Editing Torii Hunter (section)

=== 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>