Minnesota Twins
Centerfielder, Torii Hunter was born July 18, 1975 in
Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Torii is a well-rounded athlete
and played baseball, basketball, football and track
at Pine Bluff High School. He was drafted by the Twins
as a first-round pick in 1993 straight out of high school.
He made his first major league debut on August 22, 1992
as a pinch hitter. It was not until 1999 when he began
starting regularly, playing in 135 games for the Twins.
Known and well respected as perhaps the
best defensive player in the major leagues today, Torii
has demonstrated outstanding athletic ability, having
“robbed” many big hitters of home runs.
ESPN coined Hunter as a "daily web gem," referring
to ESPN's nightly highlight reel.
As a key hitter for the team, Torii
seems to hit better when he concentrates on pulling
the ball and hitting for power. He hits most of his
home runs off breaking pitches that hang or find the
middle of the plate. Torii still gets himself out too
often by swinging at pitches out of the strike zone.
Torii is a good base-runner who has learned
to get great jumps on steal attempts. The Twins' new,
softer turf has been easier on his knees, allowing him
to run more. He gets rid of the ball quickly with a
strong and exceptionally accurate arm.
In 2001, he led the club in at bats, home
runs and outfield assists (with 14 - tied for second
best in the league) and was second in RBIs and total
bases, leading the Twins to their first winning season
since 1992. Torii was named Best Defensive Outfielder
in the American League and won his first Rawlings Gold
Glove Award.
In 2002, Torii was selected by the fans
to his first All-Star Game, becoming the first Twin
since Kirby Puckett in 1995 to start in a game, in center
field. One of the biggest moments came in the first
inning, when, with two outs, Barry Bonds sent what appeared
to be a towering home run to right-center field when
Hunter, who had built a reputation for his outfield
thievery in the American League, showed off his talents
- jumped and caught the ball in a stunning spectacle.
The memorable catch was later awarded as the Best Defensive
Play of the Year by the fans.
Also in 2002, Torii led the club in home
runs, RBIs, and stolen bases, and was tied for the lead
in games and doubles. Hunter won the team's Calvin R.
Griffith Award as Most Valuable Twin. He ended up a
respectable sixth in the MVP voting, and also earned
his second Gold Glove in center field.
In August 2005, it was announced Torii
would miss the remainder of the 2005 season after breaking
his ankle and tearing ligaments when he attempted to
scale the wall in Fenway Park.
If he can stay healthy, the future for
Torii Hunter is indeed very bright. Torii is only beginning
to enter his prime, and can only improve as a player.
He is still known as the best defensive outfielder,
if not the best outfielder alone in the league. After
signing a 4-year, $32 million contract, rest assured
good things are yet to come.
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