View source for Torii Hunter

{{short description|American baseball player (born 1975)}}
{{Distinguish|text=American football player [[Torey Hunter]]}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Torii Hunter
|image=0923 240cb Torii Hunter.jpg
|image_size=250
|caption=Hunter with the Minnesota Twins in 2006
|position=[[Outfielder]]
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1975|7|18}}
|birth_place=[[Pine Bluff, Arkansas]], U.S.
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=August 22
|debutyear=1997
|debutteam=Minnesota Twins
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=October 3
|finalyear=2015
|finalteam=Minnesota Twins
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.277
|stat2label=[[Hit (baseball)|Hits]]
|stat2value=2,452
|stat3label=[[Home run]]s
|stat3value=353
|stat4label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat4value=1,391
|teams=
* [[Minnesota Twins]] ({{mlby|1997}}–{{mlby|2007}})
* [[Los Angeles Angels|Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim]] ({{mlby|2008}}–{{mlby|2012}})
* [[Detroit Tigers]] ({{mlby|2013}}–{{mlby|2014}})
* [[Minnesota Twins]] ({{mlby|2015}})
|highlights=
* 5× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[2002 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2002]], [[2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2007]], [[2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2009]], [[2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2010]], [[2013 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2013]])
* 9× [[Gold Glove Award]] (2001–2009)
* 2× [[Silver Slugger Award]] (2009, 2013)
* [[Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame]]
}}
'''Torii Kedar Hunter''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɔr|iː}}; born July 18, 1975) is an American former professional [[baseball]] [[center fielder]] and [[right fielder]]. Hunter currently serves as Special Assistant to [[Los Angeles Angels]] general manager [[Perry Minasian]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Torii Hunter joins Angels as special assistant to the GM |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-torii-hunter-joins-angels-as-special-assistant-to-the-gm |access-date=April 7, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> He played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[Minnesota Twins]], [[Los Angeles Angels|Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim]], and [[Detroit Tigers]] from 1997 through 2015. Hunter was a five-time [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]], won nine consecutive [[Rawlings Gold Glove Award|Gold Glove Awards]] as a center fielder, and was a two-time [[Silver Slugger Award]] winner.

== High school career ==
Born and raised in [[Pine Bluff, Arkansas]], Hunter attended [[Pine Bluff High School]]. Hunter, along with his three brothers, lived in a downtown 
and fairly impoverished neighborhood just off Main Street. Hunter began playing baseball at the age of eight and [[American football|football]] a few years later, excelling as both a [[quarterback]] and a [[free safety]]. At Pine Bluff High, Hunter excelled in baseball, football, [[basketball]], and track. Early on in high school, Hunter was a stand-out in sports other than baseball, but would receive All-State honors for his junior and senior seasons. According to the head coach of the team, Hunter once hit a ball {{convert|550|ft}} for a home run. In 1992, Hunter made the U.S. Junior Olympic team, and when he struggled to pay the $500 fee for the team, Hunter wrote then-governor of Arkansas [[Bill Clinton]] a letter asking for help, which Clinton accepted. Hunter had the option of attending [[The University of Arkansas]] to play baseball, but opted to play professional baseball instead.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Hunter/Hunter_bio.html|title=JockBio: Torii Hunter Biography|website=www.jockbio.com}}</ref>

== Professional career ==

=== Minnesota Twins ===
The Twins selected Hunter with the 20th overall pick in the [[1993 Major League Baseball draft|1993 draft]] using a compensation pick from the [[Cincinnati Reds]] for signing [[John Smiley (baseball)|John Smiley]]. Hunter made his debut with the Twins as a [[pinch runner]] in [[Baltimore]] on August 22, 1997. It was not until 1999 that Hunter began starting regularly, playing in 135 games for the Twins. He finished with only one [[error (baseball)|error]] in 292 chances in the outfield.

Hunter exploded onto the scene in the beginning of April in 2000, but his batting average dropped to .207 by the end of May. He was subsequently sent down to [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] [[Salt Lake Bees|Salt Lake]] to work on his mechanics at the plate; however with Hunter's new approach at the plate, he caught fire in the month of June, capping it with a two-[[home run]], seven-[[Run batted in|RBI]] game and being named the Twins' Minor League Player of the Week and Player of the Month. After a 16-game [[hitting streak]], four consecutive games with home runs and three [[Grand slam (baseball)|grand slams]], Hunter was recalled by the Twins on July 28. Hunter was named both Best Defensive Outfielder and Most Exciting Player in [[Pacific Coast League]] by Baseball America for 2000.

[[File:MIN2001R48HUNTER.jpg|thumb|left|200px|2001 Minnesota Twins #48 Torii Hunter road jersey]] In 2001, Hunter led the Twins in [[at bat]]s, home runs and outfield [[Assist (baseball)|assists]] (with 14 – tied for second best in the league), and was second in RBI and [[total bases]], leading the Twins to their first winning season since 1992. Hunter led all major league center fielders in [[range factor]] (3.29), and was named Best Defensive Outfielder in the [[American League]] by Baseball America. He also won his first [[Gold Glove Award|Rawlings Gold Glove Award]] in 2001.

In 2002, Hunter began to post near-[[Most Valuable Player|MVP]] numbers, and was a contender for the award a good portion of the year. In the month of April, he went 39–105 (a .371 average) with nine home runs and 20 RBI, winning American League [[MLB Player of the Month|Player of the Month]] honors.

Hunter was selected by the fans to his first [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]], in [[Milwaukee]] in 2002, becoming the first Twin since [[Kirby Puckett]] in 1995 to start an All-Star 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. Hunter, who had built a reputation for his [[Wall Climb (baseball)|outfield thievery]] in the American League, jumped and caught the ball over the wall (accomplishing a personal goal he set of robbing one from Bonds).<ref>{{cite news|last1=Berardino|first1=Mike|title=Minnesota Twins: Torii Hunter fondly remembers 'the catch'|url=http://www.twincities.com/golf/ci_23671900/minnesota-twins-torii-hunter-fondly-remembers-catch|access-date=December 1, 2015|work=Pioneer Press|date=July 16, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Szefc|first1=Matt|title=Frozen moment: Hunter robs Bonds|url=http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/article/1401598/hunter-robs-bonds|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208151836/http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/article/1401598/hunter-robs-bonds|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 8, 2015|access-date=December 1, 2015|work=ESPN.com|date=July 9, 2002}}</ref> Although there were no awards given at the All-Star game, because the game ended in a tie, the catch was later awarded as the [[This Year in Baseball Awards|This Year in Baseball]] Best Defensive Play of the Year by the fans.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}}

Hunter, along with an improved team and solid [[bullpen]] pitching, led a resurgence in the latter half of the season which powered the Twins to win the [[American League Central Division]]. The team would advance to the [[2002 American League Championship Series|ALCS]], where they would lose to the [[2002 Anaheim Angels season|Anaheim Angels]] four games to one. The Angels went on to win their first [[World Series]] championship.

Despite losing in the ALCS, it was still a very good year for the ballclub, and by far the best year for Hunter. He led the club in home runs, RBIs, and [[stolen base]]s, and was tied for the lead in games and [[Double (baseball)|doubles]]. Hunter won the team's [[Calvin Griffith|Calvin R. Griffith]] Award as Most Valuable Twin for 2002. He ended the season sixth in the MVP voting, and also earned his second Gold Glove in center field. Hunter was additionally voted baseball's Best Defensive Player Award for 2002 by the fans.

Hunter struggled offensively in 2003. Although he played in a career high 154 games, he often struggled at the plate, achieving an [[on-base plus slugging|OPS]] of .763 and a [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] of just .250, .039 lower than in 2002. He stole just six bases, while being thrown out seven times. His defense was still strong enough to win his third straight Gold Glove for his play in center field.

Hunter missed much of the 2005 season after breaking his ankle and tearing ligaments when he attempted to scale the right field wall in [[Fenway Park]] on July 29. Despite playing essentially only half a season, Hunter was awarded his fifth consecutive Gold Glove.

On the last day of the 2006 regular season, Hunter hit his career-high 31st home run, helping the Twins to their fourth division title in five years.

On October 10, the Twins notified Hunter that they had picked up his $12 million option for the 2007 season, keeping him from becoming a [[free agent]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Thesier|first1=Kelly|title=Twins pick up Hunter's 2007 option|url=http://m.twins.mlb.com/news/article/1707681|access-date=December 1, 2015|work=MLB.com|date=October 10, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208062426/http://m.twins.mlb.com/news/article/1707681|archive-date=December 8, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim ===
[[File:Torii Hunter on base in April 2008.jpg|thumb|right|Hunter on second base for the [[2008 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim season|Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2008]]]]
After turning down a three-year, $45 million deal in August 2007 from the Twins, Hunter signed a five-year contract with the [[Los Angeles Angels|Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim]] worth $90 million. He replaced [[Gary Matthews Jr.]] as the everyday center fielder.<ref name="angels">{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/angels/2007-11-22-hunter_N.htm |title=Angels land Torii Hunter with five-year, $90M deal |newspaper=USA Today |date=November 22, 2007 |access-date=November 22, 2007 |first=Bob |last=Nightengale}}</ref>

In 2009, he was named [[#44]] on the ''[[Sporting News]]'' list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball.  A panel of 100 baseball people, many of them members of the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] and winners of major baseball awards, were polled to arrive at the list.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlesports/archives/169131.asp?from=blog_last3 |title=Ichiro 30th on Sporting News list of baseball's best |publisher=Blog.seattlepi.com |date=May 20, 2009 |access-date=December 31, 2012}}</ref>

Hunter hit three home runs in one game against the [[San Diego Padres]] on June 13, 2009. It was the first time in his career he had accomplished the feat.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hunter has first three-homer game as Angels run over Padres|url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=290613103|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618144240/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=290613103|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 18, 2009|access-date=December 1, 2015|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=June 14, 2009}}</ref> Hunter was selected to represent Los Angeles in the 2009 All-Star Game, making his third appearance, but he was unable to participate. He was on the disabled list because he had crashed into the outfield wall at Dodger Stadium and at AT&T Park, separating his right shoulder. This sidelined him for more than a month.<ref>{{cite web |last1=DiGiovanna |first1=Mike |title=Torii Hunter, Vladimir Guerrero go on the 15-day disabled list |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jul-11-sp-angels-fyi11-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=July 11, 2009 |access-date=April 21, 2024}}</ref>

Hunter batted .299 with 22 homers and 90 RBIs in 2009. After the 2009 season, Hunter won his ninth consecutive Gold Glove award for the outfield, and a [[Silver Slugger Award]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Torii Hunter Stats, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/torii-hunter-116338 |access-date=August 11, 2022 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref>

On September 2, 2011, Hunter said in an interview with the ''[[Minneapolis Star-Tribune]]'' that he wanted to retire as a member of the Angels,<ref name="startrib">{{cite news |url=http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/129171973.html |title=Torii Hunter talks of retirement and more |first=Jim |last=Souhan |newspaper=Star-Tribune |date=September 3, 2011 |access-date=April 10, 2012}}</ref> but he became a free agent following the 2012 season.

=== Detroit Tigers ===
[[File:Torii Hunter on June 2, 2013.jpg|225px|thumb|left|Hunter with the [[2013 Detroit Tigers season|Detroit Tigers in 2013]]]]
On November 14, 2012, it was announced that Hunter and the Detroit Tigers had reached a two-year agreement worth $26 million. He would be playing right field and batting second for most of the season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/torii-hunter-deal-detroit-tigers-111412 |title=Sources: Hunter, Tigers reach deal |work=[[Fox Sports]] |date=November 14, 2012 |access-date=November 14, 2012}}</ref> After Hunter signed with the Tigers, pitcher [[Rick Porcello]] let him have #48, which Hunter has worn for his entire career, and Porcello changed his uniform to #21.

On June 16, 2013, Hunter hit his 300th career home run in a game against the [[Minnesota Twins]], in the city where his major league career started (Minneapolis).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130616&content_id=50808706&vkey=news_det&c_id=det |title=Hunter hits career homer No. 300 |last=Erickson |first=Kelly |publisher=detroit.tigers.mlb.com |date=June 16, 2013 |access-date=July 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512224803/http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130616&content_id=50808706&vkey=news_det&c_id=det |archive-date=May 12, 2014 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> On July 1, Hunter was voted in as a reserve outfielder in the AL player voting for the [[2013 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2013 Major League All-Star Game]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130706&content_id=52391804&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb |title=All-Star Rosters |work=mlb.com |date=July 14, 2013}}</ref> It was his fifth career All-Star selection. As of the All-Star break, Torii was hitting .315 with seven home runs and 44 RBIs.

Hunter finished the 2013 regular season with a .304 batting average, 17 home runs and 84 RBIs. Batting in front of [[Miguel Cabrera]] for most of the season, Torii was walked only 26 times, helping him to the highest at-bats total of his major league career (606), as well as a career-high 184 hits.

In Game 2 of the [[2013 American League Championship Series|ALCS]] Hunter injured himself flipping over the low Fenway Park bullpen wall in pursuit of a David Ortiz game-tying grand slam.

[[File:Paul Nauert.jpg|thumb|Umpire [[Paul Nauert]] with Hunter following an altercation in Baltimore on May 12, 2014.]]
On May 12, 2014, the normally easygoing Hunter had a heated exchange with [[Baltimore Orioles]] hurler [[Bud Norris]] after Norris hit Hunter in the ribs with a fastball during a 4–1 Tiger win at [[Oriole Park at Camden Yards]], sparking a bench-clearing incident.  The two continued shouting at each other as Norris headed to the dugout after being ejected.  Hunter was hitting .298 for the 2014 season at the conclusion of that contest.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_05_12_detmlb_balmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=det |title=Porcello Sets Down O's Before Heated Eighth |last=Beck |first=Jason| work=MLB.com |date=May 13, 2014 |access-date=May 13, 2014}}{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Hunter finished the 2014 regular season with a .286 batting average, 17 home runs, and 83 RBIs.

=== Return to the Minnesota Twins ===
On December 2, 2014, Hunter agreed to a one-year deal worth $10.5 million with the [[Minnesota Twins]], with whom he had previously played from 1997 to 2007. The deal became official on December 3, 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://m.twins.mlb.com/news/article/103009494/twins-sign-torii-hunter-to-one-year-contract/ |title=Torii signs one-year contract to rejoin Twins |last=Bollinger |first=Rhett |work=MLB.com |date=December 3, 2014 |access-date=December 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715185812/http://m.twins.mlb.com/news/article/103009494/twins-sign-torii-hunter-to-one-year-contract |archive-date=July 15, 2015 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> During a game on June 10, 2015, Hunter was ejected by umpire [[Mark Ripperger]] and reacted by heaving pieces of equipment and then taking off his uniform shirt and throwing it to the ground. Hunter received a two-game suspension for his actions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Twins' Torii Hunter suspended two games for meltdown|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/06/12/torii-hunter-suspended--mlb/71074070/|publisher=USA Today|access-date=August 9, 2016|date=June 12, 2015}}</ref> Over his final season, Hunter batted .240, hit 22 homers, and drove in 81 runs.<ref name="B-Ref">{{cite web|title=Torii Hunter Statistics and History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hunteto01.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=August 9, 2016}}</ref>

On October 26, 2015, Hunter announced his retirement from baseball.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/longtime-twins-star-torii-hunter-decides-to-retire/337283601/|title=Torii Hunter retiring after his one-year encore with Twins|website=startribune.com|date=October 27, 2015 }}</ref>

===Career statistics===
In 2372 games over 19 seasons, Hunter posted a .277 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] (2452-for-8857) with 1296 [[run (baseball)|runs]], 498 [[Double (baseball)|doubles]], 39 [[Triple (baseball)|triples]], 353 [[home runs]], 1391 [[Run batted in|RBI]], 195 [[stolen bases]], 661 [[bases on balls]], .331 [[on-base percentage]] and .461 [[slugging percentage]]. He finished his career with a .990 [[fielding percentage]] playing primarily at center and right field. In 48 postseason games, he hit .274 (51-for-186) with 26 runs, 12 doubles, 4 home runs, 20 RBI and 17 walks.<ref name="B-Ref" />

== Highlights, records, and notable statistics ==
Hunter began the 2007 season with one of the fastest starts to a season in his career, featuring a 23-game hitting streak starting in mid-April and ending on May 10.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_5850976?nclick_check=1 |title=Hitting streak? Hunter doesn't want to hear it |newspaper=[[St. Paul Pioneer Press]] |date=May 9, 2007 |access-date=May 9, 2007}}</ref> In 2007, Hunter also hit three grand slams: April 17 in [[Seattle Mariners|Seattle]], May 18 in [[Milwaukee Brewers|Milwaukee]], and August 15 again in Seattle.

Hunter has been awarded nine consecutive American League Gold Glove Awards (2001–2009) for his defensive talents in center field, and he has been selected to the All-Star Game five times.

On May 30, 2011, Hunter collected his 1,000th RBI off of [[Joakim Soria]], which was also a go-ahead two-run home run to give the Angels a 9–8 lead, a game which they eventually won 10–8. Hunter was the 268th person to collect 1,000 RBI<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_05_30_anamlb_kcamlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=ana |title=Hunter nets 1,000th RBI in Angels hi ' win |last=Falkoff |first=Robert |date=May 30, 2011 |work=MLB.com |access-date=May 30, 2011}}</ref>

On August 15, 2012, Hunter was sliding home when he accidentally slashed umpire [[Greg Gibson (umpire)|Greg Gibson]] by his left eye with his rubber cleats. Gibson was not seriously injured. Hunter noted that he had been wearing metal cleats on Sunday and Monday, but had switched to rubber cleats the previous day.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gonzalez|first1=Alden|title=Umpire Gibson exits after freak play at the plate|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/36783376/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208065422/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/36783376/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 8, 2015|access-date=December 1, 2015|work=MLB.com|date=August 15, 2012}}</ref>

On June 16, 2013, Hunter hit his 300th career home run off Twins pitcher [[P. J. Walters]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/16/torii-hunter-hit-his-300th-career-home-run/ |title=Torii Hunter hits his 300th career home run |first=Drew |last=Silva |publisher=NBC Sports – HardballTalk |date=June 16, 2013 |access-date=January 6, 2014}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+'''MLB'''
|-
! Accomplishment
! Record
! Refs
|-
! style="background:#dde;" colspan="3"|Regular season
|-
| 7th Most Gold Gloves by an OF
| 9 {{small|(2001–2009)}}
| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/gold_glove_nl.shtml#multi|title=Multi Gold Glove winners |date=May 16, 2013 |access-date=May 19, 2014}}</ref>
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+'''Twins records'''
|-
! Accomplishment
! Record
! Refs
|-
! style="background:#dde;" colspan="3"|Regular season
|-
| Most 20/20 seasons
| 2 {{small|(2002,2004)}}
| <ref name="twinleader">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/leaders_bat.shtml|title=Twins Franchise Leaders |date=May 16, 2013 |access-date=May 19, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| 2nd most Gold Gloves<ref group=lower-alpha name=jim>Only behind [[Jim Kaat]] who had 16 Gold Gloves at pitcher.</ref>
| 7 {{small|(2001–2007)}}
| <ref name="twinleader" />
|-
| 2nd highest career [[Power-Speed #]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Marian>2nd to HOFer [[Kirby Puckett]].</ref>
| 152.2
| <ref name="twinleader" />
|-
| 10th best career At Bats per Home Run <ref group=lower-alpha name=Marian />
| 23.4
| <ref name="twinleader" />
|}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

== Charity ==
[[File:Torii Hunter at Bud Walton Arena.jpg|right|thumb|Hunter prior to an [[Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball]] game against Michigan in [[Bud Walton Arena]]]]

Hunter contributes to many charities, including the "Torii Hunter Project Education Initiative", which provides college scholarships to students in California, Arkansas, Nevada and Minnesota, the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas, a partnership with Major League Baseball to help maintain and improve baseball diamonds in inner cities, the Big Brothers and the Prostate Cancer Foundation, and in addition, Hunter helped fund construction of a youth softball field in [[Placentia, California]] in 2008.<ref name=branchrickey>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4462272 |title=Hunter honored for work with kids |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |date=September 10, 2009 |access-date=September 10, 2009}}</ref>  This work has resulted in Hunter being presented with the [[Branch Rickey Award]] in 2009, which rewards excellence in charity work.<ref name=branchrickey />

== Controversy ==
In a discussion about the number of black players in the Major Leagues, Hunter said during a ''USA Today''-hosted committee to improve baseball panel that [[Black Hispanic and Latino Americans|black Latinos]] do not count. "People see dark faces out there, and the perception is that they're African-American. They're not us. They're impostors. Even people I know come up and say: 'Hey, what color is [[Vladimir Guerrero]]? Is he a black player?' I say, 'Come on, he's Dominican. He's not black.' ... As African-American players, we have a theory that baseball can go get an imitator and pass them off as us. It's like they had to get some kind of dark faces, so they go to the Dominican or Venezuela because you can get them cheaper. It's like, 'Why should I get this kid from the South Side of Chicago and have [[Scott Boras]] represent him and pay him $5&nbsp;million when you can get a Dominican guy for a bag of chips?' ... I'm telling you, it's sad." Though Hunter does not dispute the accuracy of the quotes, he has insisted that these statements merely distinguish between different cultures and do not reflect negative feelings toward other races.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100310&content_id=8749334&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb |title=Hunter regrets 'wrong word choice' |work=mlb.com |date=June 19, 2012 |access-date=December 31, 2012}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Hunter resides during the off-season in the [[Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex]] suburb of [[Prosper, Texas]] with his wife Katrina, whom he met in high school.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130509&content_id=47071662&vkey=news_det&c_id=det |title=Proud dad Torii Hunter appreciates wife more than ever |publisher=tigers.com |first=Jason |last=Beck |date=May 10, 2013 |access-date=May 9, 2014}}</ref> He is a cousin of former MLB outfielder [[Choo Freeman]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://story.scout.com/a.z?s=292&p=2&c=619211 |title=Choo Freeman Signed to Minor Contract |publisher=scout.com |first=Tot |last=Holmes |date=February 15, 2007 |access-date=May 9, 2014}}</ref> Despite the same spelling, Hunter was not named after [[torii]], the gates to a Japanese [[Shinto]] shrine. Hunter says jokingly, "I think, when my mom filled out the paperwork after I was born, she accidentally put two 'I's."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mst3kdave.com/articles/Torii.20.questions.txt.html |title=David Brown's 20 Questions With Torii Hunter |first=David |last=Brown |date=May 14, 2006 |access-date=February 18, 2008 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Hunter is a [[Christianity|Christian]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Torii Hunter – Fully Reliant|date=September 21, 2012|url=http://www.sportsspectrum.com/articles/2012/09/21/torii-hunter-fully-reliant/}}</ref>

His older son, Torii Jr., played [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|football]] and [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish baseball|baseball]] at [[University of Notre Dame|Notre Dame]] beginning in 2013.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/recruiting/blog/eye-on-recruiting/20338345/talented-athlete-torii-hunter-jr-commits-to-notre-dame |title=Talented athlete Torii Hunter Jr. commits to Notre Dame |first=Bryan |last=Fischer |work=Eye on College Football Recruiting |publisher=CBSSports.com |date=September 23, 2012 |access-date=September 23, 2012}}</ref> Torii Jr. currently plays baseball professionally in the Angels organization after being selected by the team in the 23rd round of the [[2016 Major League Baseball draft|2016 MLB Draft]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/torii-hunter-jr-leaves-notre-dame-football-to-play-pro-baseball-like-his-father/|title=Torii Hunter Jr. leaves Notre Dame football to play pro baseball like his father|first1=Robby|last1=Kalland|first2=Mike|last2=Axisa|work=CBSSports.com|date=December 15, 2016|access-date=September 5, 2018}}</ref> His younger son, [[Monshadrik Hunter]], is a defensive back in the [[Canadian Football League]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://en.montrealalouettes.com/2021/07/26/baseball-football-hunter-rebel-heart/ | title=From baseball to football, Hunter is a rebel at heart | date=July 26, 2021 }}</ref>

In 2012, Hunter's son, Darius McClinton-Hunter, was arrested and accused of [[sexual assault]]. A [[grand jury]] declined to [[indict]] McClinton-Hunter on the grounds of insufficient evidence.  The accuser recanted her claims first in a recorded telephone conversation and again in a deposition for a $10 million lawsuit Darius McClinton-Hunter filed against her for her false allegations. Hunter, playing for the Angels at the time, took a 14-game hiatus in the wake of his son's arrest.<ref>{{cite web|last1=AP|title=No indictment for Torii Hunter's son|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/8995019/son-detroit-tigers-torii-hunter-face-texas-indictment|website=ESPN|date=February 27, 2013|access-date=November 21, 2015}}</ref>

Hunter endorsed gubernatorial candidate [[Asa Hutchinson]] in his [[2014 Arkansas gubernatorial election|successful attempt]] to become governor of [[Arkansas]], citing their shared desire of "keeping marriage between one man and one woman."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Tony |date=October 29, 2014 |title=Torii Hunter again sounds off on gays |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2014/10/29/political-ad-torii-hunter-sounds-gays/18152049/ |access-date=February 6, 2020 |website=Detroit News |language=en}}</ref>

Hunter once indicated that he would be uncomfortable with having a homosexual teammate, due to his [[biblical]] upbringing. However, he later apologized for his comments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2014/10/29/political-ad-torii-hunter-sounds-gays/18152049/|title=Torii Hunter again sounds off on gays|last=Paul|first=Tony|website=Detroit News|language=en|access-date=February 6, 2020}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}
{{div col}}
* [[List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career total bases leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career games played leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career extra base hits leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career putouts as a center fielder leaders]]
* [[2021 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting]]
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Torii Hunter}}
{{Baseballstats|mlb=116338|espn=3723|br=h/hunteto01|fangraphs=731|brm=hunter001tor}}
*{{Twitter}}

{{S-start}}
{{Succession box
| before = [[Eric Chavez]]
| title  = [[MLB Player of the Month|American League Player of the Month]]
| years  = April 2002
| after  = [[Jason Giambi]]
}}
{{Succession box
| before = [[Albert Pujols]]
| title  = [[Players Choice Award|Players Choice Marvin Miller Man of the Year]]
| years  = 2007
| after  = [[Michael Young (baseball)|Michael Young]]
}}
{{S-end}}

{{1993 MLB Draft}}
{{Minnesota Twins first-round draft picks}}
{{Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame}}
{{AL OF Gold Glove Award}}
{{AL OF Silver Slugger Award}}
{{TYIBDefense}}
{{Branch Rickey Award}}
{{Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award}}
{{Heart & Hustle Award}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunter, Torii}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Minnesota Twins players]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Angels players]]
[[Category:Detroit Tigers players]]
[[Category:African-American baseball players]]
[[Category:American League All-Stars]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Pine Bluff, Arkansas]]
[[Category:Gold Glove Award winners]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball center fielders]]
[[Category:People from Prosper, Texas]]
[[Category:Gulf Coast Twins players]]
[[Category:Fort Wayne Wizards players]]
[[Category:Fort Myers Miracle players]]
[[Category:Hardware City Rock Cats players]]
[[Category:New Britain Rock Cats players]]
[[Category:Salt Lake Buzz players]]
[[Category:Rancho Cucamonga Quakes players]]
[[Category:African-American Christians]]
[[Category:Silver Slugger Award winners]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]