirement, he probably wasn't really active with Hunter at that point.

     

    No doubt that Puckett was probably a great friend and role model to Hunter, and Hunter the same for Span, but I think the perseverance/performance effects of those "mentorships" are overblown.  Hunter and Span were both first round picks and neither was that old or close to washing out when their performance level finally clicked enough to stick in MLB.

     

    That doesn't mean such mentorship isn't a good thing -- I am sure it is, it's fun to read about, and it should be encouraged.  But it almost certainly shouldn't dictate player acquisition and roster composition to the extent that the Twins seem to think it should.

    tobi0040

    tobi0040 4,125

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Much like the Hunter to Span dynamic didn't actually manifest itself at all in Span's performance until after Hunter left, Torii Hunter didn't really click as a viable MLB hitter until the year 2000.  From what I know of Puckett's life after retirement, he probably wasn't really active with Hunter at that point.

     

    No doubt that Puckett was probably a great friend and role model to Hunter, and Hunter the same for Span, but I think the perseverance/performance effects of those "mentorships" are overblown.  Hunter and Span were both first round picks and neither was that old or close to washing out when their performance level finally clicked enough to stick in MLB.

     

    That doesn't mean such mentorship isn't a good thing -- I am sure it is, it's fun to read about, and it should be encouraged.  But it almost certainly shouldn't dictate player acquisition and roster composition to the extent that the Twins seem to think it should.

     

    We do have one documented time where Puckett offered Hunter money out of his "fat wallet"

    Willihammer

    Willihammer 4,021

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

    I can't bash the Twins for signing Hunter. They needed someone to put out there with Arcia and Hicks / Schafer / fill-in-the-blank center fielder for a year, and they have a lousy group of OFers to choose from IMO. I do believe Twins scouts may be looking at Hunter's defense through rose colored glasses, judging by Ryan's quotes. But Hunter's healthy and coming off a .765 season. If they can squeeze similar production out of him, then he'll be a great addition to the lineup and I'll live with daily gamble that x-number of high leverage fringe zone fly balls are hit to him. Of course, if he doesn't hit, that's a different story.



    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now

×
×
  • Create New...