Editing Torii Hunter (section)

== 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}}</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" />