Twins Blog: He's Baaaaack!
Twins Territory exploded Tuesday night with news that Torii Hunter and his mega-watt smile were returning to the team.
The long-rumored and long-anticipated move was celebrated by many fans who see Hunter as a leader on and off the field, and a reminder of brighter seasons from the past.
However, the announcement was also met with frustration and criticism. He's almost 40 years old, an 18-year veteran and not the same player he was when he left the club seven years ago.
At his re-introduction Tuesday, Hunter admitted he left the team to win a championship. But like anything, the illusive pennant is never guaranteed, no matter how good the team is on paper.
As he put it, baseball is a crazy game. The Giants and Royals were never expected to make it to the World Series. He took a spot with Detroit, who were able to clinch the AL Central Division title four years in a row. But what happens from one year to the next, let alone one game to the next, doesn't matter in baseball.
"I think coming here was a no brainer. Minnesota is my heart," Hunter said. "I always put it in the back of my mind, 'You're not always necessarily going to win, so why not go somewhere where you're going to fight?' We're going to have tough times and we also have a chance to win this thing."
The idea that Minnesota is where Hunter grew up was a theme he reiterated. Hunter opened his press conference by saying he thanked God for bringing him home.
"I'm a Minnesota Twin no matter what," he told WCCO. "I'm here for the duration. Even if I retire after this year, I'm still going to be in this organization. This is home for me."
The Twins have struggled over the last few seasons and have taken up residency in the basement of the AL Central. Were there good years after Hunter left? Yes, absolutely. The Twins went on to the post season in 2009 and 2010 before the wheels came off.
But along with games, the team has lost veterans like Michael Cuddyer, Justin Morneau and Jim Thome, and a voice to hold the new younger players accountable in the clubhouse.
Hunter said since leaving in 2007, he's kept an eye on the team. He understands where the younger team is at and what he can contribute.
Fans will remember Hunter as a member of the "soul patrol," a trio of hustling, hitting and charismatic outfielders made up of Hunter, Jacque Jones and Matt Lawton, then replaced by Shannon Stewart.
They were at the foundation of the Twins rising success in the early 2000s. Hunter was the Twins first-round draft pick in 1993 and he played here for 11 seasons. During that time he was a two-time All-Star, slugged out 192 home runs and led the team to four postseason series.
An obvious fan favorite, Hunter has never shied away from the spotlight or a microphone. Hunter has been an obvious leader since coming up with the Twins. Not just on the field, but off.
He acknowledged he's not the same player he was when he left the team. He now returns with more knowledge and experience. He feels it's his duty to share what he's learned with his younger teammates, just as the likes of Kirby Puckett, Tony Oliva and Rod Carew did before him.
His one-year contract is worth $10.5 million, so unlike the typical criticism the Pohlad's get from fans for being "too cheap," fans are balking at the price tag to get Hunter.
For instance, Michael Cuddyer signed a two-year deal with the New York Mets for $21 million. Earlier, I mentioned concern over his age. The daily grind of 162 games takes a toll on anyone's body. Hunter isn't the spry athlete he was 15 years ago when he earned the nickname "Spider-Man" for scaling the Metrodome's outfield wall. The Twins will put Hunter in right field and shift Oswaldo Arcia to left.
It's no secret the Twins need a stronger bull pen. While they need guys who can get some quality starts, they also need players to back them up. The Twins say they didn't set out to bring Hunter back; rather he fit the criteria for what they were looking for in a free agent -- particularly a right-handed hitting outfielder with major league experience.
Twins General Manager Terry Ryan says Hunter's personality and knowledge of the American League Central Division were a bonus.
"We've got a young club here, young position players. We brought Torii here not only to help them out, but more importantly we still believe he can be very productive as a player in his own right," Ryan said. "He's had a lot of good years here recently and we expect him to have another one in 2014."
The Twins new manager, Paul Molitor, is no stranger to Hunter's effects. The two were briefly in the same Twins lineup. Molitor called Hunter a tremendous talent, who was very dedicated to the game and played fearlessly. His pop at the plate won't go unnoticed either.
Hunter batted second in Detroit, but the Twins have a lot of players who can fill the top of the lineup. Molitor will have some flexibility to make adjustments.
"Torii has the ability to hit second, he's done that effectively. He has also been a good run producer, too," Molitor said. "It's gonna vary from time to time and I'm sure I'll consider match ups, time of the season, and what other people are doing. I know that I can rely on that to trust what I do on a given day and he's going to make that work."
Still, we can't ignore the fact, as a free agent, he chose to come here to Minnesota instead of taking a smaller contract to play for a contending team. Hunter hit .286 last season with 83 RBIs. Still, he says he's got gas in the tank.
Referring back to his mentor Kirby Puckett, Hunter said he respected how veterans guided him as a rookie player and wanted to do the same now.
"The whole time I was deciding, I was like, 'What would Puck want me to do?'" Hunter told WCCO of his decision. "Should I sell my soul and try to win a series or to the Minnesota Twins, where I love to play and I know the mentality of this organization? I've seen the guy put in work in September against the Tigers and I'm like, 'Wow, these guys have a good chance.' So I want to come fight with these guys."
That, in my opinion, says a lot about Hunter.
Whether he'll retire after this year, or be sought after by another team is unknown. It'll greatly depend on how well he plays this upcoming summer.
"It just felt right to come back," Hunter said. "You're just not sure if this will be my last year. If I play well, I'm pretty sure I'll want to play again. This is the right place to be, I grew up here, there's a lot of love here. There's a lot of potential here."
A few things are for sure: his #48 jersey will be a hot commodity, he will help fill seats at Target Field and fans now have a new favorite to cheer for.
